Kristian Ferrell
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. The aim is to strike the shuttlecock with a racquet and land it within the boundaries of the opposing side of the court. The shuttlecock is a feathered or plastic projectile that flies differently from the balls used in other sports. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net, and play ends once the shuttlecock has struck the floor or ground. There are various types of shots in badminton, including the clear shot, drive shot, and smash, each with its own strategic use.
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What You'll Learn
Hitting the cork, not the feathers
The objective of badminton is to strike the shuttlecock with a racquet and land it within the boundaries of the opponent's half of the court. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. The shuttlecock is a projectile made of feathers attached to a rounded cork base, also known as the shuttle.
When playing badminton, it is important to focus on hitting the cork of the shuttlecock with the racquet. While it is possible to make contact with both the cork and the feathers, this is not the primary goal and can be unintuitive and detrimental to your technique. Attempting to specifically hit the feathers is generally not advisable, as it requires waiting for the shuttlecock to drop to a lower height, which can result in a weaker shot or a fault.
Instead, players should aim to make early contact with the shuttlecock, hitting it downwards. This ensures that the cork is struck, and it also allows for more powerful and effective shots, such as the smash, which is considered the most powerful shot in badminton. The smash is performed by hitting the shuttlecock at its highest point with a flick of the wrist, driving it downwards towards the opponent's side of the court.
Additionally, focusing on hitting the cork allows players to improve their timing and shot placement. By hitting through the shuttlecock, players can generate more power and control the direction of the shot. This technique is particularly useful for shots like the clear, which is a lobbing stroke commonly used in singles games to create more time and space between yourself and your opponent.
In conclusion, while it is possible to make contact with both the cork and the feathers of the shuttlecock, players should primarily focus on hitting the cork. This promotes better technique, allows for more powerful and controlled shots, and helps players improve their overall game.
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The drive shot
To execute the shot, your racket should be held with the head facing straight ahead, locking your wrist as the shuttle comes in contact with your racket. The backhand drive is the same as the forehand version except for a slight grip change, and you start the backswing with the palm facing down and finish the stroke with it facing up, opposite to that of the forehand. To get to the shuttle before it drops too low, extend the dominant leg towards the shuttle and reach with the racket arm. Then pivot and turn in the direction of the shuttle, with the wrist in the cocked position for the backswing. This should mean the racket is parallel to the floor. Swing forward and transfer body weight onto the dominant foot. Make sure to extend the racket arm, roll the forearm over in a supination movement and uncock the wrist to provide power. The final stage of this stroke is the follow-through when the arm should travel in line with the shuttle's path.
The best time to play a drive is when you are balanced and in a good position, while your opponent is off-balance and has not yet recovered to a central base. This most commonly occurs after they play a smash. When possible, you should place drives into open space, away from your opponent. If you can make your opponent reach the shuttle late or at full stretch, they are likely to play a weak reply. When attacking from the net against a centrally positioned opponent, drives are usually best played directly at their body. This will make it difficult for them to return the shuttle as they cannot get their racket into an effective hitting position. You can also try hitting drives to the sidelines, but beware: if it’s within reach of your opponent’s desperate racket swing, they may steal the point from you with a counter-drive! After your opponent’s smash, drives should be directed away from them.
Drives are not a common singles shot. If you find yourself frequently receiving drives in singles, then you’re doing something wrong. You should not allow your opponent the opportunity to play many drives! The most common shot to counter a drive is another drive. Try not to do this, however, unless you believe you can win the resultant drive war! Look for opportunities to play a lift, or block the shuttle to the net. Both these shots can be played with two different tactical purposes: to create an attack, or to neutralise the situation. If you think you can attack successfully, make your lifts flat and, if possible, aim for the corner farther from your opponent. Similarly, try to play your blocks towards the farther net corner.
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The smash
Positioning
Firstly, ensure you are positioned behind the shuttlecock, about half a metre, when preparing to hit the smash. This allows you to rotate your body forward and generate more power in your shot. Your body should be facing sideways, with your racket arm at a 90-degree angle and your non-racket arm pointing upwards. This helps with timing, balance, and rotation, making your shot more deceptive and unpredictable for your opponent.
Grip and Body Posture
Hold the racket with a forehand grip, at the bottom of the grip handle. This creates a longer lever, aiding in generating more power. Keep a loose grip and a relaxed body until the last moment before striking the shuttlecock. This technique helps to create extra speed in your racket.
Rotation and Momentum
Just before striking the shuttlecock, rotate your hips, torso, and shoulder to transfer your body weight and momentum forward. This rotation helps to generate a fast racket head speed, which is crucial for a powerful smash. The speed of the racket head strongly correlates with the speed of the shuttlecock, so focus on transferring your body's momentum into the shot.
Variety of Shots
While the smash is an exciting and effective shot, it should not be your only strategy. Mix up your shots to keep your opponents guessing and put them under pressure. Use the smash at the right opportunities, such as when your opponent lifts the shuttlecock short, rather than when they lift it towards the backline of the court.
Different Types of Smashes
Lastly, remember that there are different types of smashes in badminton, such as the jump smash and the stick smash. Experiment with these variations and find the ones that work best for you. You can also record yourself practicing smashes and compare your technique to improve your form and power.
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The clear shot
As a beginner, it is recommended to master the defensive clear shot, as it allows you to play longer rallies and improve your game. When executing the clear shot, you should aim to make contact with the shuttlecock in the middle of your racket head.
To disguise your shots and make them less predictable, you can make your offensive clear shots look like drives or drop shots until the last moment. This will make it challenging for your opponent to react and anticipate your moves.
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Offensive vs defensive shots
Mastering different types of shots is essential to excel at badminton. The two main types of shots are defensive and offensive, and they are used to counter each other. Defensive shots are used to counter an opponent's offensive move and are mainly used to buy you time to get back to the base or force your opponent to the backcourt. Offensive shots, on the other hand, are used to score a winning point and end the exchange.
Defensive Shots
The defensive clear shot is a fundamental stroke that sends the shuttlecock high in the air and deep into the opponent's court. It is used when your opponent is in the front part of the court or close to the net. The overhead clear shot is a type of defensive clear shot that aims to hit the centre of the racquet head. This shot triggers a retreat and forces a change of position in your opponent.
The net lift is another defensive shot that is played very close to the net. It is used when you find it difficult to retrieve your opponent's net shot. The lift involves lifting the shuttlecock high before it lands in the opponent's backcourt, giving your opponent enough time to reach the backcourt.
The drive shot is a flat shot hit directly and slightly over the net. It is a powerful and quick counter-attacking shot that can be used to catch your opponent off-guard.
Offensive Shots
Offensive shots are used to place the shuttlecock in an unreachable spot on the other side of the court. The badminton smash shot is regarded as the most powerful offensive shot.
The net kill is an offensive shot used in the net area. It is a flat and downward shot executed when your opponent plays a weak or too high of a net shot.
The drive shot can also be used offensively. When played from the midcourt or forecourt, it is a fast counter-attack that can be used to regain the attack.
In addition to these shots, there are also drop shots, which are played from the front court. They are delicate shots that require practice to master.
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Frequently asked questions
You hit a shuttlecock with a racquet.
It is a projectile made of feathers or plastic with a cork base.
There are offensive and defensive shots. Some common shots include the clear shot, drive shot, drop shot, and smash.
The smash is considered the most powerful shot in badminton and is difficult for opponents to return due to its pace and downward angle.
It is recommended to focus on hitting the cork, but it is possible to make contact with both the cork and feathers. Hitting the feathers alone is not advisable as it requires waiting for the shuttlecock to drop.
