Helena Frye
Badminton is a racquet sport that involves hitting a shuttlecock—a feathered or plastic projectile—back and forth over a net. The aim is to strike the shuttlecock with a racquet and land it within the boundaries of the opposing team's half of the court. Cross-court badminton refers to hitting the shuttlecock diagonally, from one corner of the court to the opposite corner. This technique can be used to manoeuvre opponents and change their direction, putting them under pressure. To perform a cross-court shot, players need to have a loose grip on their racquet and pull their elbow back and down as the shuttlecock crosses the net.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | In badminton, a cross-court shot is a ball hit diagonally from one corner of the net to the opposite corner on the other side. |
| Purpose | To displace the opponent and make them move the longest possible distance. |
| Technique | To play a cross-court net shot, the racket head should move slightly outside the line of the shuttle before swinging forward into the shot. The player should have a loose grip with a slight bend in the elbow, pulling the elbow back and down as the shuttle crosses the net. |
| Grip | For a forehand cross-court shot, the player should have a loose forehand grip. For a backhand cross-court shot, the player starts with a backhand grip and slightly changes to a bevel grip as they turn the racket. |
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Cross-court lifts
To play a cross-court lift, there are a few adjustments you need to make to your technique. Firstly, ensure that you are proficient at playing straight lifts, as cross-court lifts require only minor changes to your hitting action. When approaching the shuttle, ensure that your non-racket arm is extended behind you for balance and control. Before swinging forward, move the racket head slightly outside the line of the shuttle, which will help you bring the racket inwards in a cross-court direction.
To change the angle of your shot from straight to cross-court, begin the hitting action slightly earlier, which will result in your forearm turning farther by the time you make contact with the shuttle. You can also adjust the angle of your lifts by flicking your wrist forward slightly more, which is particularly effective for backhand lifts. However, be careful not to bend your wrist too much with a forehand lift, as this will interfere with the power generated by your forearm.
If you are reaching out to the side, it becomes more challenging to execute a cross-court lift. In such cases, you may need to adjust your grip to a thumb grip for forehands or a panhandle grip for backhands. These grip changes allow you to change the angle of your racket head towards the cross-court direction. However, keep in mind that these adjustments will result in a loss of power, as your forearm rotation will be less effective, and it will be harder to use your fingers effectively.
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Forehand and backhand
A crosscourt shot in badminton is a ball hit diagonally, from one corner of the court to the opposite corner. This can be done using either a forehand or a backhand stroke.
The forehand stroke is generally preferred by players, especially in the rearcourt, as it allows for a greater range of motion and more power. When executing a forehand stroke, the player should have a loose grip on the racket, with their racket arm extended in front of them and a slight bend in the elbow. The non-racket arm should be behind them for balance. As the shuttle is crossing the net, the player pulls their elbow back and down towards their body, rotating their forearm so that the palm of their hand faces the crosscourt direction, and then pushes or guides the shuttle over the net.
The backhand stroke, on the other hand, is a more difficult skill to master. It is played when the player is not in a position to play a forehand shot. The player hits the shuttle with their backhand area when it is in mid-air above their head. When executing a backhand stroke, the player should start with a backhand grip and slightly change to a bevel grip as they turn the racket. They should pull their elbow back and down, moving their thumb onto the ridge to enable the racket head to start rotating, and then bend their wrist slightly before striking the shuttle. This technique allows the player to get the shuttle travelling tightly across the net.
To improve one's technique in badminton, it is important to focus on form and accuracy through regular practice. Drills specific to badminton, such as stroke play, can enhance skill proficiency. Additionally, watching and analysing professional matches can provide insights into advanced techniques, and personalised coaching can offer tailored advice and corrections. Strength and flexibility training can also contribute to better technique execution.
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Deception
There are several ways to deceive your opponent. One is to use slicing, which involves hitting the shuttlecock with an angled racquet face. This causes the shuttlecock to travel in a different direction than suggested by the player's body or arm movement, deceiving the opponent about the power and direction of the shuttlecock. Another way to deceive your opponent is to use double motion, where you begin a racket swing in one direction and then change to another, or triple motion, which is very rare. A short hitting action can also be used deceptively, as it allows the player to maintain the option to hit a powerful or soft stroke until the last possible moment.
To play a deceptive shot, a player must change their facial expressions, body movements, and shooting style to confuse the opposing player. It is important to have a strong foundation in footwork and basic shots to effectively deceive opponents.
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Scoring
In singles, the server stands in their right service court when their score is even and their left service court when odd. In doubles, the server will start on the right-hand side and keep serving, alternating sides with their partner as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side takes the point, they assume the serve.
Matches are best out of three: a player or pair must win two games to win the match. Each game is played to 21 points. If the score reaches 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to reach 30 points wins. Players change ends at the start of the second game and, if there is a third game, at the start of that game and when the leading player or pair's score reaches 11 points.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is attempting a new scoring system, in which the 21x3 scoring system may be replaced with 15x3. This move has been controversial among badminton players.
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Badminton history
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. The sport is believed to have ancient roots, with similar games played in Greece, China, and India over 2000 years ago. The modern game, however, is said to have been invented in Gloucestershire, England, around 1873 by the Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, who brought it over from India. In India, the game was known as "Poona" or "Poonah", named after the city of Poona (now Pune), and it was played by British army officers stationed there in the 1860s. The first rules for the game were drawn up in 1873, and by 1875, officers returning home had started a badminton club in Folkestone.
The sport takes its name from the Badminton estate in Gloucestershire, where it was first played in England. The Bath Badminton Club was established in 1877 and introduced new rules to the game. The formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 further standardised the rules and regulations, and they launched the sport at a house called "Dunbar" in Portsmouth on September 13, 1893. The BAE also started the first badminton competition, the All England Open Badminton Championships, in 1899, considered the world's first badminton tournament.
The rules of badminton have evolved over the years. Initially, the game was played with sides ranging from 1 to 4 players, but it was later established that games between two or four competitors worked best. The scoring system also saw a significant change in 2001. Previously, players would play up to 15 points, with only the serving side able to score. Now, players compete in a rally point system up to 21 points, requiring a two-point lead to win. The equipment has also undergone transformations. The first badminton rackets were made of a single piece of wood with animal gut strings, while shuttlecocks were made from unrefined bird feathers. Today, rackets are made from lightweight materials such as aluminium, steel, graphite, or carbon fibre, and shuttlecocks are made from synthetic materials.
Badminton became an official Olympic sport in 1992, with four events: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, and women's doubles. Mixed doubles were introduced four years later. The sport has continued to grow in popularity, with regional, national, and zonal tournaments held in several countries.
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Frequently asked questions
A cross-court shot in badminton is when the shuttlecock travels diagonally from one side of the court to the other, i.e. from left to right, or vice versa.
A net shot in badminton is a soft shot played from the front court, that lands in the opponent's front court, as close to the net as possible.
To play a cross-court net shot, you need to have a loose grip on the racket, with a slight bend in the elbow. Pull your elbow back and down as you rotate your forearm, guiding the shuttlecock cross-court.
For a forehand shot, you need to be in a loose forehand grip with your racket arm extended out in front of you. For a backhand cross-court net shot, you need to start with a backhand grip and change to a bevel grip as you turn the racket.
Slicing is a technique where you hit the shuttlecock with an angled racquet face, causing it to travel in a different direction than your body movement suggests. This can be used to deceive your opponent about the power and direction of the shuttlecock.
