Amanda Knapp
A high serve in badminton is a type of serve where the shuttle is hit high so that it drops vertically near the back of the opponent's court. It is an underhand shot that follows a high, far trajectory. The purpose of this serve is to limit the opponent's ability to play an attacking shot and to force them to respond with a weak shot. It is one of the three basic types of serves in badminton, the other two being the low serve and the flick serve. The high serve is commonly used in singles matches and is considered aggressive and powerful.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Technique | Swing the racket in a wide arc |
| Hit the shuttle high | |
| Drop the shuttle and swing the racket just after | |
| Use the forehand grip | |
| Stand perpendicular to the net | |
| Position yourself near the corner of the centreline of your service box | |
| Purpose | To limit your opponent's ability to play an attacking shot |
| To prevent the opponent from hitting a strong shot early in the rally | |
| To force the opponent to respond with a weak shot | |
| To give yourself an early chance to gain the upper hand | |
| To start the rally with some space to breathe | |
| To be used occasionally for variation | |
| When to use | When your opponent is not skilled and fast |
| When you are playing singles |
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What You'll Learn
How to execute a high serve
To execute a high serve in badminton, you must first position yourself correctly. Stand near the corner of the centre line of your service box, perpendicular to the net, with your non-racket foot pointing towards the net and your racket foot pointing diagonally out in front of you. You should be about 2-3 feet behind the short service line.
Next, you'll need to get into the correct stance and grip your racket. Hold the racket using a forehand grip and hold the shuttle by the feathers with two fingers. Bring the racket back out to your side to load up for the shot.
Now, you're ready to serve. Drop the shuttle and, right after, swing your racket in an underhand motion to hit it high and far over the net. Bring the racket high over your shoulder, then drop it down towards your knees as you swing forward and bring it up to meet the shuttle. As you follow through with the hit, bring the racket towards your opposite shoulder.
The high serve is a more difficult shot to master than the low serve, so it's important to practice and be patient with yourself as you learn the timing, power, and technique required to execute this serve effectively.
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When to use a high serve
Using a high serve in badminton can be advantageous in certain situations. Firstly, it is important to understand what a high serve is and how it differs from other types of serves. A high serve in badminton is an underhand shot that follows a high, far trajectory. The shuttle is hit high so that it drops vertically near the back of the opponent's court. This is in contrast to a low serve, which is the most common type of serve and involves hitting the shuttle just over the net.
Now, let's discuss when to use a high serve.
- To Gain an Early Advantage: A high serve can help you gain an early advantage in the rally by pushing your opponent to the back of their service area. This often forces them to respond with a weak shot, giving you an opportunity to take the upper hand early in the rally.
- To Create Variation: Using a mix of different serves can keep your opponent guessing and prevent them from predicting your next move. While low serves are the most common and can be effective for limiting your opponent's swing, using only low serves can become predictable. Mixing in high serves can add variation to your game and make it harder for your opponent to anticipate your serves.
- In Singles Matches: The high serve is commonly used in singles matches because it can be difficult for an opponent to return effectively if executed correctly. The high serve is less effective in doubles, as the court is shorter and wider, giving opponents more opportunities to attack.
- When You Need Breathing Room: A high serve can be useful when you want to start the rally with some space to breathe. It gives you more time to react and adjust to your opponent's movements compared to a low serve. However, if your opponent is fast and skilled, they may be able to get behind the shuttle quickly and smash it, so it is important to assess your opponent's capabilities.
- To Disrupt an Opponent's Rhythm: Using a high serve can disrupt your opponent's rhythm, especially if they are expecting a low serve or a different type of shot. This can be an effective strategy when you want to throw your opponent off their game and create opportunities for yourself.
- To Target an Opponent's Weakness: If you notice that your opponent struggles with high serves or is weaker in the backcourt, you can use high serves to exploit this weakness. This can be particularly effective if you have scouted your opponent beforehand and identified areas where they may be vulnerable.
In conclusion, while the high serve may not be as commonly used as the low serve, it has its strategic advantages and can be a powerful tool when used at the right moments. It is important to vary your serves, read your opponent's game, and practice different techniques to keep them guessing and improve your chances of winning.
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Advantages and disadvantages of a high serve
A high serve in badminton is performed by swinging the racket in a wide arc to hit the shuttlecock high so that it drops vertically near the back of the opponent's court. It is considered a safe shot as it minimises the risk of errors and provides better control over the pace of the game.
Advantages of a high serve:
- It provides more time to react to the opponent's smash and prepare for the return.
- It can be used to exploit the opponent's footwork weaknesses as they have to move to the back of their court.
- It is a reliable shot that minimises the risk of errors.
- It provides better control over the pace of the game.
- It can be used occasionally for variations, and because it is rarely used, it may be effective for a short time.
Disadvantages of a high serve:
- It gives the opponent the opportunity to attack immediately, especially if they have strong attacking power.
- It is difficult to maintain consistency in the flight path of the shuttlecock, especially after a few rallies when it is more roughed up.
- It is challenging to execute due to the unusual timing, changing speed, unpredictable trajectory, limited hitting surface, and the risk of hitting the feathers instead of the cork.
- It is easier for the opponent to return a high serve if they have good footwork and can quickly move back to the centre of the court.
Overall, while a high serve has some advantages, it is important to vary serves in badminton to keep the opponent guessing.
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High serve vs. low serve
In badminton, a player must serve the ball at the start of every rally, so it is important to know how to use different techniques to keep your opponent guessing. The three basic types of serve are the high serve, low serve, and flick serve.
High Serve
The high serve is an underhand shot that follows a high, far trajectory. When executed correctly, it will end with a sharp, downward curve near your opponent’s back service line. It can help you prevent your opponent from hitting a strong shot early in the rally. Because it pushes them to the back of their service area, it often forces them to respond with a weak shot—giving you an early chance to gain the upper hand.
To perform a high serve, stand perpendicular to the net, with your non-racket foot pointing toward the net and your racket foot pointing diagonally out in front of you. Hold your racket using the forehand grip and use two fingers to hold the shuttle by the feathers. Bring your racket back out to your side to load up for the shot. Drop the shuttle and, right after, swing your racket in an underhand motion to hit it high and far over the net.
Low Serve
The low serve is the most common serve in badminton. It will hit just over the net, limiting your opponent’s swing and increasing your chances of scoring.
To perform a low serve, bend your wrist back and push gently as you strike the shuttle.
High serves are generally used in singles matches, while low serves are used in both singles and doubles. In men's singles, players rarely use high serves because it gives the opponent the opportunity to attack immediately, and men typically have more attacking power than women. However, high serves are used more commonly in women's singles. In doubles, the court is shorter and wider, making high serves less effective.
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High serve in singles vs. doubles
A high serve in badminton is an underhand shot that follows a high, far trajectory. When executed correctly, it will end with a sharp, downward curve near your opponent’s back service line. It can help you prevent your opponent from hitting a strong shot early in the rally. Because it pushes them to the back of their service area, it often forces them to respond with a weak shot—giving you an early chance to gain the upper hand.
In singles, high serves are rarely used by men, as they give the opponent the opportunity to attack immediately. The attacking power of men is commonly higher than that of women, which is why high serves are more common in women's singles. In doubles, the attack formation usually involves one player covering the backcourt and the other covering the front. The backcourt player will use a variety of offensive shots, such as half smashes, full smashes, and drives, to stay unpredictable. The frontcourt player will intercept shots when possible and increase pressure using body shots, drops, and net kills.
The fundamentals of badminton remain the same whether you're playing singles or doubles. However, the winning tactics for each format can look very different. Doubles involves communication and playing off your teammate's strengths and abilities. It also requires staying mindful of your partner's movement throughout the match so you can plan your game accordingly. Singles, on the other hand, is a solo battle where you try to outmaneuver and outlast your opponent.
The court size also differs between singles and doubles. The doubles court has wider sidelines to make room for both players. The singles service boxes are slightly longer, with a boundary line that sits at the very back of the court. In contrast, the doubles long service line is closer to the net. In both singles and doubles, the basic rules are the same. However, in doubles, you and your partner must keep track of service rotation, i.e., which one of you should be serving and from which side.
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Frequently asked questions
A high serve in badminton is an underhand shot that follows a high, far trajectory. It is used to prevent an opponent from hitting a strong shot early in the rally by forcing them to the back of their service area.
High serves are generally used in singles matches. They are rarely used in men's singles due to the higher attacking power of male players. However, they are very common in women's singles.
To execute a high serve, stand perpendicular to the net with your non-racket foot forward and your racket foot pointing diagonally out. Hold the shuttle at waist height and use your thumb grip to hold the racket. Bring the racket back to your side to load up for the shot, then drop the shuttle and swing the racket in an underhand motion to hit it high and far over the net.
A high serve can help you gain an early advantage in the rally by forcing your opponent to respond with a weak shot. It can also be used to mix up your serves and keep your opponent guessing.
