Kristian Ferrell
Serving is a crucial aspect of badminton, as it marks the start of every rally and dictates its flow. There are four main types of serves in badminton: the high serve, the low serve, the flick serve, and the drive serve. Each serve has its own advantages and can be used to catch the opponent off guard, making it essential for players to master multiple types of serves to stay unpredictable. The high serve is a powerful strike that travels a great distance upwards and falls deep at the rear end of the court. The low serve is a basic shot with a short trajectory that lands just over the opponent's service line, limiting their response options. The flick serve is used to surprise the opponent and reduce their reaction time, while the drive serve is a long, flat, and fast shot primarily used in doubles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of main types of services | 4 |
| Basic types of serves | High Serve, Low Serve, Flick Serve, Drive Serve |
| Most commonly used serve in singles | High Serve |
| Most commonly used serve in doubles | Low Serve |
| Low Serve trajectory | Low, short |
| High Serve trajectory | High, far |
| Drive Serve trajectory | Fast, flat |
| Drive Serve usage | Doubles |
| Flick Serve usage | Singles |
| Low Serve grip | Backhand |
| High Serve grip | Forehand |
| Drive Serve grip | Handshake grip |
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What You'll Learn
Low serve
The low serve is a fundamental shot in badminton with a short, low trajectory that lands just over the opponent's service line. Its short nature limits the opponent's response options and can sometimes provide an early advantage in a rally. It can be executed on both the forehand and backhand sides, with the backhand being more common.
To perform a low serve, begin with a backhand grip, positioning your thumb in line with the strings. Holding the racket out in front, tilt it downwards at a 45-degree angle, ensuring the face is almost parallel to the net but with a slight upward rotation. The non-racket hand should grasp the shuttle by the feathers. Stand near the centerline, with your non-racket foot forward and the racket foot one step back, angled slightly outward. Pull the racket behind you to prepare for a wide backswing, then drop the shuttle and swing in an underhand motion to send it to the back corner of your opponent's service court.
When executing a low serve, anticipate your opponent's shots. Since they cannot smash during the low serve, you only need to prepare for two high-pressure shots. Observe the stance of professionals after serving—they often adopt an attacking or aggressive sideways posture, making it easier to move forward and backward. If your opponent consistently targets your backhand, recognize this pattern and prepare accordingly.
The low serve is particularly effective when your opponent is preparing to move back, as it can catch them off guard. It is also useful for preventing a strong opponent from starting the rally on offense. By serving towards their body, you can eliminate certain types of shots and force them to respond with straight replies or cross-court lifts/pushes.
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High serve
The high serve in badminton is a powerful stroke that can be used to gain an early advantage in a match. It is a serve with a high, far trajectory that goes towards the opponent's back service line. When executed correctly, it ends with a steep vertical drop, making it difficult for the opponent to return.
To perform a high serve, start by standing near the centre line, with your non-racket foot pointing forward. Position your racket foot one step back, angled slightly outward. Hold the shuttle by the feathers in front of you, and pull your racket back to prepare for a wide backswing. Then, drop the shuttle and swing in an underhand motion, sending it flying to the back corner of your opponent's service court. As you swing forward, your body should rotate in one fluid motion, and the follow-through of the racket should be over the non-racket shoulder.
The high serve can be an effective strategy to disrupt your opponent's rhythm and increase their receiver tension. It gives the opponent less time to react and can force them to move to the baseline to take the shuttle. Additionally, the high serve can be used to exploit an opponent's positioning, especially if they are standing near the middle of their service box.
However, the high serve also has its drawbacks. It can be a risky move as it gives your opponent more time to prepare their next shot, potentially altering their strategy. Additionally, the high serve may be less effective against experienced players who are skilled at various serves and can counter with powerful returns.
The high serve is an important technique to master in badminton. While it may not be the first serve taught to beginners, incorporating it into your arsenal of serves can keep your opponents guessing and improve your overall gameplay.
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Flick serve
Badminton players have a variety of serves at their disposal, each with its own advantages and optimal usage scenarios. One such serve is the flick serve, which is a useful technique to have in your arsenal.
The flick serve is a defensive option that can help you get into the back court. It is a good choice when your opponent is preparing to move back, as it can catch them off guard. The flick serve is executed in a similar manner to the drive serve. You start by holding the shuttle by the feathers in front of you, with your non-racket foot pointing forward. The racket foot should be positioned one step back and slightly angled outward. To achieve the desired trajectory, you then pull the racket back in preparation for a wide backswing. The shuttle is then dropped, and an underhand swing sends it flying towards the back corner of the opponent's service court. It is important that your body rotates in a fluid motion as you swing forward.
While the flick serve can be an effective surprise tactic, overusing it may render it predictable and less effective. It is also not advisable to rely solely on the flick serve as it can limit your defensive options when playing against strong pairs. They may be able to counter your front-back formation by smashing the shuttle to the side, leaving you vulnerable.
The flick serve is a useful technique when used in conjunction with other serves and strategies. It can be deployed as a surprise tactic to disrupt your opponent's rhythm, but it should be varied with other serves to keep them guessing and maximise your own defensive capabilities.
In addition to the flick serve, players can utilise other types of serves such as the low serve and the high serve. The low serve is a basic shot that travels along a short, low trajectory just over the opponent's service line. This serve restricts the opponent's response options and can be used to gain an early advantage in a rally. On the other hand, the high serve has a high and far trajectory towards the opponent's back service line, ending with a steep vertical drop that makes it challenging to return.
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Drive serve
There are four fundamental types of serves in badminton: the low serve, the flick serve, the drive serve, and the high serve. This paragraph will focus on the drive serve.
The drive serve, also known as a flat serve, is an offensive serve with a fast and flat trajectory that aims to travel to the mid-to-far end of the service-receiving area. It is primarily used in doubles matches, where it is highly effective due to the shorter service boundary and the positioning of the receiver. The setup of a drive serve is similar to that of a low or flick serve, but the power is generated from the wrist, and the angle of the racket face differentiates it from a flick serve.
The drive serve is a high-risk, high-reward play that can be used to disrupt the opponent's rhythm and catch them off guard. It is especially effective against players with slower reaction speeds or long limbs, as the quickness of the serve can test their racket-handling skills and result in a weak return. Aiming for the opponent's body or backhand side can further increase the difficulty for them to return the shot.
To execute a drive serve, use a short backswing and a relaxed grip until the moment of the swing. At the last second, squeeze the grip and rotate the racket face to create a flatter shot. It is important to note that a poorly executed drive serve can quickly lose you the point, so it should only be used when confident in one's ability to execute it well.
The drive serve is a powerful tool in badminton that can be used strategically to catch opponents off guard and set up consecutive offensive plays. However, it should be practised and introduced carefully to ensure its effectiveness and minimize the risk of losing points.
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Attacking serve
There are four main types of serves in badminton, each with its own advantages and optimal scenarios for use. One of these is the attacking serve, which is a broad term for any serve that puts the opponent on the defensive. This category includes the low serve, the high serve, and the drive serve.
The low serve is a basic badminton shot with a short trajectory that lands just over the opponent's service line. Because of its short distance, it limits how the opponent can respond and can sometimes lead to an early advantage in a rally. It can be executed on both the forehand and backhand sides, but the backhand is more common. To perform a low serve, start with a backhand grip, with your thumb in line with the strings and your hand further up the handle for more control. Hold your racket out in front of you, tilting it down at a 45-degree angle so that the face is almost parallel to the net but rotated slightly upward. Grab the shuttle by the feathers with your non-racket hand.
The high serve is a shot with a high, far trajectory that goes toward the opponent's back service line. When executed correctly, it ends with a steep vertical drop, making it difficult to return. To perform a high serve, stand near your centerline with your non-racket foot pointing forward and your racket foot one step back, angled slightly outward. Hold the shuttle by the feathers in front of you and pull your racket out behind you to prepare for a wide backswing. Drop the shuttle and swing in an underhand motion to send it flying to the back corner of your opponent's service court. As you swing forward, your body should rotate in one fluid motion.
The drive serve is a long serve primarily used in doubles. It has a fast and flat trajectory, similar to a drive shot. The goal is to keep the shuttle low and flat while still serving from below 1.15 meters off the ground, as dictated by the official rules of badminton. To execute a drive serve, use the same setup as you would for a flick serve, with a very short backswing and a relaxed grip until the last second. Then, squeeze your grip and rotate your racket face to create a flatter shot. Aiming for your opponent's backhand side can make the shot more difficult for them to return. The drive serve should only be used when you're confident in your ability to execute it well, as a poorly executed drive serve can quickly lose you the point.
In addition to these three main types of attacking serves, there are other offensive shots in badminton that can be used to gain an advantage over your opponent. These include the clear shot, the drop shot, and the smash. The clear shot is one of the easiest badminton techniques, where the shuttle is hit high in the air and aimed to land at the opponent's backcourt. The drop shot is a technique where the shuttlecock is sliced so it bounces nicely over the net, forcing the opponent to dash forward if they are in the backcourt. The smash is considered the most powerful shot in badminton and is usually played on the forehand. It is a downward-angled shot that is difficult to return due to its pace and angle.
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Frequently asked questions
The four fundamental types of serves in badminton are the low serve, high serve, flick serve, and drive serve.
A low serve is a gentle tap over the net with the shuttle, aiming to fly just over the net and fall just over the front line of the service court.
A high serve is a powerful strike upwards with the shuttle, aiming to travel a great distance upwards and fall deep at the rear end of the court.
In doubles, a low serve is the default for the serving team as it keeps them away from automatically playing defensively. In singles, a low serve prevents the opponent from responding to a high serve with a powerful smash. If your opponent is leaning towards the back of the court, expecting a high serve, you may want to execute a low serve to catch them off guard.
