Andrew Pace
Badminton may not be a complex game, but it's always good to know the rules before stepping onto the court. There are two main types of badminton serves: the backhand and the forehand. The forehand serve is typically done more in singles than doubles, where the shuttle is hit high and far to the opponent's backline and looks like an underhand throw. The backhand serve is usually done in doubles and singles, hit close, just past the front service line. In doubles, the server often has a disadvantage as they are forced to play a predictable short or long shot, and the receiver has more options for their next move.
Characteristics and Values of Badminton Serve Types
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Strokes | Backhand, Forehand |
| Serve Locations | Close, Close and Out, Back to Opponent's Backhand Corner, Drive |
| Game Format | Singles, Doubles |
| Foot Placement | Both feet on the ground, no part of the foot touching service line or court boundaries |
| Racket Movement | First forward movement of the racket, no back-and-forth |
| Racket Angle | Underarm, downward direction |
| Racket-Shuttle Contact | Below waist |
| Shuttle Height | Below 1.15 meters in elite BWF competition |
| Court Area | Full width for doubles, thinner court for singles |
| Service Side | Right service box for even points, left for odd points |
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What You'll Learn
Backhand and forehand strokes
Mastering the four basic strokes in badminton—overhead forehand, overhead backhand, underarm forehand, and underarm backhand—is essential for executing effective shots. The forehand and backhand strokes, in particular, form the foundation for more advanced techniques, requiring a good grip and understanding of body mechanics to generate power and precision.
Forehand Strokes
The forehand stroke is executed by hitting the shuttle with the front of the hand, similar to hitting with the palm. This stroke is performed on the same side as the player's dominant hand, making it more natural and instinctive for beginners. For a right-handed player, the forehand side is their right side. To perform a forehand stroke, the player should use a forehand grip, turning sideways with their non-racket foot forward. The racket is drawn back high and early behind the shoulder, and contact is made with the shuttle at the highest point above the shoulder. The non-racket arm provides counterbalance, while the shoulders and hips rotate, following through to the opposite side of the body.
The underarm forehand stroke is a variation played close to the net. It requires a gentle, smooth wrist action, directing the shuttle to the desired location. This stroke does not require significant strength, as the player is already in a favourable position near the net. The underarm forehand swing pattern is important to master for quality shots and maintaining body balance.
Backhand Strokes
The backhand stroke is executed by hitting the shuttle with the back of the hand, similar to hitting with the knuckles. This stroke is played on the opposite side of the player's dominant hand, making it more challenging. For a right-handed player, the backhand side is their left side. The backhand stroke allows players to hit the shuttle when it is in mid-air above their backhand area. A complete backhand swing is necessary to generate power for strong backhand shots. The wrist action is crucial, contributing significant power to the shot. Players should avoid tensing their arm muscles and maintain a flexible wrist for a quick, snapping motion.
The underarm backhand stroke is often used in response to an opponent's drop shot to the backhand area near the net. This stroke does not require excessive strength, as a gentle underarm swing is sufficient to send the shuttle to the back of the court. The wrist flick provides most of the power needed for this stroke.
While the backhand stroke is more challenging to execute with power, it serves a crucial defensive purpose when players are not in a position to play a forehand shot. It can force the opponent back towards the rear court, buying time for the player to return to a more central position.
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Variations: close, close and out, backhand corner, drive
There are two main types of badminton strokes: the backhand and the forehand. However, there are multiple locations and variations within these types. The variations include close, close and out, backhand corner, and drive.
The "close" variation is a serve that is hit close and just past the front service line. This type of serve often makes the opponent take the shuttle below the tape or at least level with it. However, it is harder to execute compared to other types of serves.
The "close and out" variation is a combination of the "close" serve and hitting it "out", which means hitting the shuttle beyond the side or back boundary lines. This type of serve is used to take advantage of an opponent who is standing too close to the net or middle of the court.
The "backhand corner" variation is a serve that is hit to the opponent's backhand corner. This type of serve is used to put the opponent in an uncomfortable position and give the server an advantage.
The "drive" serve is a type of forehand serve that is typically done more in singles than doubles. It is hit high and far to the back or opponent's baseline and looks like an underhand throw. The advantage of this serve is that it moves the opponent to the back of the court, giving the server time to set their stance and react. It is also often easier to execute than the backhand serve. However, one disadvantage is that it gives the opponent the shuttle overhead, allowing them to attack with a smash, drop, or punch clear.
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Singles vs doubles
While the fundamentals of badminton remain the same, singles and doubles games differ in terms of strategy, court size, and service rotation.
Singles games are a solo battle where you try to outmaneuver and outlast your opponent. The defence strategy in singles is less about speed and more about masterful positioning and footwork. For instance, if you're in one corner of your backcourt, you should already be thinking about how you'll cover your frontcourt (and potentially the opposite corner of your backcourt). This is because your opponent is most likely to aim their shot somewhere they think you won't be able to reach.
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. Doubles combines the speed, power, and court coverage of two badminton players, so it calls for different strategies compared to singles. In doubles, you need to communicate with your partner and play off their strengths and abilities. You also need to keep track of service rotation, i.e., which one of you should be serving and from which side.
The doubles court has wider sidelines (6.1m or 20 ft) than the singles court (5.18 m or 17 ft) to make room for both players.
In terms of serving, some players argue that the server has an advantage in singles and doubles at lower levels. Weaker players stand much further back to compensate for their difficulty in returning deep balls, leaving them open to short serves. However, others argue that the receiver has the advantage in doubles since they can predict the serve and have more options for their return shot.
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Serving rules
Serving plays a crucial role in badminton, especially in doubles, where the server is at a disadvantage. The serve is the only shot that is completely controlled by the player, and it can set the tone for the rest of the rally. While the serve may not be as decisive as in other sports like lawn tennis, it is an art in itself and can be used to gain an advantage or throw off an opponent.
Badminton serving rules, as laid down by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), dictate the correct technique and positioning for a legal serve. Here are the key rules to keep in mind:
- Footwork: Both feet must be in contact with the ground when striking the shuttlecock, and neither foot should be touching any lines on the court. This rule applies to both the server and receiver.
- Service Side: The player who serves first in a game starts from the right side of the service court. Thereafter, the server alternates sides depending on their score. If the server's score is an even number, they serve from the right side; if it's an odd number, they serve from the left side.
- Shuttlecock Height: The entire shuttlecock must be below the server's waist when struck. The BWF specifies this height as 1.15 metres from the surface of the court.
- Direction: The shuttlecock must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half-court and over their front service line, landing inside the court boundaries.
- No Delay: There should be no undue delay in delivering the service once both the server and receiver are ready. While there is no set time limit, players have been faulted for taking too long.
- Net Clearance: If the shuttlecock hits the net but continues over and lands past the service line, the server wins the rally. If it falls short or wide of the service line, the receiver wins the point.
- Court Boundaries: In singles, the court is thinner, and the outside 'tramlines' are out of bounds. In doubles, the full width of the court is in play, and the rear 'tramlines' are out of bounds until the serve is returned.
While the serve is an important part of a player's strategy, it is just the beginning of the rally, and the return of serve often sets up the real contest.
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Advantages and disadvantages
In badminton, there are two main types of serves: the backhand and the forehand. The forehand serve is typically used more in singles matches, where the shuttlecock is hit high and far to the opponent's baseline. On the other hand, the backhand serve is generally used in doubles matches, where the shuttlecock is hit just past the front service line.
Forehand Serve:
Advantages:
- It moves the opponent to the back of the court, giving you time to set your stance and react.
- It is often easier to execute than the backhand serve.
Disadvantages:
It gives the opponent an overhead shuttlecock, allowing them to attack with a smash, drop, or punch clear.
Backhand Serve:
Advantages:
It often forces the opponent to take the shuttlecock below the tape or at level.
Disadvantages:
It is harder to execute than the forehand serve.
Additionally, the effectiveness of different types of serves may depend on the skill level and playing style of the players. For example, in doubles matches, slower players who cannot rush the serve may benefit from having two legitimate options for the attack, giving the server an advantage. On the other hand, at lower skill levels, the server may have an advantage as weaker players tend to stand further back, leaving them vulnerable to a short serve.
Furthermore, varying the type of serve is important to prevent your opponent from anticipating and punishing a repeated serve. For instance, serving short or long, close or wide, can force your opponent to move in a certain direction or catch them off guard. However, these variations also come with trade-offs, as serving close gives your opponent less time to react, while serving wide gives them more time. A drive serve, which is hit fast and low, can also be effective in pressuring your opponent, although it may be challenging to execute a smash due to the low angle.
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Frequently asked questions
There are two main types of strokes for serves: backhand and forehand. However, there are multiple locations and variations within these types, such as close, close and out, back to the opponent's backhand corner, or drive.
A forehand serve is typically done more in singles than doubles. It involves hitting the shuttlecock high and far to the opponent's baseline and looks like an underhand throw.
The advantages include moving your opponent to the back of the court, giving you time to set your stance and react, and it is often easier to execute than a backhand serve. The main disadvantage is that it gives your opponent the shuttle overhead, allowing them to attack with a smash, drop, or punch clear.
Also known as a Bachand serve, it is done in both doubles and singles. The shuttlecock is hit close, just past the front service line.
The advantage is that it often makes the opponent take the shuttle below the tape or at least level with it. However, it is harder to execute than a forehand serve.
