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BADMINTON
Basic Techniques
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The Grip
How you should hold a badminton racket is like shaking hand with a friend: a normal but firm handshake without
trying to crush his fingers. See the following diagram for a Forehand Grip:
Check points:
Is the V formed by the thumb and index finger on the top edge of the racket handle?
Are the fingers slightly spread along the handle and not bunched together like a fist?
Is the index finger higher up the handle than the thumb?
This is called an orthodox forehand grip.
This should be a firm but relaxed grip that there must be no feeling of tension in the wrist. You should feel that the
control is mainly with the thumb, index finger and little finger. The paramount importance is to get the racket out of
the palm of you hand and into your fingers.
This, then, is the forehand grip which is used by most people for shots played on the forehand side of the body
and a great many players also find that this is also an all purpose grip which they can used to play shots on the
left-hand side of the body as well, ie the backhand.
You should be advised to play as much as you can and think about the way you hold your racket while playing. This
is not easy in the middle of a game but try to concentrate on the firm but still relaxed grip.
If you are a kind of a player who can cope with all sorts of shots using the same grip, you may not find that it is
easier to change the grip slightly to play shorts on the backhand swing. See the following diagram for a common
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Backhand Grip:
Check points:
You thumb should be resting on the flat side of the handle of the racket and it should be higher up the handle than
the index finger.
Press hard with the thumb and you will feel the tremendous amount of leverage you can now exert against the
handle and therefore against the backhand face of the racket.
There is a third grip frequently used in badminton which is usually referred to as the 'frying-pan' grip. This grip is
achieved by turning the racket from the forehand grip through 90 degrees so that the face of the racket is horizontal
to the floor. The V of the thumb and index finger runs down the back, flat edge of the handle. The advantages of
this grip are that as the face of the racket is always facing the net, no change in grip is needed to play shots like
forehand and the backhand. This grip enable player to execute very sharp dabbing shots at the net.
The Wrist Action
It is the wrist that governs most of the art of deception, an art which must be mastered by all who wish to improve
the game. It is the action of the wrist which imparts speed to the head of the racket. The vitally important technique
is known as 'cocking' the wrist. This means that for forehand shots, the wrist must be cocked back as far as
possible. This can only be done if you have a very relaxed grip. Try this on your shots played overhead on the
forehand.
Footwork
To execute a good stroke and swing with good grip, you need to
position yourself into the right place in relation to the shuttle.
What puts your body into the right position is your feet. Hence,
footwork is a subject that should be seriously studied. Good
footwork will enable you to get to the shuttle in time to balance;
then you can concentrate on playing the accurate shot. There is
no mystique about footwork, for what we really mean by it is
court-covering, movement, a means of traveling from one part
of the court to another as simply and economically as possible,
but quickly. With anticipation and acute judgment, the advanced
player will already have decided, before the shuttle is struck, where he thinks it is going and will have shifted his
balance in that direction. Do not allow your feet to become glued to the floor, keep them fidgeting around whilst you
wait for your opponent's reply. Hold the racket, with a bent arm, slightly in front of you, and above all, keep the
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racket head up..
The strokes
The Service
- The short service
- The Flick service
- The high service
- The drive service
Return of Service
The foremost idea in your mind when receiving service should be to hit the shuttle down. The stance you adopted
should be the same no matter whether you are playing singles or doubles. You have to be capable of dealing with
every type of service. Stand in your receiving court, about 3 feet from the center service line and one to two/three
(lady) feet behind the short service. Place your left foot forward so that your feet are comfortable apart and you are
evenly balanced. Bend the knees a little and lean slightly forward, so that your weight is mainly over your front foot.
Hold your racket in front of you, with the head of the racket up and just above the height of the net, in a forehand
grip.
It will take time to develop the ability to stand so close to the short service line and still be able to get back to deal
with the flick service.
Your reply to a short serve will depend on how early you can intercept the shuttle. Once you defined it as a short
service, push off with the back foot, with the racket raised in front of you, towards the shuttle and do not wait until it
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reaches you, cut it off ASAP. If you can meet the shuttle just as it crosses and is still above the net, a sharp dab
downwards is the answer. You will not have time for a backswing so you have to rely on a wrist action for power.
When a download stroke is not possible, you will have to drop the racket head beneath the shuttle and stroke it
back as close to the tape as possible.
If a high service is delivered, you will have ample time to move back and deal with the shot as you would any other
overhead stroke. The best reply is a smash. You may be deceived by a flick service and if you really are deceived
you must make the best of it. Move quickly backwards and if you can smash the shuttle. Often you will not be able
to get behind a good flick service and you will be left with either a drop shot or a clear. Try to ensure your reply is to
a spot that your opponent have left unguarded.
To return a drive service, because a drive service is so flat and fast, the best return is to put the face of your racket
in its path to allow the shuttle to bounce off it. Use your wrist to flick it downwards or upwards to a suitable space or
aim directly to your opponent so he will not have sufficient time to return.
The Overhead Forehand Strokes
- Smash
- Clear
- Drop Shot: Slow/Fast
The Overhead Backhand Strokes
Although most of the advanced
user can deal with smash, clear
and drop shot with forehand as
well as backhand, the clear is
the most important in the group
when backhand is played. Most
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player especially novices find
the backhand corner of the
court rather difficult to cope with
and naturally their opponents
tend to take advantage of this
fact.
A sound backhand clear has therefore come to be recognized as the main defensive measure to be taken. The
ability to execute an effective backhand clear depends entirely on a very powerful wrist flicking action and perfect
timing.
Very few player can be really effective with the fackhand smash unless it is a sitter near the net. It is not a shot to
be played from the base line area nor even from as far back in court as you would expect to be able to play your
forehand smash. Play it from mid or forcourt area and place the shuttle in proper position to make it an effective
skill.
The Drives
Underarm Strokes
Net Shots
Return to a Smash
Your aim in returning a smash is to play the shuttle into your opponent's court, in such a way that he will have
difficulty in making a good reply. Prepare for smash by adopting an open stance, biased towards the backhand with
your right foot just in the lead. Bend your knees slightly and keep on the balls of your feet. You cannot afford to be
glued to the floor for you will have to move rapidly if your opponent does not smash. With a backhand grip, bring
the racket across your body, with its head opposite your left shoulder. Keep the racket head up because you have
to be able to move into the smash and take it early. With experience and as your timing improves, move forward
and try to take the shuttle earlier and higher. There will not be much time for an appreciable backswing but with the
racket held up you are half way there.
For the lob to the back of the court, the action will be just as in your underarm clear, more wrist movement will be
needed.
For the drop, just over the net would be more effective. With practice your timing and touch will improve so that you
will be able to pop the shuttle just over the net.
For the drive, the power combined with the speed of the shuttle make the drive return to a smash a very formidable
shot. You will have to get your eye in and play the shuttle early for the shot to be fully effective.
Round The Head
Tactics
Rule: play to his weakness; make him play to your strength.
Angle of Return
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Narrow/Wide
Single Play
Double Play
Men's Doubles
In men's double, the accent is on attack and pace. The frequency with which
you can keep the shuttle going down and the understanding you have with your
partner will determine your success.
In singles and mixed you largely had to play for your openings by careful
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placements and a variation of pace before you could finish off a rally because
there is so much ground to cover on your own and in mixed you have a partner
at the net in a very vulnerable position in front of you. These considerations do
not apply in men's double. Assuming you have a partner of equal strength and
ability and between you the whole court filled. You can afford to force openings
with sheer pace alone.
You must try to attack the whole time, never forget this.
You should play front and back as this is the only attacking system. Some men do adopt a side by side formation.
The drawbacks are obvious. Each partner must play a mostly defensive game because even when he smashes he
has to rush in to take any weak return at the net, probably arriving rather late. It is also allowing your opponent to
single out one palyer and work him into the ground whilst never allowing his partner to hit the shuttle at all.
The idea of switching positions, depending on whether you are attacking or defending is not difficult to follow but it
often breaks down because the players are slow in adjusting their formation.
Mixed Doubles
Women's Doubles
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