Badminton Drills

Drill Equipment Teaching cues/

Teaching focus
1 Drill: Crocodile (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Drop-shot and lunging
Time frame: 5-10 minutes

This activity develops the students’ drop-shot and lunging Badminton Return the
abilities. It is a competition challenge and targets the drop-shot; court or racquet head to a
rewarding attacking and defensive skills. neutral position
This is an ‘authentic’ drill that replicates recovering an active
similar space
in front of the
stance ‘back’ from the net after a drop-shot.
body. This allows
It is called ‘Crocodile’ because students need to have quick feet Up to four
to get clear of the drop-zone (river) for the next shot or they get
you to change
players on
caught (by the crocodile). from backhand to
one court.
Authentic Environment

forehand quickly
How to play Two per side;
Students need to keep the shuttle ‘alive’ by performing half court. Learn to identify
consecutive drop-shots. Only one leg is allowed to be in the One per side; which leg best
‘Drop-zone’ during play. Both players need to have both feet full court. suits entering the
outside of the ‘Drop-zone’ before play commences, and after
‘Drop-zone’ for
each drop-shot.
Play is commenced with a serve anywhere into the ‘Drop zone’ Racquets specific shots
Shuttles
Points are scored as a pair and as an individual During one-on-
(first to 11) one challenges,
Marking
drop-shots across
Pair scoring criteria or
the net diagonally
Points are awarded to a pair for: other to away from your
• The total amount of consecutive, high quality drop shots record and opponent force
(drop shots that do not float too high above the net – assess
anything over six inches is too high)
them to move
students’ greater distances,
Individual scoring current and increasing your
Points are awarded to a player if they: progressive chances of
• Play an unreturnable drop shot ability. winning a point
• Flick a poor drop-shot from their opponent into the drop-
zone (a flick is a fast backhand or forehand wrist-smash) Keep the knees
• Their opponents places both feet in the drop-zone bent and use fast,
• Their opponent does not remove their lunging leg from the light footwork
drop-zone before their next shot

Increased complexity
This game is much harder one-on-one using a full court (double
line optional)
2 Drill Equipment Teaching cues/
Teaching focus
Drill: Clearing the Court (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Clearing shots; deception, strength, timing, co-ordination and movement
Time frame: 5-10 minutes

This activity develops students’ ability to target the Badminton Return racquet
back of the court during play, as well as moving to an court or head to a neutral
optimal court position ( ‘centre mark’). It is a similar space position for quick
competition challenge and targets clearing shots and change of arm
position
fast footwork; rewarding attacking and strategic skills. Two players
This is an ‘authentic’ drill that replicates a very on one court.
Try to avoid
important skill in badminton of clearing the shuttle to Can be playing a
the back court during a rally and court positioning. modified backhand clearing
with four shot unless
How to play players; two strength and
Students serve from the mark. per side. technique are
Points are only awarded if the shuttle lands within the very good
drop-zone. Once any shot has been made, students Racquets
must touch the centre mark before striking the Shuttles Practise ‘around
shuttle again. the head’ clearing
shots – where the
Marking
Points are scored as an individual shuttle is hit by
criteria or
(first to 11) an overhead
other to forehand that
record and travels over the
Individual scoring assess opposite
Points are awarded to a player if they; students’ shoulder.
• Play an unreturnable clearing shot that lands into current and
the ‘Drop-zone’ progressive Practise clearing
• If a rally is won without landing in the drop-zone, ability. shots from below
service is won, but no points awarded. net height to hide
Marking tape your shot
Increased complexity selection
to highlight
A variation of this drill could allow students to ‘flick’ centre mark.
into the drop-zone, weak shots from anywhere on the Intercept the
court. Scoring points still must land in the drop-zone. shuttle before it
passes behind
This would enhance reaction time targeting soft play.
your body
3 Drill: Backhand drilling/flicking (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Backhand, reaction time, flicks
Time frame: 5-10 minutes

Backhand grip
This activity develops students’ reaction time, Badminton Return racquet
backhand variation and flicking skills (fast, low court or head to a neutral
backhand position
trajectory shots, flicked from the wrist, which in this similar space for quick change of
game are aimed at their opponents). arm position
It is a competition challenge and targets backhand Up to four
shot choices; rewarding attacking and defensive skills. players on Practice keeping
This is an ‘authentic’ drill that replicates a very one court. the face of the
racquet facing your
important skill in badminton of fast reaction time with Two per side; opponent, with the
the backhand technique close to the net. half court. racquet more
upright (vertical) to
How to play Racquets the floor
Students can only use a backhand grip and backhand Shuttles
returns. The aim of this drill is to hit your opponent in Your racquet
the chest with the shuttle using only backhand drives should work
Marking through an arc in
(no overhead smashes). The shuttle cannot go more criteria or front of your body
than one metre from your opponent’s body in any other to from one side to
direction. Ideally the feet do not move. record and the other
A backhand grip and backhand technique must be assess
used at all times, irrespective of where the shuttle is Try to aim close to
students’ your opponents
going. current and body; this will
progressive reduce power and
Points are scored as an individual minimise lever
(first to 11) ability.
control in taller
Individual scoring players

Points are awarded to a player if; Fast forward flicks

• You play an unreturnable shot that hits your of the wrist will
opponent, or passes through their defence help you to
intercept the flight-
• Their opponents do not manage to hit the shuttle path of the shuttle
back over the net
• Their opponent plays with a forehand grip Low, fast shots with
• The shuttle travels too far away from your a minimal parabolic
standing position (1 metre) flight-path will give
your opponents
less time to get the
racquet to the
shuttle
4 Drill: Master service (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Service, deception, variation, flicks
Time frame: 5-10 minutes

This drill develops students’ service game. It is a Badminton Keep your

competition challenge and targets serving; rewarding court or preparation low
attacking and strategic skills. similar space to try to hid your
This is an ‘authentic’ drill that replicates a very service from your
opponent.
important skill in badminton of using the serve as a Two players
‘point set-up’ play, rather than a defensive shot. on one court.
Stand close to the
junction of the
How to play Racquets centre and
Students can only win points from their serve. If their Shuttles service line. This
opponent returns the serve over the net into play; will minimise
they get to serve for a point. Marking your opponent’s
The serve is often a student’s weakest part of play, criteria or reaction time.
when really it should be one of their strongest. other to
This drill places great pressure on the student as they record and When you
only have one chance to get it right. Most students assess prepare for your
serve, hold your
will use clearing serves to begin with until they feel students’
swing and see if
confident to try low, angular serves into the front current and
you can fool your
corners, fast, body jamming flicks into their progressive opponent into a
opponent’s body or away from their preparation ability. wrong guess.
stance.
Remember, you
Individual scoring only have one
(first to 11) shot.
Points are awarded for an unreturnable serve that;
• lands within the single’s play zone
• is not returned into the server’s single’s play zone

Increased complexity
This game can also be played using the doubles court
which uses a shorter service line and enforces more
consideration on service choice and demonstration.
 5 Drill: Cut-throat (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skill: Game-play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5-10 minutes

This activity develops student’s ability to adapt their skills, Badminton Keep returning
undermine spatial positioning of opponents improving court or the racquet head
stamina, shot selection and tactics. similar space to a neutral
It is a competition challenge and targets poor shot choices; position in front
rewarding attacking, defensive and strategic skills. of the body. This
Three players
This is an ‘authentic’ drill that creates a highly competitive allows you to
Open environment

on one court.
environment for students to compete in, due to having two change from
opponents to play against; lessening court space, shot backhand to
options and reaction time. Racquets forehand quickly
Shuttles
How to play Target placement
This game is one player against two. Marking of the shuttle
The rules of this game are that only the single player criteria or between the
serves, and only the server can win points. other to doubles players
The single player is challenging two players, so the single record and to confuse them
player can hit the shuttle into the full court; (double’s assess and force them to
rules). The two doubles players can only hit the shuttle call shots
students’
into the single player’s court (single’s rules).
current and
Once the single player has lost a point, the players rotate in Low, fast shots
an anti-clockwise direction, with the doubles player on the progressive with a minimal
right hand side rotating to the singles court, and the other ability. parabolic flight-
players moving into the next playing space. path will give
This activity enforces the rules of singles and doubles in a your opponents
competitive environment. Students will find it difficult to less time to get
beat two players as it is harder to find free space on the the racquet to the
court. Conversely, students playing doubles against a shuttle
singles player will often forget to call for their shots and
talk to each other during play. Make your
opponent move
Individual scoring by hitting into
(First server to win 7 points)
open space.
Standard rules apply, modified that the singles player can
play the doubles court, whereas the doubles players can
only play the singles court.
6 Drill: Half-court singles (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Game-play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5-10 minutes

This activity develops students’ aerobic fitness, Badminton Keep returning

reaction time, technique and determining their court or the racquet
opponents’ weaknesses. similar space head to a
It is a competition challenge and targets game-play; neutral position
rewarding attacking, defensive and strategic skills. Four players in front of the
This is an ‘authentic’ drill that creates a highly on one court. body. This
competitive environment for students to compete in allows you to
due to a smaller playing space. Racquets change from
Shuttles backhand to
How to play forehand
This game is very fast and quite demanding physically Marking quickly
due to the extended length of time a point may last. criteria or
Students play a game of first to fifteen points (15), other to Low, fast shots
using a full half of the court. Any shot that lands record and with a minimal
outside of the playing area is out. assess parabolic flight-
Once both teams have finished their games, rotate students’ path will give
players. current and your opponents
Winners can then challenge each other for harder progressive less time to get
challenges ability. the racquet to
the shuttle
Individual scoring
(First player to win 15 points) Make your
• Standard singles rules apply opponent move
• Any part of the line is in by hitting into
open space.
7 Drill: Half-court doubles (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Game-play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5-10 minutes

This activity develops students’ aerobic fitness, Badminton Keep returning

reaction time, technique, determining and court or the racquet
strengthening personal weaknesses and court similar space head to a
coverage. neutral position
It is a competition challenge and targets non- Four players in front of the
dominant shot choices; rewarding attacking, on one court. body. This
defensive and strategic skills. allows you to
This is an ‘authentic’ drill that creates a highly Racquets change from
competitive environment for students to compete in Shuttles backhand to
due to the need to control an entire half of the court forehand
as well as supporting a teammate. Marking quickly
criteria or
How to play other to Low, fast shots
This game is played using conventional scoring and record and with a minimal
normal doubles rotation for points won (i.e. the assess parabolic flight-
server will change sides to serve to their opponents if students’ path will give
the previous service was won). current and your opponents
The rule for this game is that players cannot move progressive less time to get
into their partner’s side of the court during play; they ability. the racquet to
are responsible for their side of the court only. the shuttle
Students will normally get to play both sides of the
court during a game. Make your
Students should begin to learn how to identify the opponent move
space left open by their shot choice, and start to by hitting into
improve their decision skills as they see opportunities open space.
develop

Individual scoring Consider where

(First team to win 15 points) your opponent
• Standard rules apply has left open
A team will lose the point if they: court, and what
shot best assists
• Play a shot from their partner’s side of the court
your partner.
8 Drill: Single touch doubles (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Game-play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5-10 minutes

This activity develops students’ aerobic fitness, Badminton Keep returning

reaction time, technique, determining and court or the racquet
strengthening personal weaknesses and court similar space head to a
coverage. neutral position
It is a competition challenge and targets non- Four players in front of the
dominant shot choices; rewarding attacking, on one court. body. This
defensive and strategic skills. allows you to
This is an ‘authentic’ drill that creates a highly Racquets change from
competitive environment for students to compete in Shuttles backhand to
due to the need to control an entire court during your forehand
shot election, as well as supporting your teammate. Marking quickly
criteria or
How to play other to Low, fast shots
This game is very similar to table-tennis doubles. The record and with a minimal
players must alternate the play of the shot during a assess parabolic flight-
rally. students’ path will give
This is a very hard game and points finish quickly if current and your opponents
players do not consider where to place the shuttle, progressive less time to get
giving their partners a chance to defend and attack ability. the racquet to
the play. Strong players will be able to use clearing the shuttle
shots and quick footwork to assist their teammates.
Students should begin to develop an understanding of Make your
better shot placement and targeting exposed space opponent move
left open by their opponents. by hitting into
Calling and talking to each other are paramount in open space.
this drill, and students who have good accuracy will
find this game a lot of fun. Consider where
Individual scoring your opponent
(First team to win 21 points) has left open
• Standard rules apply court, and what
• Any part of the line is in shot best assists
your partner.
9 Drill: Singles (King of the court) (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Game-play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5-10 minutes

This activity develops students’ aerobic fitness, Badminton Keep returning

reaction time, technique, determining and court or the racquet head
strengthening personal weaknesses and court similar space to a neutral
coverage. position in front
of the body. This
It is a competition challenge and targets game-play; Two players
allows you to
rewarding attacking, defensive and strategic skills. on one court.
change from
This is an ‘authentic’ drill that creates a highly backhand to
competitive environment for students to compete in Racquets forehand quickly
replicating competitive game-play. Shuttles
Low, fast shots
How to play Marking with a minimal
This is competitive singles with the winner staying on criteria or parabolic flight-
until they are beaten by someone else. Students who other to path will give
have been undefeated on other courts for a long time record and your opponents
frame may need to challenge other ‘Kings’ for a assess less time to get
the racquet to
greater challenge. students’
the shuttle
This is a very tiring game for the person who current and
continues to win, and fatigue will eventually wear progressive Make your
them down. This activity creates challenges for all ability. opponent move
students; from number of consecutive wins, to trying by hitting into
to beat the ‘King’. open space.
Stamina, endurance and all skills associated with
competitive game play are used in this drill. Consider where
your opponent
Individual scoring has left open
(First player to win eleven (11) points) court, and what
shot best assists
• Standard rules apply
your partner.
• Any part of the line is in
Focus on short
points with
‘killing’ shots to
save energy
10 Drill: Cut back singles (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Game-play, deception, awareness, speed, arousal control and stamina
Time frame: 5-10 minutes

This drill provides an opportunity for students of Badminton Keep returning

different ability levels to play against each other in an court or the racquet head
‘authentic’ environment. It is a competition similar space to a neutral
challenge and targets singles game-play; rewarding position in front
of the body. This
attacking and strategic skills, with reduced playing Two players
allows you to
space for one player. on one court.
change from
backhand to
How to play Racquets forehand quickly
Students play conventional singles rules, however Shuttles
players can only hit into the shaded area. This means Low, fast shots
that one player has the entire singles court to play Marking with a minimal
into, whereas the other player can hit into a half criteria or parabolic flight-
court zone. other to path will give
record and your opponents
Individual scoring assess less time to get
the racquet to
(first to 15) students’
the shuttle
Conventional singles rules apply current and
• Points are also awarded if the shuttle is not progressive Make your
returned into their opponent’s play zone ability. opponent move
by hitting into
Increased complexity open space.
This game can also be played targeting any
predetermined space on the court. Consider where
your opponent
has left open
court, and what
shot best assists
your partner.

Focus on short
points with
‘killing’ shots to
save energy
11 Drill: Ghosting (Shaded area indicates the playing zone for the activity)
Skills: Replication of perfect shots, imagery, arousal and space of play area and stamina
Time frame: 2-6 minutes

This activity develops students’ ability to recall, create Badminton Players need to
and vary technical skills in an assessable environment. court or commit to their
This is an ‘authentic’ drill that replicates game-play in similar space movements and
a continuous environment. use their head to
follow the
Teachers may opt to have students performing this Two/one
imagined flight-
drill use it as a warm-up, peer assessment with a players on
path of the
template of specific skills to be shown or skills called one court. shuttle.
out by the teacher.
Students find this drill very hard to do well and Racquets Focus on changes
fatigue onsets very quickly. of hand grip, use
Marking of the head and
How to play criteria or racquet to follow
Imagination is key to this drill. Students play without other to the imagines
a shuttle against an imaginary opponent who always record and shuttle’s flight-
returns their shots. Footwork and perfect shot assess path, fast,
balanced
practise are always shown. students’
footwork and
Changes of hand grip, use of the head and racquet to current and
awareness of
follow the imagined shuttle’s flight-path, fast, progressive space
balanced footwork and awareness of space, stamina ability.
and specific technique are all assessable criteria; as
well as commitment to the task.

Increased complexity
Teachers can also adapt this drill by calling shots for
the students to play for a specific time frame.