How to perfect your badminton strokes

When we pick up a sport, it is easy to just stagnate at a certain level and resign yourself to the fact
that we will never be amazing at it. Why? Because most people do not know how to become better
so inertia just takes over. If you are able to master the fundamentals, you will be able to master the
more advanced skills too. Here are some straightforward exercises you can start to add to your
training regime to take your game to the next level. Because badminton footwork is such an
essential part of badminton and it directly affects your strokes, the first half of these exercises are
dedicated to improving your footwork.

4 Helpful footwork exercises

Badminton is one of the sports which require the most endurance. These exercises are
aimed at helping to improve your fitness levels.

1. Jog

Try to jog at least 3 days a week for 30 minutes on end. Endurance is a key factor in
badminton and the more stamina you have, the better you more you are to constantly retrieve shots
without tiring out.

2. Skip

Skip for at least 10 minutes a day. This will train you to be more comfortable on your toes,
helping to keep your feet light and nimble.

3. Shadow Playing

Practice shadow playing to allow yourself to visualize how to move till it becomes instinctual.
If you can master this, you won't have to consciously worry about the footwork needed in real game
situations.

4. Silent Footwork

You can measure your quality of footwork by observing how little noise your feet make
when you move and land. The lesser the sound, the better you are at absorbing the pressure, weight
of your body and keeping your balance.

4 Easy stroke exercises

1. Play Half-Court Singles

This is a common type of exercise among badminton players allowing you to focus on your
technique instead of footwork or endurance. Both of you should only make use of the first half of
the court while rallying to each other. Since half the court is removed, it limits the types of strokes
you can use and it reduces the movement required. It is a face paced exercise in a confined space
that trains you to have quicker reflexes while focusing on particular strokes.

2. Play Rear-Court Singles

 Instead of standing at the front half of the court, both of you will stand in the second half of
the court just before the last rear line. Start a rally hitting the shuttle to each other as high into the
air as possible. This is a basic exercise which allows you to improve your drive and clear strokes,
getting you familiar with right technique used when contacting the shuttle and the power required
to hit the shuttle high in the air to the back of the court.

3. Work on your weak strokes

Have a friend or trainer consistently serving shuttles to you till you are able to recover and
switch between strokes effortlessly. The trainer or friend must take note to serve the shuttle to you
at all sides of your body, forcing you to use different types of strokes to return the shuttle. After
which, he can focus on the strokes you have most difficulty with. Many new players tend to have
weak backhands so if you notice you have difficulty in that area, spend the entire session returning
shuttles solely with your backhand.

4. Train Your Smashes and Lifts

Being able to execute a proper smash and smash defence are the abilities that separate the
serious and the casual players. For this advanced exercise, one player initially acts as the lifter,
constantly lifting (and subsequently defending) the shuttle cock high in the air into a smashing
position for the other. The other player constantly attempts to smash the shuttlecock back
downwards.

This training allows players to practise two very specific strokes - their smashes and their
lifts. After a while, swap positions.At the end of the day, badminton is not just an exercise but a sport
that you may want to play competitively or even teach your children one day.