Basic Skills in Badminton

Skills

o Basic Gripping Technique

o Badminton Strokes
o Badminton Serves
o Badminton Shots
Basic Gripping Technique
• The correct way of holding a racquet is as simple as a
friendly handshake. Imagine the grip of the racket as a
hand approaching to shake your hand. Go ahead and
hold the racket as if you’re shaking someone’s hand.
• The way you hold your racket can affect the flexibility of
your wrist. In order to execute strong badminton strokes
with high accuracy, your wrist needs to be flexible.
Forehand Grip and Backhand Grip
The forehand and backhand grip looks almost the
same. The only difference while playing the 2 kinds of
strokes is In the use of your fingers.
• Push the index finger forward while playing forehand
strokes.
• Push the thumb forward while playing backhand
strokes.
One must learn to quickly switch from forehand to
backhand grip, vice versa. This enables you to quickly
prepare for your strokes and hit the shuttle at the highest
point, hence delivering quality shots
Forehand Grip
Your index finger should
be the one “in control” in a
forehand stroke. This simply
means using your index finger to
push the racket forward while
doing a forehand stroke.
However, rest your thumb
comfortably anywhere near the
wider surface of the badminton
grip to enable you to change to
a backhand grip quickly.
Forehand Grip
Hold the racket handle using a hand-
shake grip.
Do not grip too tightly. Gently hold the
racket and you should still be able to
move and twist the racket with flexible
wrist movement.
Clench tightly only when hit is
executed. The ring and last finger are
there to prevent racket slipping out of
hands.
A good guideline is to form a V-Shape
between the thumb and index finger.
Backhand Grip
The key to perform strong
backhands depends on how you
hold your racket. The true power of
a badminton backhand shot comes
from the push of your thumb. So
you should now press your thumb
on the wider surface of the
badminton grip. Relax your index
finger and move it closer to your
middle finger.
Backhand Grip
The front of the racket head must
constantly be facing the incoming
shuttlecock for a successful return to
opponent’s court.
Thumb should be placed correctly on
the racket handle where the front of
racket frame is. This is because your
thumb is the main driver to push the
racket for all backhand shots.
Again, clench loosely on the handle
and tighten only when hit is executed.
The backhand grip will look like you’re
doing a ‘thumbs up’.
Badminton Strokes
A badminton stroke is the movement of the
player’s racket with an intention to hit the shuttle.
The strokes are not about what happens after
you have hit the shuttle, that is what the shots are.
The strokes are about what happens before you hit
the shuttle, how do you hold your racket, how do you
swing it, and in which location.
It is important to note here that only the
intention of hitting the shuttle is already considered a
stroke.
 It is generally accepted to divide the badminton
strokes into four types:

• Under-chest forehand stroke

• Under-chest backhand stroke
• Over-chest forehand stroke
• Over-chest backhand stroke

 The under-chest strokes are usually defensive in nature because

the shuttle needs to start with an upwards trajectory to go over
the net.
 The over-chest strokes tend to be offensive in nature because
the shuttle can have a downwards trajectory to go over the
net.
Badminton Serves
These are the four main types of services in badminton and
most can be executed with either your forehand or backhand.
1. Low Serve – is almost a gentle tap over the net with the shuttle,
with the aim of flying just over the net, yet falling just over the
front line of his service court.
2. High Serve - is a powerful strike upwards with the shuttle, that
aims to travel a great distance upwards and fall deep at the rear
end of the court.
3. Flick Serve - is also played upwards but at a much lesser altitude.
It is most common for players to use their backhand to execute the
flick serve and the trajectory is lower as this grip has less power.
4. Drive Serve - an attacking serve used o hit the shuttle directly at
your opponent, limiting their return options and catching them off
guard, winning you easy points.
Low Serve
This serve is used when you want
the shuttlecock to land in front of
the court. A good low serve will
have the shuttlecock flying just
above the net. A low serve
prevents your opponent from
making an offensive shot.
High Serve
This type of serve is usually
executed when you want the
shuttle to land at the back end of
the court. A good high serve must
have the shuttle dropping steeply
downwards at the back end of
the court.
Flick Serve
The whole point of the backhand
flick serve is deception, by mixing
your serves up and making it look
like you're doing a low serve. For
this reason, serving with your
backhand is thus very popular
with competitive players.
Drive Serve
This serve is executed with your
forehand through underarm action and
following through. The shuttle should be
dropped a bit sideways rather than in
front of your body and hit flatter. It's a
good change of pace but it is also risky
as the opponent could just smash the
shuttlecock back at you.
Badminton Serves Trajectory
Badminton Serves
All shots in badminton can be classified broadly into either
offensive or defensive shots.
1. Clear Shot – also known as lobbing, is the most important
badminton shot. It is commonly used to get oneself more organized
while under pressure and buys you time work yourself back into the
rally. It is also strategic to use when your opponent is near to the
fore-court, forcing him to retract to the back to retrieve the shuttle.
Overhead Defensive Clear Underarm Defensive Clear
2. Drive Shot - is a powerful, quick counter-
attacking shot that is easy to execute. It can
be played both on the forehand or
backhand. The aim is to deliver a flat and
fast drive to get the shuttle behind your
opponent causing them to make a weak
return.
3. Drop Shot – a semi-offensive performed from
the back of the court and is usually used to
maintain the pace of the game. When
executing a drop shot, you only use a little
force to push the shuttle over the net. This
shot is strategic to use when the opponent
is near to the backcourt, anticipating your
stroke to be a clear or drive.
4. Smash - one of the most powerful badminton shots. It
is often difficult to return because of the pace and
the downward angle of the shot. It is best used
when the shuttle is high in the air so that it can be
angled downwards. However, when you decide to
smash, you’re taking a risk. Smashing causes you to
lose a certain degree of balance. It can also be
performed by jumping and smashing in mid air.

5. Net Kill - a useful skill to end a rally if your

opponent executes a poor quality net shot
that is too high. It is always important to
disguise your shots so it will not become too
easy for your opponent to predict
6. Net Shot – are used to create opportunities
and dominate the front of the court. A good
net shot can force your opponent to perform
a high lift/clear, thus giving you an
opportunity to smash. It is a very important
skill to help you win badminton rallies
7. Net Lift - sends the shuttle high up to your
opponent’s baseline. It is similar to the
underarm defensive clear but the net lift is
usually performed very closely to the net.

While many may be confused with the difference in a shot and

stroke, a badminton stroke is the swinging motion performed before
you take a shot. In a nutshell, the strokes you execute is fundamental
in producing a good shot in a game of badminton.
Fin.