LESSON 3: Badminton Service and Footwork

Every battle for a badminton point starts with a serve. It’s the first step
that opens up the game and introduces players to each other. Every
contact in badminton is important, but the first time you hit the birdie may
have a very significant effect on you.

For this lecture session, we will emphasize the other skills in playing badminton which is
the “basic service”.

A good serve can put you in an enormous advantage, since if played correctly; the
opponent might use up a big portion of mental and physical strength for the return. This means
that their counter won’t be as effective, which gives the serving player the before-mentioned
advantage because the next progress of the exchange can be decided freely and entirely based
on their judgment and needs.

Nonetheless, serving has its rules and technique as well. These need to be obeyed
in order to execute a correct initiation of the exchange. Let us learn together by exploring and
discovering the basic service in the sport badminton!

A. Basic Service

i. Low Backhand Service

The low backhand service 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 of the line of his service court. It must
not be too high or predictable, otherwise it would be easy for your opponent to do an outright
smash or net kill.

A nice and solid backhand serve can be taught in 5 easy steps. Firstly, pick up your
racket and hold it in the backhand grip, but not too tight, just the right amount to feel
comfortable. The position of the racket doesn’t have to be 100% perfect, you can always modify
it depending on the respective serve, just get the basic grip right.

Next up, use your thumb and forefinger to pick up the birdie so its head points to you
and the feathers to the net. Bear in mind that the angle of the birdie will have a big effect on the
overall trajectory of the serve, so choose it carefully and adapt to the situation.

As far as the positioning is concerned, stand with your racket foot forward and with
your racket and birdie facing the net.

Once you are set, aim and execute the serve.

The recommended area to strike the serve to is the beginning or the end of the square
diagonally to your serving position. The momentum for the serve is created by the shift of weight
from the back foot to the front foot. The release of the birdie should be done by a gentle flick. Be
careful to maintain a sufficient distance to be able to create enough momentum. Don’t be afraid
to experiment in this regard.

Diagram 1: Low Backhand Service Position

In order to complete your understanding on how low backhand service perform, you may
use the link provided: https://youtu.be/YcmpvlBfrYA

ii. High Forehand Service

The high forehand service 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.

Similarly, to the previous badminton serve technique, forehand can also be described in
simple steps which are needed for the basic understanding.

The first step would be to use the forehand racket grip, which was already discussed in
the previous module. The grip should be comfortable and close to the base of the racket for
more control.

Secondly, take the birdie into your hands and use your thumb and other fingers to hold it
at the head while moving it up all the way to your shoulder height. The birdie should experience
a free fall to your thigh level height until it’s sent to the opponent’s side.

Be sure to make two separate movements, one for the birdie and a second one with the
racket, don’t do it simultaneously. The forehand service is mostly used during singles matches
and requires a stance approximately 2 meters from the net.

Your arms should be raised and the racket leg behind. You should be always aiming
diagonally and into the front or rear part of the square on the court.

High forehand serves should land in the back area of the square, whereas, the low
forehand serve should be aimed at the beginning of this part of the court and the contact with
the birdie should be below your waist. The momentum is created mainly by your hips and the
upper-body movement. The weight is initially positioned on the back foot and then changes to
the front foot.
 The distance between the birdie and the racket can be once again freely modified to fit
your needs but prepare to be in a full swing position. This means that the racket needs to be
approximately at your side. To hit the forehand badminton serve you intend to, you need to
change the power and angle of the birdie. The high serve, for example, should have the
qualities of height and distance to hit the rear of the court.

Diagram 2: High Forehand Service Position

For you to be more familiar in the high forehand service, here attached the link that you
may use: https://youtu.be/fr0HFft4PQ0

iii. Flick Service

The flick service 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.

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.

Moreover, the flick serve is best used when your opponent is rushing you and you’re
under pressure. It works especially well in doubles games. However, keep in mind that a flick
serve can leave you vulnerable if your opponent can tell that it’s coming. That’s why it’s best to
use it only occasionally.

In order to generate power for the serve, you must shift your weight to your dominant
foot. However, to fool your opponent, it’s important to bring your racket back in a slow, steady
motion, just as you would for a normal low serve.

As you bring the racket forward to hit the shuttle, you must suddenly increase the speed
so your opponent doesn’t recognize the flick serve until the last moment. With
your wrist and forearm, generate enough power to flick or snap the shuttle over your opponent
so they don’t have a chance to hit it back.
 After you flick the shuttle with the goal of lifting it over your opponent, make sure to finish
your swing’s follow-through. Your follow-through should mimic the line of the shuttle, so you’re
ready to defend against a possible return from your opponent.

Diagram 3: Flick Service Position

To fully understand how to execute flick service properly, use the uploaded link as you
guide: https://youtu.be/actiqtyjq40

iv. Drive Service

This is an attacking serve that is used by the top badminton players. The idea is to hit
the shuttle directly at your opponent, limiting their return options and catching them off guard,
winning you easy points. It’s a good change of pace but it is also risky as if your opponent is
prepared, he could just smash the shuttlecock back at you.

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.

Diagram 4: Drive Service Position

 Here appeared a useful link courtesy from youtube that you may use while trying to learn
the drive service: https://youtu.be/6chDR28aa7g

Diagram 5: Four Basic Service

The diagram 5 “Four Basic Service” shows how to determine the approximate high and
landing position of each service.

Right now, we are through discovering the basic service in badminton. It is the time to
jump into another part of this module that will focus on the different footwork that we need to
consider. Let’s get started!

Many people neglect badminton footwork because it might not seem important at all.

You might hear some people say “why care about footwork when I can do a 300km/h
smash”. Are you thinking that way too?

However, I would say that footwork is THE most important skill you should master. It’s
even more important than smashing!

This is because an effective and organized footwork provides superb speed and agility
which enables the player to move around the badminton court swiftly and return every
shuttlecock. So what if you can do a 300km/h smash when you cannot even reach the
shuttlecock in time?

Playing badminton is all about speed. The shuttlecock can move extremely fast and you
must move faster than the shuttlecock to be able to hit it.
 Diagram 6: Movement on the Court

Always remember your base (starting point) will be at the gray dot in the middle. The
arrows indicate the possible movements around the court.

Every time you move away from your base to hit the shuttle, you MUST QUICKLY return
to your base to prepare yourself for your opponent's shot.

For instance, you move to point A to take a shuttle and then stay there. Your opponent
then returns the shuttle back to you at point B. You are less likely able to get to point B in time
from point A.

Conversely, if you quickly return to your base after hitting the shuttle at point A, you will
definitely be able to return the shuttle at point B.

For the further learnings in the basic footwork in badminton, you can use the link
provided as a greatest source of information and techniques: https://youtu.be/I9ALMfFaiIE