skills and strokes

in playing
badminton
MASTERING TECHNIQUES FOR SUCCESS
introduction to skills in
badminton

FOOTWORK

GRIP

AGILITY
skills in badminton and their
importance
1. Grip
2. Serve
3. Footwork
4. Stance
5. Stroke
6. Hand-eye coordination
7. Timing and Rhythm
8. Perception and Anticipation
5 most important fitness
attributes in badminton
1. Speed and Agility
Essential attributes for success, crucial in court
movement and shot reaction.
Enable quick navigation, facilitating the player's ability
to cover ground efficiently.
2. Flexibility and Mobility
Essential for executing a wide range of movements,
including bending, twisting, and jumping.
Reduces the risk of injuries and enables players to
move freely around the court.
5 most important fitness
attributes in badminton
3. Strength and Power
Essential for generating powerful shots, making it challenging for
opponents to return.
Strength contributes to improved endurance, helping players maintain
speed and agility during a match
4. Endurance and Stamina
Critical for prolonged matches requiring sustained physical exertion.
Enables players to maintain intensity, focus, and minimizes fatigue.
5. Reaction Time
Critical for success, especially in responding to high-speed shots.
Fast reaction time is pivotal for returning shots accurately.
footwork techniques
Footwork in badminton is the
art of moving efficiently and
strategically around the court
using your feet. It's the
foundation for success in the
game, influencing every aspect of
your performance, from reaching
shots to executing powerful
attacks.
footwork techniques
1. The Basic Stance
It is the foundation for all your movements and plays a crucial role in your agility,
stability, and reaction time.
Stand sideways to the net with your non-dominant foot forward and dominant foot
slightly back.
‌Bend your knees slightly for agility and balance.
‌Hold your racket in front of your body with a relaxed grip.
2. The Lunge
It is a powerful and dynamic movement where you extend one leg forward with a
large stride while bending both knees, lowering your center of gravity.
Step forward with your dominant foot, lunging towards the shot while keeping your
body low and center of gravity balanced.
‌Push off with your non-dominant foot to regain balance and prepare for the next
shot.
footwork techniques
3. The Shuffle
A fundamental movement technique used for quick lateral movement across the
court.
For quick lateral movement across the court.
‌Take small, quick steps sideways with both feet, maintaining a low stance and
keeping your racket in front of your body.
‌Shuffle left or right depending on the direction of the shuttlecock.
4. The Crossover
A fundamental and versatile technique in badminton used for quickly changing
direction and closing the gap to the shuttlecock, especially across the court.
Cross your dominant foot behind your non-dominant foot as you step back,
turning your body to face the net.
‌Maintain a low stance and push off with your dominant foot to regain balance
and move forward.
footwork techniques
5. The Footwork Patterns
Footwork patterns are the strategic movements of your feet in
badminton, crucial for positioning yourself optimally to reach the
shuttlecock and execute shots effectively.
Split Step: A quick step backward with both feet before lunging for
a shot.
Defensive Slide: Sliding sideways with both feet together to cover
cross-court shots.
Net Steps: Small shuffling steps forward and backward to control
the net area.
tips for mastering footwork
Practice regularly: Focus on drills that emphasize specific footwork patterns
and refine your movement.
Coordinate with your strokes: Link your footwork with your stroke
technique for smooth and efficient movement.
Stay on your toes: Be light and agile, ready to react quickly to any shot.
Read your opponent: Anticipate their shots and adjust your footwork
accordingly.
Maintain balance: Don't get caught flat-footed. Aim for a stable stance after
each movement.

Remember: Mastering badminton footwork requires dedication and practice.

grip techniques
One of the most common mistakes we see that impact a
player’s success on the court is their grip choice. It is important to
learn the correct grips as the wrong grip can reduce your power,
minimise the control of your shots and increase the risk of injury.

The 4 grips used in badminton are:

1. Forehand grip
2. Backhand grip
3. Bevel grip
4. Panhandle grip
grip techniques
1. FOREHAND GRIP In this type of grip, your
fingers should be loosely around the grip, and
this is important for all 4 grips. If you are
gripping the racket too tightly, then it
becomes much more difficult to quickly
change between grips when necessary in the
middle of a rally. A tight grip will also limit
your ability to generate control and power in
your shots.
The forehand grip is used for:
Forehand clears, smashes and drops
Forehand drives
Forehand lifts
Forehand net shots
grip techniques
2. BACKHAND GRIP Players must be able to twist the racket
fast enough in order to change and use different grip for
backhand shots. With a backhand thumb grip, it will be easier
for you to make the shot across the court. The easiest way to
learn the backhand grip is to set up with your thumb on top
of the wider section of the grip, with your strings facing the
floor & ceiling like in the photo below. Your fingers should be
relaxed around the side.
The backhand grip is used for:
Backhand drives
Backhand lifts
Backhand net shots
Backhand serves
Doubles defence
grip techniques
3. BEVEL GRIP The bevel grip, or sometimes called
the Eastern grip, is a badminton grip where the base
knuckle of the index finger rests on the third bevel of
the racket handle. To learn the bevel grip you can
start in a backhand grip and move your racket head
round so that your strings are now facing diagonally,
and your thumb is on the ridge / bevel. You would
move the racket anti-clockwise from your backhand
grip if you are right handed, and clockwise from this
position if you are left handed.
grip techniques
The bevel grip is used for:
Backhand rear-court shots
Some forehand and backhand net shots
If the shuttle is behind you (like it should be when
taking a rear-court backhand shot), then you
should have a bevel grip grip with your thumb
further round.
grip techniques
4. PANHANDLE GRIP The panhandle grip is the one that
actually comes most naturally to beginners because it’s
easy to hit overhead shots with. The panhandle grip is
where you have the thumb on the side of the racket,
pinching the sides with your thumb and fingers in the
position
The panhandle grip is used for:
Late backhand rear-court shots
Retrieving a net-cord on the backhand side
Some net kills or drives depending on your position
and preference.
grip techniques
IMPORTANCE OF GRIP TECHNIQUES
You’ll need to have a good grip on the racket in order to hit the shuttle
properly.
A strong grip minimizes the chances of injuries in case you miss or hit
your opponent with the shuttlecock.
A good grip helps you control the shuttlecock and gives you an
advantage over your opponent.
INCORRECT GRIP
Thumb should not be covering any of your fingers as this would
constraint the movement of racket. This kind of grip would allow little
or no movement of racket at all.
Index finger should not be extended to prevent injuries. Index fingers
must be bent and wrap the racket handle naturally.
essential skills in badminton
SERVING
A serve is one of the most
important aspects of badminton.
It marks the beginning of a point
and if done effectively, can be
the first step towards making
your opponent play a bad shot
and winning the point.
essential skills in badminton
SMACHING
The smash is probably the
most attacking shot in badminton
and if executed well it is probably
the most difficult shot to return,
just because of the pace and
direction put on the shuttle.
essential skills in badminton
NET PLAY
What is the net play in badminton?
These shots are played from
around the net area back to your
opponent's net area. It can be
played both on the forehand and
backhand sides. The objective is to
force your opponent to hit a weak
lift or hit shots that could not clear
the net. These shots can be played
straight or cross court.
essential skills in badminton
TUMBLING NET SHOT
The tumbling net shot or the spinning net shot is one of the
important shots in net play.
NET KILL
The net kill is used to end the rally if the opponent poorly hits the
shuttle in the air around the net area.
NET LIFT
The net lift or net clear is a defensive shot that can be used when
your opponent hits a pretty good net shot to your court.
CROSS NET SHOT
This shot can be deceptive and pretty hard for your opponent to
pick if executed correctly.
essential skills in badminton
STANCE
A good stance provides balance, quickness, and power.
essential skills in badminton
FORWARD ATTACKING STANCE
This stance is usually used when trying to play an overhead forehand
shot.
BACKWARD ATTACKING STANCE
A backhand attacking stance can be advantageous for excellent power
and speed players.
DEFENSIVE STANCE
A defensive stance is one of the easiest stances to learn and perform by
a player compared to the others.
RECEIVE AND SERVING STANCE
Receive and serving stance is quite similar to the backward attacking
stance.
essential skills in badminton
However, in this stance, you get sufficient
time to wait and be prepared for the next
moves.

Remember: While serving, your feet

should remain on the badminton court.
Or else it will be counted as a fault.
TYPES OF STOKES IN BADMINTON
SMASH
Trajectory: Close to the net
Played from: Back court/Mid-court
Purpose: To provide less time for
the opponent

Most lethal shot in badminton. It

can be defined as a drive angled
downwards. It can be used when the
shuttle is high in the air and can be
angled downward
TYPES OF STOKES IN BADMINTON
DRIVE
Trajectory: Flat, towards the body
Played from: Mid-court
Purpose: Defensive Shot

The drive is a flat shot hit directly and

slightly over the net. It is a very powerful
and quick counter attacking shot. Your
racket should be held with the head facing
straight ahead. It can sometimes be
strategic to aim the shot at your opponent
who will be unable to react or shift his body
in time as their natural reaction will be to
duck/avoid the shot.
TYPES OF STOKES IN BADMINTON
DROP SHOT
The badminton drop shot is semi-
offensive. It’s performed from the back
of the court and is usually used to
maintain the pace of the game.
TYPES OF STOKES IN BADMINTON
2 TYPES OF DROP SHOT

1. Fast Drop Shot

Where the shuttlecock travels
down steeply and lands further away
from the net.
TYPES OF STOKES IN BADMINTON
2 TYPES OF DROP SHOT

2. Slow Drop Shot

The shuttle does not travel down
steeply but lands nearer to the net.
TYPES OF STOKES IN BADMINTON
CLEAR SHOT/DEFENSIVE SHOT
Also known as lobbing, the
clear shot is the most important
badminton shot especially in a
Singles Game. A clear is a
badminton shot that is hit close
from your baseline towards the
opponent’s baseline. Clears are
hit high and deep and are
mostly a means to prolong the
rally.
TYPES OF STOKES IN BADMINTON
2 TYPE OF CLEAR/DEFENSIVE
SHOT

1. Overhead Clear Shot

An overhead clear is a
DEFENSIVE SHOT that allows a
player time to recover by forcing
their opponent to move and
increasing the amount of time
the birdie is in the air.
TYPES OF STOKES IN BADMINTON
2 TYPE OF CLEAR/DEFENSIVE
SHOT

2. Under Arm Clear Shot

Is an effective shot to drive the
opponent into the rear court. It
is played from the forecourt to
the opponent's rear court. The
underarm clear is a defensive
shot and it is generally used to
counter a drop shot.
SMASH TECHNIQUE
1. Get into position and
adopt the Forehand Grip.
SMASH TECHNIQUE

2. Stand on a firm position.

3. Raise your Racket Arm
and Non-Racket Arm.
SMASH TECHNIQUE

4. Take the shuttle at the

highest point possible.
5. Hit the Shuttle with a Full
Arm Swing.
SMASH TECHNIQUE

6. Follow Through with your

Swing.
SMASH TECHNIQUE
TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FOR EXECUTING A
POWERFUL SMASH

A. Positioning: Proper positioning lays the foundation for a

successful smash.
B. Grip: The grip on your racket is a critical factor in
achieving control and power.
C. Body Rotation: Engaging core muscles and mastering
body rotation is key to unlocking the full potential of your
smash.
D. Timing: Anticipate the trajectory of the ball or shuttlecock
to perfect your timing.
SMASH TECHNIQUE
TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FOR EXECUTING A
POWERFUL SMASH

E. Swing Technique: Begin with the racket behind you for a

controlled backswing, and move it rapidly through the hitting
zone.
F. Wrist Snap: Snap your wrist at the point of impact to add
extra power to the smash.
G. Focus on Technique: Prioritize proper form and
technique over relying solely on strength.
H. Practice: Regular drills with a partner or against a wall
help nail down your timing and coordination.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVES IN BADMINTON
1. High Serve
This serve is executed by hitting the shuttlecock high into the
opponent's backcourt.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVES IN BADMINTON
2. Low Serve
The low serve is performed by keeping the shuttlecock close to the
net and directing it just over the net.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVES IN BADMINTON
3. Flick Serve
A deceptive serve where the server initially looks like they are going
for a low serve but instead flicks the shuttlecock high.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVES IN BADMINTON
4. Drive Serve
In this serve, the shuttlecock is hit with power and speed, usually
aiming for the opponent's midcourt area.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A CONSISTENT AND ACCURATE SERVE

Death By 1000 Shuttles (Solo Drill)

The Death by 1000 Shuttles is a simple routine that is perfect
for everyone. It can be used by beginners to learn how to serve or
by advanced players to perfect their serving technique.
Serving Accuracy (Solo Drill)
After you have mastered the motion of the serve, now it is time
to perfect your accuracy.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A
CONSISTENT AND ACCURATE SERVE

For the Serving Accuracy Drill, place

a bucket or a box (something to mark an
area) on the other side of the court in a
position you want to aim for. Try to serve
as many shuttles into the area as
possible.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A CONSISTENT
AND ACCURATE SERVE

Keepin’ It Low (Solo Drill)

A more difficult drill, the Keepin’ it Low drill
is definitely for when you want to take your
serve to the next level. The Keepin’ it Low drill
helps you practice getting the shuttle as low to
the next as possible so that your opponent
can’t attack your serve no matter how close to
the net they are standing.
Keepin’ it Low is for practicing short serves
only.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A CONSISTENT AND ACCURATE SERVE

Flick ‘N’ Drive (Solo Or Pair Drill)

A good fun drill to practice for flick and drive serves, the Flick ‘n’ Drive
can be performed as a solo drill or in a pair if you have someone to train
with.
SOLO DRILL
Level 1 is just a simple drill to practice getting your flick and drive to
look exactly the same as your short serve.
Take some shuttles and practice your flick and drive serve, but really
focus on making it look the same as your short until the last second when
you surprise your opponent.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A CONSISTENT
AND ACCURATE SERVE

PAIR DRILL
A good fun drill to practice your flick and
drive serves and at the same time adding a
little competition to spice things up.
The aim of the game is to flick or drive at
your opponent without them being able to
smash the shuttle back at you.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A CONSISTENT AND
ACCURATE SERVE
Toeing The Line (Pair Drill)
The Toeing the line drill is a great drill to
practice your short serve under pressure.
So far we have mainly practiced serving
pressure free. However, when serving in a
game, one of the hardest parts of serving is the
mental aspect of the serve. The pressure of
someone standing so close to the next that they
can almost hit the shuttle as soon as it comes
over can make some people’s serve crumble.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A CONSISTENT
AND ACCURATE SERVE

Back-Line-Challenge (Solo Or Pair Drill)

This drill is specific practice for a forehand
long serve for singles. As you will see in our
article Badminton Serves: Types of Serves and
How to Play Them, the aim of a forehand long
singles serve is to get the shuttle as high and
to the back as possible.
SERVING TECHNIQUE
TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A CONSISTENT
AND ACCURATE SERVE
Footwork (Solo Drill)
Not technically a drill for serving, but
actually returning a serve. Footwork is not only
good for practicing your return of serve, as
anytime you are working on your badminton
footwork, you’re improving every area of the
game from helping you reach the shuttle
quicker to returning to the middle of the court
faster.
One way to practice footwork is the
badminton court clock.
DROP SHOT AND CLEAR TECHNIQUE
TYPES OF DROP SHOT
1. Hairpin Drop Shot
Gently dropping the shuttle over the net with minimal power,
making it fall close to the net on the opponent's side.
DROP SHOT AND CLEAR TECHNIQUE
TYPES OF DROP SHOT
2. Fast Drop Shot
Executed with a quick wrist action, sending the shuttle sharply
downward to catch opponents off guard.
DROP SHOT AND CLEAR TECHNIQUE
TYPES OF DROP SHOT

3. Slice Drop Shot

Adding a slicing motion to
the shuttle to create spin,
making it challenging for
opponents to return accurately.
DROP SHOT AND CLEAR TECHNIQUE
TYPES OF DROP SHOT
4. Reverse Slice Drop Shot
Similar to the slice drop, but the shuttle is sliced in the
opposite direction, adding deception to the shot.
DROP SHOT AND CLEAR TECHNIQUE
TYPES OF DROP SHOT

5. Tumbling Drop Shot

Making the shuttle tumble
in the air, creating
unpredictability and making it
challenging for opponents to
anticipate the shuttle's
trajectory.
DROP SHOT AND CLEAR TECHNIQUE
DROP SHOT AND CLEAR TECHNIQUE

USE OF CLEAR SHOT

1. Defensive clears
2. Creating space
3. Changing tempo
4. Counterattacking
5. Playing against the wind
6. Setting up smashes
7. recovery
Thank
You