The 5 Basic skill for Badminton

Badminton is a very beginner-friendly sport but difficult to master. Anybody can learn and master the basic skills for Badminton.

Here are Five basic skills you need to learn to play Badminton:

• Knowing how to warm up properly

In order to play badminton, it is very important to first get ready with good badminton warming up exercises. A proper warm-up will help you to:

1. Prevent injury
2. Stretch muscles & joints
3. Increase heart rate & flexibility
4. Improve your performance & readiness

• The basic forehand and backhand grip
• The forehand and backhand grip looks almost the same. There’s only one slight difference – the placement of finger

Forehand Badminton Gripping Technique

Your thumb does not necessarily have to press against the wider surface of the badminton grip for a forehand stroke.

Your index finger should be the one “in control” in a forehand stroke. This simply means using your index finger to push the racquet 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.

Backhand Badminton Gripping Technique

The key to perform strong backhands depends on how you hold your racquet. The true power of a badminton backhand shot comes from the push of your thumb.

A backhand stroke requires you to USE 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.

The backhand grip will look like you’re doing a ‘thumbs up’.

Generating power with Finger Action…

Just remember, finger action plays an important role in generating strength for a badminton stroke.

• Push your index finger forward for forehand strokes.
• Push your thumb forward for backhand strokes.

• The basic six corners footwork

• If you can master these six pieces of footwork for Badminton then you’re off to a good start. The six pieces of footwork are:

  • Travelling to the forehand side of the net
  • Travelling to the backhand side of the net
  • Covering the forehand mid-court
  • Covering the backhand mid-court
  • Moving to the forehand rear-court
  • Moving to the backhand rear-court
• The split step or the ready stance
• The split step is a technique used to get ready for the next shot. It’s used not only in Badminton but in sports like Tennis as well. It’s the basis of building good footwork and speed around the court. A good split step is for a Badminton player what a good start out of the blocks is for a runner. If you don’t have a good split step you’ll be playing catch up to your opponent.

  So how do you do the split step? It’s simple but can be tricky to master. When you return to your base position on court you want to make a slight jump in the air and land with your feet apart. You want to time the landing of your feet just after your opponent hits the shuttle. That way you can land the split step and immediately push off to the next shot.

• The basic shots

• If you are a beginner, read on to know about the five essential badminton shots – Clear, Drive, Drop, Smash, Net – and when to use them.
  

  Clear shot

  Trajectory: high, towards the back court
  Played from: Back court
  Purpose: Defensive shot

  Aim of this shot is to let the shuttle fly high in the air and land at your opponent’s back court. It is used when you need time to get back to the base before the next return or if you don’t have a clear opportunity to kill and win the point.

  

  Drop

  Trajectory: Looping close to the net
  Played from: Back court
  Purpose: Attacking Shot

  It is used when the shuttle is heading towards you in the back court. As an attempt to this stroke, the player must hit downward towards the opponent’s fore-court, aiming for it to go just over the net. The closer the shuttle drops to the net, the harder it is to return.

  This shot is used when the opponent is in the back court, expecting a clear shot or a drive.

  

  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.

  

  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 downwards.

  Net Shots are used to create opportunities and dominate the front court.
  

  Net Lift

  Trajectory: high, towards the back court

  Played from: Forecourt
  Purpose: Defensive shot

  The net lift sends the shuttle high up to your opponent’s baseline. It is hit from very close to the net. When you find it difficult to retrieve your opponent’s net shot, you can choose the defensive net lift. Do not hesitate to lift it high and towards the back court. This can prevent your opponent from striking with a net kill. Practice to lift the shuttle high enough so the shuttle won’t hit the net.