Badminton Basic for Beginner

As a beginner, you should learn the basics BEFORE learning how to hit badminton shots.In fact, you should get your basics right from the start or else you will develop bad habits that will restrict you from becoming a pro player.

The basics that I highly recommend you learn are...

Basic Gripping Technique

The correct way of holding a racquet is as simple as a FRIENDLY HANDSHAKE. Imagine the grip of the racquet as a hand approaching to shake your hand. Go ahead and hold the racquet as if you're shaking someone's hand.

To achieve this, make sure you:

• Do not grip your racquet too tightly. This will make your wrist less flexible in rotating and flicking.
• Use ONLY your thumb, index, and middle finger to control the racket. Your last 2 fingers should rest comfortably on the badminton grip to balance the weight of the racquet. By doing this, it enables your wrist to be more flexible and move more freely.

Basically you'll need to use the:

• Forehand grip to hit forehand shots. 
• Backhand grip to hit backhand shots.

The forehand and backhand grip looks almost the same. There's only one slight difference - the placement of your fingers. You'll understand this when I explain more about these 2 badminton gripping technique below.

Pro Players Switch Grips Quickly

You should learn to switch quickly from the forehand to backhand grip, and vice versa.This enables you to quickly prepare for your strokes and hit the shuttle at the highest point, hence delivering quality shots. 

As you play badminton at a higher level, you'll find yourself switching between these 2 grips WITHOUT EVEN THINKING!

Basic Footwork

       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 the footwork is THE most important skill you should master. It's even more important than smashing!

      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.

Always remember your base (starting point) will be at the red dot in the middle. The arrows indicates 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.

Badminton Serve

A WEAK serve often creates a chance for your opponent to execute an attacking shot. Therefore it's important to know how to serve properly so that you will not lose a point after making a service.

1. The High Badminton 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.

A high serve will prevent your opponent from executing a strong smash. Instead, a lob or a drop is more expected from your opponent (unless they can do a jump smash).

Try to serve the shuttlecock to your opponent's backhand area. The objective is to force your opponent to use his backhand. This is because most badminton players, even world class player, have weaker backhands (compared to their forehands)

Let me show you how to do a high serve...

Hold the head of the shuttlecock with its head facing downwards so that the shuttlecock will drop straight down. Stand sideways (the side of your body facing the net) and relax your racquet arm (arm that is holding the racquet).Let go of the shuttlecock and swing your racquet arm upwards. As you do this, twist your waist to the extent that your body faces the net. Flick your wrist towards the direction you want the shuttle to land (Flick your wrist upwards, so that the shuttlecock will fly high).Your back leg should lift up naturally (with your toes touching the ground).

2. The Low Badminton Serve

he low serve is used when you want the shuttlecock to land in front of the court (in front of your opponent).

A GOOD low serve will have the shuttlecock flying JUST ABOVE THE NET.

If not, your opponent will have the chance to dash forward and smash the shuttle down to you.

A low serve, when executed beautifully, prevents your opponent from making an offensive shot.

Let me show you how to do a low serve...

Hold the feather of the shuttlecock with the head of the shuttlecock facing downwards.

Position the racquet behind the shuttlecock.

Step slightly forward with your right (left) leg if you are right handed (left handed).

As you let go of the shuttlecock, flick your racquet lightly while pushing your thumb forward towards the direction you want the shuttle to land. The power comes mainly from the push of your thumb and the slight flick of your wrist.

Badminton Stance

1. Attacking Stance

You'll need to use this stance whenever you hit an overhead forehand stroke

To get into the attacking stance,

• Turn your body facing the side of the court. 
• Place your racket leg behind; your non-racket leg forward. 
• Both legs should be shoulder width apart. 
• Raise your racket and non-racket arm

Hitting forehand strokes via the attacking stance enables you to hit powerful shots. It also enables you to recover quickly after you perform your shot.

When to use?

Whenever your opponent lifts or clear the shuttle high up to you, move towards the shuttle and adopt the attacking stance. 

2. Defensing stance

The key to strong defense is to retrieve your opponent's smash via the defensive stance.

To get into the defensive stance,

• Face your body to the front of the court. 
• Place your racket in front of you, around waist height, and pointing slightly forward. 
• Raise your non-racket arm for better balance.

When you're on a defensive stance, you can cover wider angles. For example, you'll find it a lot easier to retrieve smashes hit to your body, left hand side, or right hand side.

When to use?

Whenever you hit a High Clear or perform a High Serve, move to your base position and adopt the defensive stance.

Ideally, you want to be at your base position before your opponent hits the attacking shot.

3. Net Stance

The net stance enables you to take the shuttle at the highest point when you're at the net.

When exchanging net shots, every millisecond counts! So make sure you take the shuttle as early as possible.

To get into the net stance,

• Place your racket foot forward; non-racket foot at the back.
• Place your racket in front of your body, slightly above waist height. 
• Raise your non-racket arm for body balance. 
• Place your body weight slightly forward and get ready to pounce forward. 

When to use?

Normally the only time you need to adopt the net stance is after you perform a Tumbling net short

Your body's posture will naturally be on the badminton net stance after you hit the tumbling net shot. So STAY THERE and be ready to pounce forward to perform the Net kill if your opponent hits a net shot.

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