Each badminton game consists of numerous points, and to secure victory it is imperative that your opponent works hard for every one. Otherwise they could simply win without exerting too much effort themselves.
One way of accomplishing this goal is through cross-court strategy, forcing your opponent to run from corner to corner and exhaust themselves in the process.
Clears
Clears are one of the most critical shots in badminton, especially during singles games. Clears provide an invaluable opportunity to buy yourself time and prevent your opponent from returning at an advantageous angle. Clears may be classified either offensively or defensively depending on whether they come off either forehand or backhand shots.
As an example, when playing a defensive clear to an opponent’s backhand corner, they will not be able to hit an effective return as their space won’t allow for it. You then have an opening for attacking with drop or close net shots – an effective tactic if trying to quickly win points!
If you’re playing an aggressive clear, the shuttle will most likely land short of the back tramlines, prompting your opponent to play an attacking smash shot with their forehand. Therefore, to maximise forward hitting distance it is advisable to strike as early as possible with your shot.
Clear to your opponent’s forehand side to force them to cover more court, opening up backhand side and rear court attacks as well as creating pressure in frontcourt play. This type of clear is an effective way of surprising your opponent and getting them on their heels!
Alongside these tactics, it’s also vitally important to practice your movement around the court. One effective technique for doing this is shadowing an opponent’s movements before mimicking them by moving into their intended path next. Doing this will improve coordination while giving you a greater feel for the game.
No matter which clear you choose to employ, it is crucial that all clearings travel a sufficient distance in order to give yourself the best chance of stopping an opponent from hitting strong returns. In order to achieve this objective, aim for all clearings to land within the back half of the tramlines; master this technique and it will become extremely challenging for your opponent to score any badminton points!
Drop shots
Drop shots can be an extremely effective tool to deceive an opponent and win rallies. To maximize effectiveness, drop shots should be played low and fast enough so they cannot be reached quickly by your opponent; to be most effective they should also travel a considerable distance (ideally towards back tramlines), thus decreasing threats from straight counterattacking shots by opponents as well as opening up new offensive opportunities in your forecourt and opposite side.
There are various kinds of drop shots, each offering their own set of benefits and drawbacks. A popular variation is known as the “slow drop,” which works particularly well if an opponent arrives late at the net – as it will already have dropped below net height! Furthermore, slow drops make it more difficult for your opponent to play full-length lift shots, thus decreasing their scoring opportunities.
Another type of drop shot is known as the “slice” drop shot. This shot can be especially effective after multiple clears or smashes to an opponent’s back court have been executed successfully, forcing their shuttle travel as far as possible before reaching you and possibly tiring them out more quickly.
Finally, the “jumping drop” can be an effective way of shocking an opponent. To execute this shot, act like you’re about to hit a regular jump smash before twisting at the last moment into hitting a drop shot instead. Your opponent won’t expect you to hit both! This technique creates an effective deception; they won’t expect that they could see one swing turn into two shots with just one swing!
Employ these strategies into your badminton play to hone your defensive abilities and perfect your technique. Through regular practice and feedback from a coach, these tactics will allow you to better protect points while outwitting opponents on court! Best of luck!
Cross-court smashes
Backcourts are typically not ideal places for playing cross-court smashes (though this can sometimes be effective), because when hitting across-court shots they travel further and slow down considerably compared to straight shuttles; thus allowing more time for defense teams covering these positions to react than with straight shots alone. Therefore, hitting your cross-court shots at an angle will help your opponent fend off counterattacking shots such as net push or shallow lift.
As soon as your shuttle is high in the air, try getting behind it while it is still airborne and then perform a cross-court smash by hitting it with your front hand – this will give you more of an angle on your shot as well as more power if you jump before hitting.
One of the best ways to use a cross-court smash is in combination with a drop shot, as when your opponent drops their shuttlecock and you hit it with a cross-court smash, they may move forward in order to block it – giving you a greater chance at winning a point.
Combining cross-court smashes with drives is another effective tactic to use when unleashing cross-court smashes; when hitting a drive prior to hitting a cross-court smash, your opponent won’t have enough movement advantage for an effective net shot after your smash has already taken away their movement advantage.
Cross-court smashes can also be an effective surprise shot to displace an opponent from the center of the court, since they expect you to hit drives or long blocks after hitting such shots cross-court. By surprising them with this shot, it could cause them to lose control of the shuttle and potentially result in mistakes being made on court.
The triangles strategy
Doubles requires precise timing when it comes to playing shots at the right times, and using the triangles strategy can help. By hitting to corners of an opponent’s court and placing hits there quickly, hitting triangles forces them into moving around more which makes covering every shot harder for them.
When facing advanced players, it can be challenging to break through with a straight attack. That’s because advanced players tend to be adept at covering various shot types with ease; but even against such opponents it is still possible if you focus on one crucial aspect of play: positioning.
Beginners often make the mistake of standing still in “no man’s land”, the area between the kitchen and baseline on the court. Doing this encourages opponents to hit hard to your feet and could result in defeat; by staying further back you can prevent this scenario from unfolding.
Positioning is also key for covering up an opponent’s weak spots on the court, such as targeting their backhand rear corner to cover any potential weakness and avoid them hitting round-the-head forehand shots.
One effective strategy for doing so is through the attacking drive – a powerful shot that is hard for opponents to defend against. By pairing this shot with tight net shots and drops, you can increase pressure on your opponent and force them into making mistakes.
Cross Court Net Shot – Another effective tactic to improve positioning is the cross court net shot, though this requires practice to master. Once perfected though, this shot can create great deception for opponents since its shuttle travels in an unpredictable path that makes defending it very challenging.