Badminton doubles serve and return strategies can be crucial to effective play. Varying your returns often and not letting opponents establish any routine is key for effective gameplay.
Example: A player should try hitting their shuttlecock low. This will make it more difficult for their opponent to attack it and keep them on defense.
1. Clear the Shuttlecock
As soon as you receive a serve, it’s crucial that you clear the shuttlecock as quickly as possible in order to limit your opponent’s ability to intercept and move into an offensive position. Doing this also lowers the chance of collision with your partner while giving an edge against opponents.
To effectively clear a shuttlecock, the best method is to strike it in an upwards motion. This makes it harder for opponents to intercept it while forcing them into playing more defensive shots.
This strategy can be especially useful if your opponent hits the shuttlecock high; they will find it very hard to intercept with short defense measures. But be cautious of overhitting as this could put yourself in an unfavorable situation.
One of the easiest and most reliable ways to clear a shuttlecock in badminton is to strike it to the back court, forcing your opponent into their back court and opening up opportunities to attack from within your own.
Another effective strategy for clearing the shuttlecock is hitting a cross-shot. This will force your opponent into playing defensive shots while also restricting their ability to strike back effectively.
When serving doubles, it’s essential that the shuttlecock stays below 1.15 meters from the ground. Anytime it passes beyond this height it will be considered a violation and you could risk forfeiting points.
As part of your service, be certain to serve from the appropriate side. When your score is equal or zero (love), serve from the right; for odd scores serve from left.
2. Attack the Shuttlecock
Dependent upon the style of serve, one or both players should be prepared to play an attacking shot, such as a smash or net kill. Selecting the appropriate shot could mean the difference between winning and losing; to increase chances of an effective attack it is key that both players are in appropriate positions while also communicating their intentions to each other.
Effectively returning an opponent’s serve requires using a variety of shots that will confound opponents and create openings for your team. By mixing up your returns, varying their timing will further make it hard for opponents to anticipate how you plan on responding.
Return the shuttlecock at an angle that prevents your opponent from hitting it back to the front court and gives you a chance to launch an attack of your own. Furthermore, returning deep into an opponent’s court can force him/her into taking up a back position, opening up more front court space for you and your partner.
If you can’t directly attack the shuttlecock, pushes can help slow down your opponent’s game. This strategy is especially useful if they serve low shuttlecocks – successful pushes may cause it to drop below net height before the front player can reach it, forcing them to play lift shots instead. To conduct one successfully, hit it just fast enough past them before letting it fall back into play – when using this technique hit with enough pace just past them but let it drop back into court afterwards.
When playing against an experienced doubles opponent, aim to hit your shots near the front of the court – this will increase your odds of making winning attacks while applying pressure to their team. Furthermore, make sure to follow any powerful smashes with quick net kills or drives to prevent your opponent from dominating rallies.
3. Return the Shuttlecock Low
Badminton doubles is distinct from singles in several ways, including its shuttlecock return mechanism. Most serves in badminton are delivered low over the net; therefore it falls to the receiving team to effectively return it in order to create an equal playing situation and start rallies on more equal terms.
One effective strategy to do so is by hitting low backhand serves. These types of serves typically land only inches above the net cord, making it extremely difficult for an opponent to attack them. Hitting such serves forces your opponent onto the defensive and forces them towards the net in order to return it – forcing your opponents to run back towards you!
Hitting low forehand services can also be effective; although this serve can be more challenging to return, its effectivity in badminton doubles is undeniable. By hitting forehand services you force your opponent forward away from the net thereby making their control of the game difficult.
Varying your returns when playing badminton doubles is also key in keeping opponents guessing and anticipating your next move. Try hitting straight return down the line, cross court shot or even lift back shot – anything to keep their opponent at bay and prevent them from anticipating what may come.
Before taking on your opponent, it’s advisable to practice returns on a hard surface in order to hone your timing and footwork – both vital components for making successful shuttlecock returns in badminton.
Badminton doubles is an action-packed sport, filled with explosive jump smashes and quick reflex exchanges between players. While it can be fun and engaging to play, success requires practice and dedication in order to achieve any degree of excellence in your performance. Following these tips can put you well on your way towards becoming an excellent badminton player! So get out there and start playing today!
4. Return the Shuttlecock High
When served low, it can be challenging to strike from the backhand side. Some players may attempt to hit it high to try and bring the shuttlecock behind themselves but this can be risky as its serve may go out of bounds or hit an overhead rail and result in a let, which means that points will be lost.
Doubles requires both partners to possess an array of serving techniques. Short serves may disrupt an opponent’s rhythm while flick serves may catch them off guard and force a weak return. Players should also be prepared to cover different areas of the court based on what areas will likely be returned by their opponent, allowing the team to transition smoothly between offense and defense while remaining less susceptible to counter-attacks.
At the core of any successful badminton doubles return lies effective communication between you and your partner. Both players should communicate regularly regarding what type of shot they plan on playing and how best to execute it, which will improve consistency across returns and ensure they hit accurately every time.
Badminton is a fast game, so being quick-reacting after receiving an opponent’s serve is crucial to succeeding at it. When receiving high serve shuttlecocks, be prepared to make a swift first step toward where you anticipate it will land and position yourself for play immediately after its impact has occurred.
Attractive and powerful stances indicate your readiness to play an aggressive and powerful attacking shot. Your non-racket leg should take most of the weight while the racket leg rests lightly on either the balls of feet or toes, giving more power for return shots while making it more difficult for opponents to grasp onto shuttlecock.
Beginner badminton players often make the mistake of lifting the shuttlecock after receiving a high serve, which often results in inaccurate shots and lowers opponents’ pressure levels. To improve badminton doubles returns effectively, focus on mastering fundamental skills: strong stance, accurate placement of shuttlecock and good movement. Once these fundamentals have been mastered you will be well on your way towards improving doubles returns.