Badminton singles players rely on various shots to dominate rallies and outwit opponents. From powerful jumping smashes to delicate tumbling net returns, including multiple techniques can help deceive your opponent and score more points.
Punch clears can add variety and surprise to your defensive play, keeping your opponent guessing as to the type of shot you will send next. Practising this technique will also strengthen hand-eye coordination and wrist strength.
Clears
Badminton players must master a range of clear shots to provide them with a solid foundation for their attacking game and create pressure on your opponent’s defence by driving them backwards, opening up forecourt and opposite side attacks and creating opportunities. Deception is key when it comes to making effective clears; you want your opponent unsure where you will land the shuttlecock so they have less time and ability to react or prepare themselves in response.
Slow drop shots can be extremely effective at forcing an opponent closer to their baseline in order to play it back, giving you time to position yourself for an attack. A well-executed slow drop shot should land just above the net and in front of the service line so as to land just above or just in front of it and land just in front of it – this gives them time to position themselves before returning your shot back at you and giving you time to prepare your attack strategy.
Forehand high clears can also help buy you time when opponents dive for your smashes and drives, giving you time to regroup by forcing them back to their back court with a quick shot that clears quickly. This technique should also come in handy against opponents that dive for your smashes and drives, giving you another option against diving attackers by forcing them back with quick clears from your forehand side.
Punch clear is another defensive badminton shot used to put pressure on an opponent’s defense by hitting the shuttle at an height they can’t reach. Similar to high clear or slow drop shots, but due to its “punch” element it should only be used if you can risk getting hit with a powerful smash and can afford taking that risk.
As with other badminton shots, the key to an outstanding clear is wrist movement. At point of contact with the shuttlecock, your wrist should bend backwards slightly to create a strong grip that transfers your weight with every swing. Judging the height of the shot is also critical. A high clear should be played high enough so as to prevent an opponent from leaping up for it and returning it immediately, without making their wingstips reach it too easily.
Once you have mastered basic clears, you can begin to experiment with more advanced variations on this technique. One such variation is called a “stop drop”, in which softly-played clears land tightly against the net but short of the service line – creating beautiful aesthetics while forcing opponents to be more precise in their returns and forcing more missed shots which create easy attacking opportunities for you!
As with any badminton shot, perfecting the art of clearing requires consistent practice and dedication to master. Film yourself playing and take short sessions with a coach to perfect your techniques; building up an arsenal of clears will enable you to add power and surprise into your smashes, keeping opponents guessing as to the next shot that comes your way.
Drops
Badminton players have many ways of keeping their opponents off balance and increasing the odds of victory during rallies. One such shot is known as a drop shot; this allows a player to control the shuttle and manipulate points by forcing errors or creating opportunities for kill shots. Furthermore, drop shots may serve to confuse their opponent as it remains unknown what type of badminton shot will come next from them.
A drop shot is an deceptively difficult badminton shot, requiring careful execution to achieve success. A successful drop shot may look like a deep clear or forehand drive but will land close to the net with little power required for its execution. Rotating body and shoulder as you strike shuttlecock will generate backspin that causes it to bounce closer to net; weight transfer plays an essential role here too; forward momentum helps guide shuttlecock safely over net.
To execute a drop shot successfully, players should approach from below the net while slightly twisting their bodies as they strike the shuttlecock. This will help generate sufficient power for their shot while keeping it airborne longer and making it harder for their opponent to return it. In addition, players should squeeze their grip as they strike to gain greater control and lessen any chances of the shuttlecock veering off into unintended spaces or falling off side courts.
Drop shots offer another advantage in that they can be used to deceive an opponent into thinking you will execute a clear or attack, before unexpectedly surprising them with an off-balance drop shot that leaves them off-balance and off-balance, making it harder for them to return the shuttle.
Drop shots can be highly effective in badminton singles, but it is crucial for players to incorporate other shots into their arsenal as well. A combination of powerful smashes and deceptive drops will keep opponents guessing while increasing your odds of victory in rallies. By altering speed and placement of your drops, you can keep opponents guessing and keep them adapting their positioning on court accordingly.