Birdievents.com

Center position-After service, you would usually take up position in the center, where you think the most suitable to take all return shots. Move or shuffle your body a little while waiting for your opponent to return the shot. We called this “dancing.” While dancing, you are actually preparing to push your body easier to hit any shot that comes to you.  If you are good in taking a baseline shot and weak in taking drop shot, then you can shuffle your body slightly towards the front.

  – If you are slightly away from the net and have to take 2 steps to reach the shuttle, gallop and bend down your knee a little, give it a push with your left leg then covered the distance with your right. If you are fast then you have time to either do straight netting, cross netting or sent the shuttle away to any empty space into your opponent side. To take up position for the next shot, moved back with your right leg with a push.

  – Lower down your body a little, gallop and move your body towards the forehand side of the net, remember to give it a push with your left leg tiptoed, then covered the distance with your right. Always try to reach the shuttle, hitting the shot with your racket close to the top of the net. This way it’s easier to control and provides more choices on your next shot. Shuffle your body and dance away for the second shot with a push.

Returning a backhand smash – Bend down your knee a little to get the power, dance and shuffle your body, turn your body towards the backhand side where the smash landed, with your back facing the net. You can do this by forcing your right leg across to take a big step. You can either lift the shuttle high for a clearance or flick the shuttle to the short line of your opponent. Always shuffle your body and be ready for the next shot.

Returning a forehand smash – Bend down your knee a little to get the power, dance and shuffle your body, move your body towards the forehand side where the smash landed. You can do this by getting your left leg close to your right then forcing your right leg to take a big step. Again, you can either lift the shuttle high for a clearance or flick the shuttle to the short line of your opponent. Always shuffle your body and be ready for the next shot.

In badminton nothing comes easy! In order to do well in receiving drop shot and smashes from your opponent, you need to practice the footwork at your own pace. The more your practice, the better you are. You can practice the below footwork according to your current physical condition and gradually increase its repetition as you improved.

Article was written by Cheong Weng Kwai of prospeed.com.my