The flat game and drives
Ready when: Lift to the back (i1) to Smash and block (i4) done and rallying for 20 shots.
What you are learning
To play a fast, flat rally across the net. Both players hit drives at about chest height, so the shuttle never goes up and there is no time for a big swing. It trains quick hands and reading where the shuttle is going.
Words on this card Shuttle, Rally, Forehand, Backhand, Ready position, Drive, Feed, Fault, Cross-court, Down the line
- Shuttle
- The "ball" in badminton: a cork with feathers or a plastic skirt. It flies fast, slows down quickly and falls almost straight down. A foam shuttle is softer and good for learning.
- Rally
- The shuttle going back and forth over the net until someone misses. One rally wins one point.
- Forehand
- A shot on the side of the body that holds the racket, with the palm of the hand facing where the shuttle goes.
- Backhand
- A shot on the other side of the body, with the back of the hand facing where the shuttle goes.
- Ready position
- The waiting stance: feet apart, knees a little bent, weight on the front of the feet, racket up in front.
- Drive
- A fast, flat shot that travels straight, at about the height of the net.
- Feed
- To throw or hit the shuttle to the player so they can practise one shot. The feeder is the person doing it.
- Fault
- A broken rule in a rally: into the net, out, a double hit or a net touch. The other side wins the point.
- Cross-court
- A shot that goes diagonally across to the far side.
- Down the line
- A shot that goes straight along the side of the court.
Set up
A net; a target box in the middle of the court on each side. A racket each, shuttles.
Weather: no wind
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand mid-court in the ready position, racket in front and up.
- Drive the shuttle back and forth slowly with your child: short swing, flat across the net at chest height.
- Speed up a little at a time.
Your part while they practise
Feed flat drives at chest height, at a moderate pace.
Step by step
- Both players mid-court, ready position, racket up.
- You drive the shuttle flat at chest height.
- The player drives it back flat, forehand side. 20 drives.
- Then 20 on the backhand side.
How much: 20 forehand and 20 backhand, 3 rounds 10 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Drive rally
Both hit flat, the shuttle stays below head height; the first to 5 faults loses.
Who plays: the player against you.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- One player starts with a flat drive
- Both keep driving; every shot must stay below head height
- A rally ends with a fault. The player who made it counts one fault
- Keep playing rallies until one player has 5 faults
- Fair play
- The grown-up plays backhand only.
- Points
- Each fault counts against the player who made it. Also count the longest rally of the game.
- Fouls
- A fault for the player who
- Hits the shuttle above head height
- Hits it into the net or out
- Lets it fall
- Winning
- The first player to 5 faults loses.
- 6 shots in the longest rally for 1 star
- 10 shots in the longest rally for 2 stars
- 15 shots in the longest rally for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Slower pace.
Cross-court and down the line, chosen by the feeder.
What you will see, and what to say
- the shuttle floats
Hit it flat, keep it low
Straight across the net, not up. - the player is late
Be ready, racket up
Racket up in front before the shuttle comes.
Self-check
A 10-shot drive rally in a row without a fault.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the forearm or wrist.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains racket speed, reading.
awiseathlete.com/sports/badminton/badminton-a1