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Badminton · Basic · b2

Two grips and the switch

At home 5 min 1 to 2 players One room, yard or lane

Ready when: Balloon taps and relay (b1) self-check done.

Start a session

What you are learning

How to hold the racket. Badminton uses two grips: one for shots on the racket side of the body (the forehand) and one for the other side (the backhand). A loose grip, like a handshake, lets the wrist work. The wrong grip, the "frying pan", makes every later shot hard, so it is worth getting right now.

Words on this card Shuttle, Forehand, Backhand, Grip, Frying-pan grip, Frame
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.
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.
Grip
The way the hand holds the racket handle.
Frying-pan grip
The wrong grip: the strings face the ceiling and the hand sits on top of the handle, as if holding a frying pan. It makes backhand shots almost impossible.
Frame
The hard edge around the strings. A shuttle hit off the frame flies anywhere.

Set up

The base strip and a plain wall with nothing breakable near it. A racket, and a balloon or a foam shuttle.

Weather: any weather indoors

The base setup for badminton

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Forehand grip: hold the racket out with the frame on its edge, like an axe, not flat like a tray.
  2. Shake hands with the handle: the "V" between thumb and first finger sits on top, the fingers wrap round, and the first finger sits a little apart, like on a trigger.
  3. Backhand grip: from there, turn the racket a little and press your thumb flat on the wide back of the handle.
  4. Show each grip slowly, then hold the racket out so your child can copy your hand.

Your part while they practise

Check the grip before every round; if the strings face the ceiling, start that grip again. Then throw the balloon gently, underarm, from about 2 m: to the racket side for forehand hits, to the other side for backhand hits.

Step by step

  1. Forehand grip. You throw to the racket side; the child hits the balloon back to you with the palm side of the racket leading. 10 hits.
  2. Backhand grip, thumb flat on the back of the handle. You throw to the other side; the child hits with the back of the hand leading. 10 hits.
  3. Now mix them: as you throw, call "forehand" or "backhand", and the child changes grip before the hit. 10 hits.
  4. No balloon: hold the racket in front and change from one grip to the other and back, as fast as the grip stays right, for 10 seconds.

How much: 3 rounds of 10 hits and 10 seconds of changing grip 5 min a session 3 days a week On your own: tap the balloon up and change grip between taps

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Wall count

Drop the shuttle and hit it at the wall, forehand then backhand, and count the good hits in 30 seconds.

Who plays: one child at a time, with a grown-up timing and counting. Two children take turns.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. Stand 2 m from the wall with 5 shuttles or 1 foam ball at your feet
  2. The grown-up says "Go" and starts 30 seconds
  3. Drop a shuttle and hit it at the wall with a forehand. Hit the next one with a backhand. Keep changing
  4. Pick each shuttle up by hand, never with the racket
  5. Stop when the grown-up says "Time"
Fair play
A younger child stands 1 m from the wall.
Points
1 point for each hit that reaches the wall with the right grip for that side.
Fouls
No point for that hit
  • The frying-pan grip
  • Two forehands or two backhands in a row
  • Picking the shuttle up with the racket
Winning
Beat your own score from last time. With two children, the best of 3 turns each wins.
Stars
  1. 3 good hits for 1 star
  2. 6 good hits for 2 stars
  3. 9 good hits for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

Hold the racket shorter, nearer the strings, and use a balloon.

Harder

The grown-up throws to either side without warning.

What you will see, and what to say

  • the child holds the racket like a frying pan Hold it like a handshakePut the handle in their hand with the frame on its edge, as if shaking hands.
  • the first finger points up the handle Wrap the finger roundAll the fingers go round the handle; the first one sits a little apart.
  • hits come late, behind the body Meet it in frontHit the shuttle when it is in front of the body, an arm's length away.

Self-check

10

10 balloon hits, alternating the two grips, with no drop.

Stop and get a coach when

The wrist or elbow hurts after hitting.

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 control, grip change.

awiseathlete.com/sports/badminton/badminton-b2