Net shot with a lunge
Ready when: Side-steps and split step (b3) and Short serve to a target (b4) done; a rope or net is up.
What you are learning
A net shot is a soft shot played close to the net that just goes over and falls straight down on the other side. To reach a low shuttle near the net you take one long step, a lunge, and afterwards push back to the middle. Together they win points at the front of the court.
Words on this card Shuttle, Forehand, Backhand, Lunge, Back to the middle, Net shot, Clear, Racket foot
- 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.
- Lunge
- One long step toward a low shuttle with the racket-side leg, landing heel first with the knee above the toes. Then you push back.
- Back to the middle
- The spot in the centre of your side. After every shot you go back there, so you can reach the next one.
- Net shot
- A soft shot played close to the net that just goes over and falls straight down on the other side.
- Clear
- A high, deep shot hit overhead from the back of your side to the back of theirs.
- Racket foot
- The foot or leg on the same side as the hand holding the racket: the right one for a right-handed player.
Set up
A rope or net at the child's chest height. You stand on one side and the child on the other, each about 1.5 m from the rope. A cone 2 m behind the child marks the middle. A racket and shuttles.
Weather: no wind
Show it first for the one teaching
- Net shot: hold the racket up in front of you, strings facing the rope.
- Let the shuttle come onto the strings and push it softly up and over, with almost no swing.
- Lunge: one long step forward with the racket leg, heel first, knee above the toes.
- Push off that foot back to the cone.
Your part while they practise
Throw the shuttle underarm, gently, so it just clears the rope and drops in front of the child. If they miss more than 3 of 10, throw softer and closer; if they get all 10, throw a little faster.
Step by step
- The child stands close to the rope, racket up in front, strings facing the rope.
- You throw; the shuttle drops just over the rope.
- The child meets it before it falls below the rope and pushes it gently back over. 6 on the backhand side, then 6 on the forehand side.
- Now the child starts at the cone. As you throw, they lunge forward with the racket leg, play the net shot and push back to the cone.
- After 12 shuttles, swap: you play and the child throws.
How much: 4 rounds of 12 shuttles 8 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: Lunge and return
Count net shots that go over, each with a lunge and a return to the cone, in 30 seconds.
Who plays: the child plays and you throw and count; then swap.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The child starts at the cone; you hold 10 shuttles at the rope
- Say "Go" and start 30 seconds
- Throw a shuttle each time the child is back at the cone
- The child lunges, plays the net shot and pushes back to touch the cone
- Fair play
- Throw slower for a younger child.
- Points
- 1 point for each shuttle that goes back over the rope when the child also gets back to touch the cone.
- Fouls
- No point for that shuttle
- The shuttle goes back higher than your head (an easy one for the other side to hit down)
- The child runs in instead of lunging
- The child does not touch the cone before the next throw
- Winning
- Beat your best from last time. Two children: the best of 3 turns each wins.
- 3 points for 1 star
- 5 points for 2 stars
- 7 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Lower the rope, stand closer.
Throw a little faster.
What you will see, and what to say
- the shuttle goes high above the net
Push, do not swing
Keep the racket nearly still and let the shuttle bounce off it softly. - the foot twists on landing
Heel first, knee over toe
Land on the heel; the knee stays above the toes, not in front of them or bent inward.
Self-check
7 of 10 net shots go over and drop below net height.
Stop and get a coach when
The knee hurts in the lunge or the child lands on the toes and wobbles.
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 touch, lunge, balance.
awiseathlete.com/sports/badminton/badminton-b5