Lift to the back
Ready when: Net shot with a lunge (b5) done.
What you are learning
The lift. When the shuttle is low near the net and you cannot hit it down, you hit it up, high and deep to the back of the other side. That gives you time to get back to the middle, and the other player has to hit it from far away.
Words on this card Shuttle, Forehand, Backhand, Lunge, Back to the middle, Lift, Feed, Back 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.
- 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.
- Lift
- A shot hit upward from low down near the net, so the shuttle goes high and deep to the back of the other side.
- Feed
- To throw or hit the shuttle to the player so they can practise one shot. The feeder is the person doing it.
- Back line
- The end line of the court. A shuttle that lands beyond it is out.
Set up
A net or rope; a circle about 1 m wide chalked near the far back line. A racket and 20 shuttles.
Weather: no wind
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand near the net in a lunge, racket low.
- Swing up from below the waist in a U shape, elbow a little bent, wrist firm.
- Finish with the strings facing up. The shuttle goes high, over the head of someone on the other side.
Your part while they practise
From your side, throw shuttles low and just over the net, in front of the player. They lift each one high to the back circle.
Step by step
- The player stands near the net. 10 lifts on the backhand side.
- 10 lifts on the forehand side.
- Now from the middle: lunge to each shuttle and lift it, then push back to the middle.
How much: 10 lifts each side, 4 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: High and deep
Five points for the circle, two for the back half, one for anywhere in the court.
Who plays: the player lifts and you throw; swap after each round.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Each turn is 10 shuttles
- You throw low to the net; the player lifts
- Watch where each one lands and add up the points
- Then swap
- Fair play
- The grown-up lifts from 1 m farther from the net.
- Points
- 5 points in the circle; 2 in the back half of the court; 1 anywhere else in the court.
- Fouls
- No points for that shuttle
- It does not get over the net
- It lands outside the court
- In the lunge round, the player hits without lunging
- Winning
- After one turn each, the player with more points wins.
- 12 points for 1 star
- 20 points for 2 stars
- 30 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Shorter distance.
Move the feed side to side so the player lunges first.
What you will see, and what to say
- the lift drops halfway
Hit it up, not forward
Aim high, above the head of someone on the far side. - the player stands flat-footed
Take a big step, then hit
Lunge to it first.
Self-check
6 of 10 lifts land in the back third of the court (the third farthest from the net).
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the shoulder or elbow after a session.
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 lift, power to the back, footwork.
awiseathlete.com/sports/badminton/badminton-i1