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Badminton · Intermediate · i7

Lunge and flick

Park or court 10 min 2 players Park, hall or court

Ready when: Lunge and push back (b7) and Lift to the back (i1) done.

Start a session

What you are learning

To defend a low shot to either side. You lunge to it and, instead of a big swing, flick the wrist at the moment of the hit. The flick sends the shuttle high and deep, so you have time to recover.

Words on this card Shuttle, Ready position, Lunge, Back to the middle, Flick, 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.
Ready position
The waiting stance: feet apart, knees a little bent, weight on the front of the feet, racket up in front.
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.
Flick
A short, quick snap of the wrist that sends the shuttle high and deep without a big swing.
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 box chalked near the far back line. A racket and 20 shuttles.

Weather: no wind

The base setup for badminton

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Stand in the middle. Lunge to a low shuttle at your side.
  2. Keep the swing short, racket in front.
  3. At the moment of the hit, snap the wrist forward and up. The shuttle goes back high and deep over the net.

Your part while they practise

From close to the net, push or throw shuttles down to either side of the player. Never at the head or the body. If they miss more than 3 of 10, slow down; if they get every one, push a little harder.

Step by step

  1. The player waits in the middle, ready position.
  2. You push a shuttle down to one side.
  3. The player lunges, flicks the wrist at contact and sends it back deep.
  4. Back to the middle. 10 to each side.

How much: 10 each side, 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: Deep points

2 points for a flick into the back box, 1 for any flick over the net.

Who plays: the player defends and you push the shuttles; swap after each round.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. Each turn is 10 shuttles, to either side, in any order
  2. The player lunges and flicks each one back
  3. Add up the points after 10
Fair play
Push slower and always to the same side for a younger player.
Points
2 points for a flick that lands in the back box; 1 point for any flick that goes over the net and lands in.
Fouls
No points for that shuttle
  • No lunge, only a reach
  • A big swing instead of a flick
  • Into the net or out
Winning
After one turn each, the player with more points wins.
Stars
  1. 8 points for 1 star
  2. 12 points for 2 stars
  3. 16 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

Slower feeds to one side.

Harder

Feed harder, either side.

What you will see, and what to say

  • a big swing Short and in frontKeep the racket in front of you and the swing small.
  • the flick falls short Flick the wrist at contactThe snap comes at the moment the strings touch the shuttle.
  • feet together Lunge to itOne long step toward the shuttle.

Self-check

6of 10

6 of 10 flicks land past the middle of the court each side.

Stop and get a coach when

The wrist or knee aches.

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 defence, the flick.

awiseathlete.com/sports/badminton/badminton-i7