BASIC STROKES OF BADMINTON PART 1

In badminton, there are a lot of different basic strokes players can perform from the back of the court, from the mid-court or from the front of the court. Let me tell you what those strokes are

The basic strokes while playing are:
Net shot(Performed from front of the court)
Net Kill(Performed from front of the court)
Net Lift(Performed from front of the court)
Clear(Performed mostly from the back of the court)
Drop(Performed from mid court or back of the court)
Smash(Performed from mid court or back of the court)
Drive(Performed mostly from mid court, but can be from back of the court)
Lift(Performed from mid court)
Push(Performed mostly from mid court)

This are the basic strokes of badminton. But, today, I will only be talking about the 5 most basic strokes, which are Clear, Smash, Drop, Net shot and Net Lift.

Clear(also known as lob)

This stroke is performed by hitting the birdie high and far towards the back of the opponent's court. It can either be a defensive clear or an attacking clear. This stroke can be performed both in the forehand and backhand side of the court but generally, a lot of amateurs would find it easier to perform the clear from the forehand side of the court. For the backhand clear, only advanced to professional players would find it easier to do it. Today, I will only emphasize on the forehand clear.

Example of a defensive clear(normally high and far) and how to perform it:

Example of an attacking clear(normally lower and faster) and how to perform it:

Smash

The smash is an offensive shot that brings the birdie steeply downwards to the opponent court and it can be performed from the mid court or the back of the court. Normally, players executing this stroke at the mid court would tend to use more power than at the back court as when the birdie is  in the middle of the court, players see this as an opportunity to end the rally, thus using more power for the smash in mid court. Players doing a smash at the back of the court tend to emphasize more on bringing the birdie steeply down the opponent court rather than the power they use.

Example of a smash and how to perform it:

Drop

The drop shot is similar to the smash, just that now, the drop shot is slower and does not travel far into the opponent court. Normally, a drop shot that land just before the opponent short service line is considered as a good drop shot. A drop shot can be performed with both the forehand and backhand grip but generally, the forehand drop shot is easier. So today, I will only be emphasizing on the forehand drop shot.

Example of a drop shot and how to perform it:

Net shot

In the world of badminton, professional players like Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan and Peter Gade(Retired) can perform very good net shots. Net shots in badminton is a crucial stroke and it can help one to gain a point easily if it is performed well. The net shot is performed near the net by using a technique to spin the shuttlecock over and dropping the shuttlecock just over the opponent's court, as close to the net as possible. I feel that the net shot is a more advanced stroke as players must control their power well with their fingers and perform the correct technique at the same time. There is the backhand net shot and the forehand net shot.

Example of a forehand net shot and how to perform it: 

Example of a backhand net shot and how to perform it:

Net Lift

The net lift is a stroke that when the opponent perform a net shot to your court, you return the shot by lifting it upwards to the back of the opponent's court. Normally, players can return back a net shot when the opponent performs the net shot. But when players return back a net shot, there is a chance that the opponent can perform a net kill(To be emphasize in part 2) and thus, players will lose a point. So, the net lift is more preferred to be perform when the opponent return a net shot unless players have confidence in returning back a net shot too. There is the forehand and backhand net lift.

Example of a forehand lift and how to perform it:

Example of a backhand net lift and how to perform it:

That's it for the Basic Strokes of Badminton part 1! We hope you have now learn something new! Please comment and continue to support us. Part 2 will be coming soon so stay tuned!

Reference: http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_shots.html

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