No matter what level of badminton you are playing, there comes a time in a game where you need to try something different to outwit or outsmart your opponent.
Perhaps the easiest and most effective way to achieve this is to inject pace or slow down the rally. This usually has the effect of causing an error from your opponent which can result in a point or setting up a kill to win the point.
So how do you effectively change the pace of the game to create a tactical advantage?
In every game there is a natural rhythm that develops. This depends on the skills of the players involved. So after the initial half dozen rallies we started to see a pattern emerge in terms of pace. Usually, if left unchecked, this rhythm will continue throughout the game with very little variation.
A good badminton tactic in any standard is to mix up the pace just enough to break this pattern and thus keep your opponents guessing and unable to match your pace.
Let’s look at specific areas on the court where you can change the pace considerably.
the back court
Suppose here that your opponents have picked up the shuttle, therefore they are giving you the attack. What are your change of pace options?
1) Slice smash – Very effective as your opponents may already be behind you waiting for “the big one”. The sliced version of your regular smash leaves the shuttle considerably shorter, meaning your opponent has to stretch or step forward to play the return instead of reacting to the timing of your smash. The cut also greatly reduces the speed of the crush. This often causes your opponent to mistime his return, setting up an easy kill.
2) Slice drop shot – The benefits of using slice are mentioned above. Played well, this shot is very tricky because the racket is still moving fast during the shot cycle. It is the deception, along with the speed of the fall that deceives your opponent.
3) Check smash: Li Yongbo, the great Chinese player and now head coach of the Chinese national team, was one of the greatest exponents of this particular hit. His costume was incredible. “Controlling” the racket at the last possible second tricks your opponent into waiting for the big shot. therefore, they shift his weight onto his heels. Shifting your body weight forward to return the smash check is very difficult and can easily result in a missed or missed shot.
4) High clearance: Susi Susanti, Indonesia’s great singles player, was brilliant at using height to her advantage. Most of the time we clear the shuttle at a standard height. If the room allows it, try to clear the shuttle with much more height. The increased wait time and large vertical drop make the return very difficult to time well. The wait alone helps break up the pace of the game.
5) Clear Hit: Occasionally, your opponents, in their desire to attack, move their base forward, leaving a gap to the rear. A good clear shot, injecting rhythm into the game can really catch them.
the middle court
Usually if you are playing half court shots the game is flat or you may be picking up the shuttle after a push from your opponent. Here are some options for you.
1) Very high elevation to the back court. Again, use considerable height if the aisle allows so it takes much longer for the shuttlecock to land in your opponents’ striking zone. The wait for the ferry is really unpleasant and gives you time to recover. The shuttle’s vertical path is very difficult to achieve.
2) Drive to the back corners of the court. If you hold power until the last second, this shot is very effective. But, you need to dress up to carry it well. The sudden injection of pace and direction can make this hit a hit.
3) In doubles, the standard net block is an early return. Martin Dew, a former England Badminton International player, used to play a particularly effective shot here where he literally ‘dragged’ the shuttlecock into the net. This is a very tricky shot where opponents expect a fast pace and are suddenly left running towards the net to be met by a rapidly falling shuttlecock.
4) Finally, from a low mid court position, this last option for you needs a high level of manual dexterity to pull off. Let’s say you’re picking up the steering wheel low on your right side. Open the face of the racket as if you were playing the shuttle towards the net on the right hand side. At the last second, move your hand, close the face of the racket and inject some pace into the shuttlecock and send it across the net. Your opponent will anticipate the direct return and move into this area of the court. It is very difficult to suddenly change direction and cover a quick and short response.
the esplanade
In this area, your opponent’s expectations will depend on whether the shuttle is high above the net waiting to be eliminated, or just below the height of the net. Let’s break down these areas and give a couple of examples.
shuttle above the net
1) These are the “kill” shots you shouldn’t miss. But, in first class doubles, the shuttle keeps coming back. So let’s start with the “old classic” where your opponent expects to kill, hit hard, and at the last second, you stop your racket and hit the shuttle over the net. Picking up the pace of the shuttlecock is unexpected and usually catches your opponent flat-footed.
2) From a classic attacking position, your partner has created a rising shuttlecock opportunity for you at the net. The easiest shot is to kill the shuttlecock and win the point which is preferable. But, you may want to recheck smash to add that element of surprise and rhythm which can be just as effective and also a winner.
Shuttle below net height
OK, we’re in high-skill territory here.
1) Nora Perry, the English badminton legend, used to play a beautiful backhand stroke in which she would take a slightly longer backstroke before smoothly taking full swing of the shuttlecock, slightly cutting off the shuttlecock and delivering the net shot straight with the most exquisite turn that won it. so many points
2) Whichever side the shuttlecock is on, wait until the last second as if you were about to play a shot straight into the net. Just as you’re about to hit the shuttlecock, turn your hand and send the shuttlecock across the court with a little more speed.
I’ve covered a number of scenarios here, but there’s always more. Try them out in your next game and see for yourself what response you get.
Invariably, the most attacking side should win a match, but that doesn’t mean they hit the hardest. You can attack with or without rhythm, and usually the winning shot follows a change of rhythm.
The more you can break the rhythm of your opponents’ game, the more you will alter their game and find mistakes. Understand this and add it to your bible of tactics. It will help you win more games.
Feel free to visit my blog (URL listed below) to comment on my thoughts here. Add some scenarios of your own as well, as this article was not written with the intention of listing all possible combinations of moves.
I’m sure you’ll find something here that will improve your game, no matter what standard you’re playing. Some of these shots require extremely high skill, especially the ability to “hold” the shot until the very last second. For this, you must have a good command of the use of your hands and have extremely fast grip changes.