SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES

STUDENT BOOKLET

Name:....................................................................

BADMINTON SPECIFICATION
This is the specification that you are marked against in Badminton. You get marked on your
technical ability as well as tactically. Therefore you need to be able to demonstrate correct
technique for each shot, apply a range of shots in your game with consistency and be able to
apply a range of tactics and strategies. In order to achieve a high mark you need to also
demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the rules of the game.
Badminton
Key Process A Developing skills for all game activities 10 marks
Candidates need to demonstrate their ability to develop and apply the following
skills/techniques in increasingly demanding situations, such as semi-opposed or
opposed situations/structured practices in competition/authentic context.
Candidates should be able to:
improve the range, difficulty and quality of their skills and techniques
develop the consistency with which they use and perform skills with precision,
control and fluency.
1. Service e.g. grip, high, low, flick (forehand or backhand)
2. Overhead e.g. clear, drop, smash (forehand and backhand where appropriate)
3. Underarm e.g. clear, net drop (forehand and backhand where appropriate)
4. Drives e.g. forehand and backhand
5. Footwork e.g. movement around the court, change of pace and direction, when
hitting the shuttle, lunging
Key Process B Being creative and making decisions in all game activities 10
marks
In game/physical activities, candidates increasingly demonstrate their ability to
anticipate the responses of others, and to use this information to select and apply
skills, and tactics and to adapt their own performance. This is assessed according to
its consistency and effectiveness in the full, recognised version of the game/event.
Candidates should be able to:
select and use tactics and strategies imaginatively in complex and demanding
situations
respond effectively and imaginatively to changing circumstances as they arise
during the game.

RULES OF BADMINTON

Here are some of the rules of the game of badminton:

The game is played up to 21 points. If the score reaches 20-20, the winner is
the player or team with a two point advantage

If the score goes up to 29-29, the winner is first to reach 30 points.

The service must be made diagonally across court

The server must serve the shuttlecock with the head of the racket below waist
height.

A shuttle landing on the line is in.

If a shuttle hits the net either on service or during a rally, play continues.

A player may not make contact with the net with either the racket or their body

The shuttle must be contacted on the players own side of the net.

One touch of the shuttle on your own side

Singles:

You must serve from the right service court when you have no points or an
even number of points.

You must serve from the left service court when you have an odd number of
points.

Points are awarded to the winner of each rally.

You lose service if you fail to return the shuttlecock, hit it out of court or into the
net.

If the shuttle hits the ground within the boundary the point is awarded to the
player who hits the shuttle.

Doubles:

In doubles, the player on the right always starts the serve and, when a point is
won, the players switch sides and then serves from the left, continuing to
alternate until a serve is lost

After service you can hit the shuttle anywhere in the entire court.

BADMINTON COURT

Singles Court: Long and thin

Doubles Court: Short and fat

BADMINTON SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES
A skilled performance shows these 3 characteristics:
1. Effectiveness (Accuracy)
Being accurate in placing shots where you want them to go
Being consistent in placing shots where you want them to go
2. Technique (Efficiency)
Correct preparation of technique
Correct action of technique
Correct recovery of technique
3. Adaptiveness (Range) how well skill can be adapted to meet the demands of
the task:
Good anticipation
Good judgement of shuttle flight
Appropriate decision-making
Can disguise shots
Can play a range of shots

All strokes are made up of the following cycle:

THE STROKE CYCLE

Badminton Grip:
You need to apply correct grip for each shot being played. There are 2 basic types of
grip:

Here are a range of badminton shots and the correct technique for each one. The
diagrams show the trajectory of the shuttle (how it travels through the air and where
it lands on court).
You need to know the correct technique for each shot and apply this in game play.
Important: Return to the middle of the court after every shot played, in the ready
position, prepared for the next shot.

TYPE OF SHOT

TECHNIQUE

SERVICE

Service is the most important shot in badminton.

Low serve

Forehand:
- Stand behind the service line
- Sideways stance, lead with your non-racket leg , weight
on your back foot
- Bring your racket back to waist level
- Swing forward, pushing the shuttle low over the net
Backhand:
- Lead with your racket leg, non racket leg slightly behind
with your feet pointing forward
- Short backswing then bring the racket forward
- Hold the shuttle in front of your waist level
- Push the shuttle, keeping it low

High serve

High Serve:
- Played with a forehand underarm action
- Sideways stance, lead with your non-racket leg , weight
on your back foot
- Bring your racket back (to almost shoulder level) and
swing forward
- Drop the shuttle slightly out in front of your body and hit
it with power to make sure it reaches the back of the court

HIGH OVERHEAD CLEAR

Clears can be played overhead or underarm, they both

move your opponent to the back of the court. The action
is similar to throwing a ball.
- Forehand grip
- Sideways stance to the net, weight on your back foot
- Bend your elbow and take the racket back
- Contact the shuttle as high as possible and in front of

your body, straighten your elbow as you hit the shuttle

- Follow through with your racket, weight is transferred to
front foot
SMASH

The smash is an attacking shot, a good smash is unreturnable. It is hit with power and speed, downward
towards your opponents court.
- Forehand grip
- Sideways stance to the net, weight on your back foot
- Bend your elbow and take the racket back
- Contact the shuttle as high as possible and in front of
your body using a strong throwing action,
- Straighten your elbow as you hit the shuttle, snap down
your wrist at the point of impact to add extra power and
angle

DROP SHOT

Drop shots are delicate shots. They are played on both

the forehand and backhand, underarm and overhead.
Overhead drop:
- Same action as overhead clear but you tap the shuttle
as you hit it, reducing the speed of your racket
Underarm drop:
- Forehand or backhand grip depending on which side
you are hitting the shuttle
- Keep your racket up in front of your body
- Lunge forward
- Racket high, gently push the shuttle over the net,
keeping it as low as possible.
- The softer the push, the lower it will go.

Remember: After every shot you play, return to the middle of the court.

Always be ready to react quickly and be alert!