Even though badminton is about hitting the shuttlecock with the racket, the sport is not just limited to that. If you want to win a rally, then you need to execute shots tactically to outsmart your opponent.
And this can only be achieved when you master the most basic yet skilful shots executed on the court. This article will explain the different types of shots played in badminton in brief.
So let’s smash it!
Clear
A clear is a shot that flies from one end of the court to the other. When executed, the shuttle travels above the head of your opponent and towards the back of the court.
The clear is the most basic shot players learn at the start, hitting the shuttle fast and back to push their opponent out of their position.
Drop
A drop is a shot that lands close to the net, prompting your opponent to move and giving some time to prepare for the next shot. You can execute a drop shot from any part of the court, with the ones hit from the back end and close to the net being the most common.
When you hit a back court drop, the shuttle moves downwards before falling close to the net in your opponent’s half. The net drop is a gentle shot executed near the net to toss the shuttle into the other half.
Drive
A drive is a flat shot executed with power and speed, though the shot may not be completely flat depending on how you hit it. The drive shot can be offensive as well as defensive, with their directions being slightly different.
If a shuttle moves a bit upward, then it’s a defensive drive, giving you the chance to switch from defence to offence. The offensive drive, on the other hand, is the one that’s hit downward at speed, leaving your opponent out of options as the shuttle goes down.
Lift
As the name suggests, a shuttler lifts the shuttle high into the air before it flies to the back of the opponent’s half. It’s a defensive shot played from the front court, though it gives you ample time to get in position for the next shot.
You will need good wrist and arm movement to execute lift shots with power and precision. Your racket needs to be right below the shuttle and then lift it with power so that it goes high and far.
Smash
The smash is quite a popular shot among the shuttlers. It’s a fast shot aimed towards the opponent’s court using an overhead motion.
The smash is an attacking shot hammered with power and precise timing. A downward-facing, fast smash won’t give much time to return the shot.
Net Kill
If your opponent executes a net drop into your half, then you can return it with a net kill. This shot is also played close to the net, though you need to make sure that you don’t touch the net. To avoid touching the net, you need to swipe at the shuttle rather than hitting it downwards.
Smash Block and Lift
Smash block is the antidote for a smash executed by your opponent. It’s a defensive shot, but handy to not concede a point as the shuttle moves towards you at a fast speed.
You can use the speed of the shuttle to direct the shuttle in your opponent’s half with soft hands. There is also a smash lift where you use your wrists to lift the smash in a forward direction, taking the shuttle to your opponent’s court.
Trick Shots
As the name suggests, these shots trick or confuse your opponents. These are pretty unusual shots that you will see only professionals executing with finesse on the big stage.
There are some trick shots where shuttlers hit the birdie between their legs, from behind their backs, or after making a 360-degree turn.
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