Someone once told me that badminton was a simple game
But they didn’t tell me how many choices I’d have to make as a coach
It wasn’t until I’d been coaching a few years that this fact started to cause me a problem
There are so many variations in techniques when you look at great players
… Which is best?
… What are the essential key features?
… How much variation in technique can you accept?
In the early years
I thought I knew what good badminton technique looked like; I thought I knew what to coach.
I encouraged players to take up certain positions/ shapes in preparation for shots. I encouraged or even insisted on certain racket movements during and after striking.
When I reflect on the things I said and wanted in terms of technique, there wasn’t much allowance for variation. I think that I believed I knew what good technique looked like, and I’m sure I overinsisted on it 🙁
To be honest, I probably did have a too tight a view on what things should look like
My problems
- I became aware that not all good players looked the same
- When I worked with other coaches, their players sometimes had different techniques but yet seemed to work
- I couldn’t define why these variations in techniques all seemed to work, even though I could see they were different
- However, I could define inappropriate technique, well I thought I could
The more I looked at what I thought was a good technique,
the more subtle differences I could see. Why was that?
I searched for answers but found confusion
Here are three examples that regularly came up in discussion, or that I overheard other coaches talking about
I could see both of the techniques detailed below for each stroke. Strangely, players seemed to deliver the strokes using both.
But which technique should I encourage, and which is more robust in the long-term development?
Overhead preparation techniques
Where should the racket be positioned in the preparation?
Some people suggested that the racket should be pointing towards the shuttle so that the player could either see the strings or maybe even touch the strings with their other hand. The racket hand and elbow could be around shoulder or face height.
Others suggested that the racket could be behind the player, the elbow much lower, racket pointing directly up
Backhand clear preparation and hitting action
Where does the elbow point at the start
Some suggest that the elbow should be away from the body, almost out to the side. The hitting action is a forearm rotation with a follow-through and a ‘pull of the shoulder’
Others suggest that the elbow should be pointing downwards, almost close to the body. The hitting action is one movement as the racket head dips down, then quickly up movement with a small rebound-like hit action, followed by a gentle follow-through
High serve
Where the racket starts and finishes
Some people believe that the racket should start in a position similar to the overhead preparation, with the racket pointing up and the racket hand around head level. The action should be fast, almost aggressive and the follow-through large and up going over the shoulder and even around the neck.
Others suggest that the action can be much smaller with the racket pointing backwards almost towards the floor. The action was less aggressive (to ensure consistency) and the follow-through finished somewhere in front but not going over the shoulder
What do I believe now?
- That there is a range of ‘acceptable’ badminton techniques that are different in subtle ways. Plus, the definition of 'acceptable' is debatable.
- The early introduction and reinforcement of the Playing Basics is essential. How aware are the coaches of junior players of what these 'Playing Basics' are, I’m not sure.
- There are certainly inappropriate techniques (ways of hitting and moving) that need to be avoided, and if possible, prevented.
- Too often coaches & players fixate on the minor points of technique when its the tactical application that could make the biggest differences
- I’m very wary of ‘New’ badminton technique, especially those that only exist on the practice courts and not in competitions
- Coaches must take a view on this topic and be prepared to hear arguments, review their thoughts and do what is best for their players
If you ask me what the ‘perfect’ badminton technique is for something,
I would find it difficult to answer
Send me a question
I’m always grateful if you have read this far.
If there is anything that you have read that has helped or that you disagree with, then please send me an email.
I promise to read all your comments
It would be great to hear from you contact@badmintonandy.com
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