The Technical Badminton Playing Basics
the foundation and building blocks during a players development
10 point list to stimulate your coach thoughts
A suggested list of basic techniques for hitting and moving
placed in an order of importance
The mini-series
This post will be in 4 parts, as I would like to give you time to consider and try out the content. Hopefully, you will find that every time you read them, you create new thoughts and questions.
Click on the images below if you want to jump to the other parts
If you are looking for ways to develop some of the Badminton core technical skills, then I hope that you will find something to interest you.
The list
These technical aspects sit alongside all the other playing aspects (tactics, courtcraft, physical, etc) and skills (decision-making, courtcraft, self-regulation, etc) to be developed,
They will form the foundation and building blocks during a player’s development.
Hopefully, they will prevent or possibly eradicate many of those technically limiting faults we see in new players.
What images do you create in your mind as you read each one?
I recommend that you pause after each one and reflect on the pictures in your head, the images you are creating at this moment.
- Hitting at a balanced extreme range from the body
- Hold the racket with a sideways grip
- Early preparation
- Hand cocking for power
- Pretension in starting and moving
- Categories of 4 main hitting actions
- Legs and arms wide for balanced movements
- Lunging timing principles
- Sideways turning just prior to contact with the shuttle
- Contact at the highest point
Use these in your coaching
Create a Technical foundation
They help to understand how to create a great technical foundation (not skills) and assist in identifying where technical errors originate from, and then to start a correction.
Be aware that the Technical elements are just part of a players development.
I’d suggest that whilst in the beginning, they are of equal (maybe slightly more) importance than the others (Tactics, Physical, Courtcraft, Self-regulation), over time these other factors increase in importance. Often surpassing the aim of Technical competency.
Certainly, in competition, the factors that separate two technically competent players are factors such as Courtcraft, Tactical decisions and Self-regulation.
Working with novice (beginner) players
Each time I start with a new player, I realise how much I can use the Playing Basics to develop skills without specifying a stroke or movement.
There are many early tasks and challenges that can incorporate some of the 10 points. Once partly established, future development seems much easier for the player and coach.
I was given an insight into creating situations where a core element was developed that then appeared in many strokes and movements.
So with novice players, rather than coach a whole stroke, I was encouraged to coach specific elements of strokes that ensured the whole stroke would be easier to perform and learn. This was different from the traditional repetitious work and statement “today we will work on ………” (stroke).
It took a while to understand that I didn’t just have to focus specifically practice one stroke in isolation.
Prevention rather than Correction
The 10 points continue to increase my awareness of the fundamental technical errors that can limit development.
It allows coaches to plan ahead to try and avoid or prevent some of the classic technical errors : grips, flicking actions, lunging, etc)
When you read the list, can you identify which of the 10 points will reduce the chance of some of the ‘classic technical faults’ from developing?
Incorporate these concepts into your practice aims
Developing them will reduce the chance of a limiting technical fault from forming!
In part 2 we will explore the first 3 of the Badminton Basics and take a deep look at what they mean and how you could use them.
1) Hitting at a balanced extreme range from the body
2) Hold the racket with a sideways grip
3) Early preparation
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
![Introducing the badminton overhead – Challenge No.3 - Duplicate - [#36874]](https://badmintonandy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Badminton-Forehand-Overhead-3-scaled-1.jpg)
![Introducing the badminton overhead – Challenge No.2 - Duplicate - [#36821]](https://badmintonandy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Badminton-Forehand-Overhead-2-scaled-1.jpg)
