Everything I know about badminton stances & their uses
There are many advantages they bring to movement skills
Most are often overlooked or not valued
I’d seen these stances in singles
but never realised how important they were
The key points
- Badminton stances are anticipatory, based on what the player believes the opponent may play or something that they want to be ready for.
- There are opportunities between strokes to make a choice of how to stand (prepare) or to not prepare (just move).
- All choices concerning stances are tactical, are they practiced and develop them from a tactical viewpoint?
- The action of adopting a stance involves a split-step but its a tactical choice not just a technical movement
- Be aware that the direction the player eventually moves is based on the stroke played by the opponent, not neccarilly the stance taken up.
- I'm struggling to find anything that references badminton stances in my coach education 🙁
I was shocked, they were right in front of my eyes, but I had never realised it
Futher reading
This post is for players
It covers some fundamental points about badminton stances, especially in singles movements
What they are, why you should use them, when they happen, and how you can practice them.
Plus why it’s all about the tactical choice you make before your opponent strikes the shuttle.
This post is for coaches
Part 1 : my introduction, why use stances, and what are they
Part 2 : why stances are tactical and anticipatory
Part 3: all about practice: ideas to include for, how to introduce and crucially how to practice tactically
This things to include in practice
I hope it will act as a summary. You may not agree with all the points. The aim is to help you introduce stances, allow for them in practice, and then encourage autonomous movements.
It’s a bullet list so it will take only 3 minutes to read; however, it may offer up hours of ideas for future sessions.
The beginning of the learning story
It will tell the story of my first encounter with my mentor, Roger Mills and the things I witnessed.
The information I learned is still applicable today, over 30 years later.
I’ll explain the questions I asked and how he responded.
Watch Tai Tzu Ying
Your challenge is to watch the short video and answer the 7 questions. It will probably take you 3 -5 minutes, depending on how many times you want to watch.
This is your opportunity to examine the footwork and to understand how important stances are, where they happen and what happens immediately afterwards.
Be parepared to test your convictions and take into account
maturity, technical skill level, tactical desire, and physical condition
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)
