Official Badminton

How to Play Badminton: Strategy

In singles the main strategy is to try and make an opponent run over the court until he gets out of position, meanwhile remembering to cover the entire court! As a badminton singles court is two and a half feet longer than a doubles court, serves should be played high and deep with the intention of having the shuttlecock drop down just before the back line. This will force the opponent to first move back and then return forward to anticipate the next volley.

Quickly back pedal to prepare for the service return which will probably be returned high and deep. Service returns are usually aimed to the part of the court where the opponent is not. If the server moves forward after his serve, return it with a deep shot, if they back after the serve use a short shot. After a while you will begin to see your opponent's tendencies.

Make an opponent run all over the court by using shots which will get him out of position by aiming shots for the four corners rather than the middle of the court.

Alternate shots between long, short, right, and left until the opponent gets used to the pattern and then suddenly make the same shot twice in a row. Often he will be leaving the very vicinity in which the shuttlecock has been fired.

In badminton play with a doubles partner the key strategy becomes cooperation. Decide in advance what formations or combinations will be used during the match. Delegate responsibility for zones of the court, then stick to them as much as possible. Players can play either side by side, or in an up and back formation, or even rotate formations.

The side by side is a defensive position, both players stand in the mid-court after a lifted return that allows the opponent to attack. A team on the attack should use the up and back formation, with one player covering the front of the court to use smash shots from weak returns, while the other player covers the back court to play clear shots. Sometimes it will be best to rotate formations when attempting to recover from difficult shots that have put the team out of position. Each time one player moves the other adjusts to be on the diagonal.

Doubles players usually serve shots and then rush to the attack. Remember to crouch low when the shuttlecock is behind you so that your partner can easily hit shots over your head.

When playing badminton with a partner, keep your eyes forward, watching the shuttlecock. Trust your partner, do not attempt to reach all of the shots yourself, doubles is a team game!