Smash It! The Skills of Badminton

Imagine a tiny feathered cone flying across a net at nearly 400 km/h — that is the fastest recorded shuttlecock speed ever! Badminton uses some of the fastest reactions of any sport. Before we explore the skills, think about what your hand and arm would need to do to hit something that small and fast.

Badminton has four main skills you need to learn: the grip, the serve, the clear, and the drop shot. **1. The Grip** The way you hold your racket is called the grip. Use the 'handshake grip' — hold the racket handle as if you are shaking hands with it. Your thumb rests along the flat side of the handle. A good grip gives you control and stops the racket from twisting when you hit the shuttlecock. **2. The Serve** The serve is the shot that starts every rally. A rally is when both players hit the shuttlecock back and forth. In the underarm serve, you hold the shuttlecock at waist height, drop it, and swing the racket upward to push it over the net. The shuttlecock must land inside the service box on the other side of the net. **3. The Overhead Clear** The overhead clear is a high, powerful shot hit above your head. You use a throwing action — raise your racket arm up, then swing forward and hit the shuttlecock at the highest point you can reach. This sends the shuttlecock high and deep to the back of your opponent's court, giving you time to get back into position. **4. The Drop Shot** A drop shot is a gentle, controlled shot played from near the net or from the back of the court. You slow your swing right down so the shuttlecock just trickles over the net and lands close to it on the other side. A good drop shot is hard for your opponent to reach in time. Remember: footwork matters too. Move your feet quickly to get behind the shuttlecock before you swing. If your feet are in the wrong place, even a perfect swing will miss.