TACTICAL MATTERS: RETURNING THE BIRDIE

For most beginners, returning the birdie into the opponent's side of the court is the ultimate objective, rather than scoring a shot or putting the opponent out of position. But for a more rewarding play, however, it is important to return the birdie with an objective other than merely being able to bring it into the opponent's court: to win.

The following are some of the ways by which this can be achieved:

1. Bring the birdie to a spot that is not covered by the opponent or will be hard to reach. A lot makes the mistake of returning the birdie to the opponent himself which gives him/her the opportunity to return a winner or defensive shot. Wouldn't it make more sense to send the birdie to a spot away from the opponent?

2. Send your clear deep into the back line of the court. Never send a clear or lob shot (one that is high) to the forecourt (infront or close to the net) or midcourt only (between the forecourt and the back part of the court) as this will be easy for the opponent to kill it with a smash, which will be hard to defend against. So practice your clear by sending the birdie way to the back part of the court, taking care of course not to bring the birdie outside of the court. This clear can work both as a defensive and offensive move: it is defensive when your only objective is to return your opponent's attack; it is offensive when your opponent is infront and away from the back court. Also, if your clear is deep it would be much easier to defend even against a smash. The laws of physics will work on your side: the farther the biride the slower or lesser force it reaches you.

3. Try to bring the birdie to the corners on the back court. A deep clear shot to the corner of the back court is difficult to return, especially if it is the backhand side of the opponent (to the right if opponent is right handed; to the left if left handed).