LEARNING THE BACKHAND CLEAR

Learn Backhand Clear In Badminton - Click here for the most popular videos

The high backhand clear is one of the most difficult shots in badminton. The above video shows you in step-by-step frame how to execute the shot. Take note of the following:

1. It is important to get into position properly and early.

2. Remember to shift to your backhand grip.

3. Take note of your hitting zone (where the birdie is hit in relation to your body), which should be on the right side of your body and should not be far away from your racquet arm shoulder.

4. As you raise your racquet to hit the birdie the elbow should lead your arm, to be followed by the whipping or rebound action of the forearm and wrist.

5. Do the shot in a relaxed manner; don't tense your muscles so your arm movement will be swift and snappy.

6. Of course timing is important.

7. Finally, after the shot don't stay in that position, but rather immediately get back to the center and get ready for the next shot.

8. Oh one more. Don't get into the habit of hitting backhand every time; remember the advise of badminton sages, "the best backhand is no backhand at all." It simply means that if you can avoid it, do it by getting into position early to be able to deliver a forehand shot, which is concededly more powerful and easier than the backhand. Do the backhand only when it is difficult to take a forehand shot. But then again, if your backhand is as powerful as Taufik Hidayat, you'd have no problem about it.

TACTICAL MATTERS - Doubles Rotation

1. Front-and-back attacking mode formation.




2. Back-to-back defending mode formation.


Playing badminton doubles requires teamwork and flawless coordination for success. Both players must be in sync and know each other's moves. This is only achieved after some time playing together. But this does not necessarily mean you have to do some guesswork in the early stages to establish coordination with your partner, especially if you play with different partners most of the time, thereby preventing you from getting to know a partner's playing style and adjusting to it.

It pays to know the basics.

1. When a partner is serving low, the other partner is usually behind and prepares himself/herself for an attack, either by smashing or dropping the return. This puts you in a front-and-back formation (see picture 1 above). In other words, the server takes care of all shots at the net while the one behind takes care of the shots at the back. If the return to the serve is a clear, the partner at the back should either smash or drop to maintain the attacking mode. This way the opponents will be forced to lift the shuttle cock, unless they answer with net shots, that will again provide opportunity for the back player to attack.

2. If the serve is high, the server should immediately move to his/her side of the court after the serve, while the other partner should immediately position himself/herself to the other side so that the two players will be on a side-to-side formation or a split (see picture 2 above). This prepares them for any possible attacking shots, such as a smash. It is easier to defend against a smash in a side-to-side formation, and usually the partner whose forehand side is closer to the direction of the birdie or shuttle cock will be the one to return the smash.

So, let me summarize the above rules: (1) when a partner serves low the partner assumes a front-and-back formation with the server staying in front to block all shots to the net while the other partner who is behind staying at the back to deal with all the shots there, preferably through a smash or drop; (2) when a partner serves high the partners assume a side-to-side formation by splitting the court into two in preparation for an attack.

3. All throughout the game after the serve, the rule on assuming a front-and-back formation (attacking mode) whenever a partner smashes or drops or assuming a side-to-side formation (defensive mode) whenever a partner clears or lifts should generally be observed.

SHUTTLER NOTES - Philippine Open Badminton

On July 1-5, shuttlers from all over the world will be competing for the Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Grand Prix Badminton Tournament which will be held at the Philsports Arena in Pasig city, Metro Manila. As much as US $120,000.00 will be at stake in this much awaited event, which was shelved last 2008 to give way to the Beijing Olympics. According to Philippine badminton honcho Amelita "Ming" Ramos, winners in this tournament will earn points to compete for the next olympics. Top asian players, like Beijing Olympics men's single runner-up and current world number one Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, have already confirmed their participation.

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).

THE JUMP SMASH

Who said only in basketball do we see players flying off the court? In this picture Lin Dan, 1997 Olympics gold medalist for men's singles event, executing a high jump smash. The jump smash is usually done when smashing from the rear part of the court to give a player more stiffness to the smash, which cannot normally be accomplished due to the distance from the net. Although I have seen beginners do jump smashes in midcourt or even in forecourt! To me this is waste of precious energy because a normal smash, given your proximity to the net, could accomplish the same thing, and with even greater accuracy as a jump smash requires perfect timing to do.

Anyway, if you have the strength to do this highly advanced shot, I suggest you check out this link involving a demonstration of the jump smash by Danish player Peter Rasmussen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Xe5Qtrq90.

SMASHING IT! - PART 3

In the postings below, you will see a series of pictures from the ready stance to the smash shot, with brief explanations, for a further understanding and mastery of this very important and potent badminton shot.

THE READY STANCE

Always take a ready stance while waiting for the shots of your opponent. Remember to stand on the balls of your feet, which means the heels do not or barely touch the floor. This allows you to spring into action fast.

AIMING FOR THE SHOT

As the birdie arrives, position yourself for the shot by moving your right foot to the back and turning your hips and shoulders to the right so that you position yourself almost sideways to the net. At the same time, raise your arms with the raquet hand behind and the racquet held high above your shoulder, while the non-raquet hand infront pointing toward the direction of the birdie and acting as a balancer. Note the weight shifting to the right foot.

THE COCKING ACTION

Immediately before hitting the birdie the racquet is cocked by dropping it behind you or whipping it back to generate power for the smash shot. Other things to take note in this picture: (1) the weight of the body is shifted to the right foot; (2) the birdie is infront and above the player; and (3) along the path of the right shoulder - for the ideal hitting zone.

TAKING THE SHOT

For the shot, the forearm whips up toward the direction of the incoming birdie, thus straightening your arm with the locking of the elbow, followed by the snapping of the wrist that pushes the racquet downward. Note how high the outstretched arm is, which provides a sharp downward trajectory to the birdie.

THE FOLLOW-THROUGH

The stroke should not stop at the point of contact with the birdie, but must continue in one fluid motion to its downward and natural path. This is the follow-through which adds more power to your smash.

SMASHING IT! - PART 2

(The smash mechanics seen step-by-step. Drawings by Badmintonian)

Here we can see how the smash is done. Let us further analyze the steps.

1. The player takes a ready stance. Notice the racquet up position for easy blocking of any incoming shot or easy positioning for a return shot. Take note also of the feet which are slightly raised off the floor for easy movement or springiness.

2. The player assumes a ready position; an aim, as it were. Left hand/arm acts as balancer while racquet arm is ready to whip the birdie - they form a capital "U" with the shoulder or the bottom and sides of a box. The right foot moved behind and weight is transferred to it.

3. Immediately before the shot is taken player cocks the racquet by dropping it behind the back. Notice how deep the racquet head is. This will give momentum to the shot when the racquet head is thrown up at high speed.

4. Simultaneously, he turns his right hip and shoulder toward the birdie/net, whips his right forearm up and locks his elbow that brings the racquet head up, then snaps the wrist to the direction of the birdie, making contact with it for an explosive shot. Observe that the point of contact with the birdie is above and infront of the player and notice the downward and forward direction of the racquet face. The body weight shifted to the left foot.

5. Kapow! the shot sends the birdie steeply into the opponent's court. The stroke continues downward for the follow-through for added power.

SMASHING IT!

(Lin Dan executing a smash)

The smash is said to be the ultimate shot in badminton, because when executed with power and precision it usually ends a rally. Even top players are defenseless against a well executed smash. So all of you weekend warriors out there, you might as well include this shot in your array of badminton skills. The following instructions or guides are culled from tons of information about the smash and synthesized to give you, as far as my abilities allow, the clearest possible information about this killer shot.

There are two types of smash: forehand and backhand. Here we will only deal with the forehand - the most common in view of the fact that a lot of players have difficulty doing the backhand, let alone the smash version of it.

As with other forehand strokes, the foundation for the forehand smash is the forehand clear, previously discussed in the post "Clearing with the forehand." For ease of understanding, the pointers here refer to the right handed player so if you're left handed, simply reverse the process with the left hand and it will be the same. Also, the arm that holds the racquet is called the racquet arm or hand, which for our purpose is the right arm, while the other arm (left arm) is the non-racquet arm. Therefore, the right foot is the racquet foot and the left the non-racquet foot.

Here's how it is done:

1. Assume a ready stance. Face the net, feet spread apart at about shoulder width. The right foot is slightly forward. Both feet are raised a little with only the balls touching the court floor to allow you to easily spring into action. It is not a good idea to stand with your feet flat on the floor as it will prevent you from immediately moving into another position.

The racquet should be raised infront of you, crossing your body diagonally where the racquet head is about your left shoulder. You may also want to hold it a little lower to ready yourself for a steep smash. You could hold the racquet with either the forehand or backhand grip, depending on your preference. For a more defensive posture, however, it is advisable to use the backhand grip so it will be easier to block or return a smash.

2. Move to a ready position. As you see the birdie fly off your opponent's racquet, move your right foot back such that you will stand almost sideways to the net. Simultaneously raise your left and right arms above your shoulder while turning your torso to the right; your left arm is now infront of you to act as a balancer and your racquet arm behind you with the racquet head high pass your head. Your weight is now shifted to your right foot.

The way your arms are positioned now is like a capital letter "U" or the sides of a box with the upper parts of your arms and shoulder forming the bottom of the box. You can assume either, but for me I prefer the letter "U" because with my arms higher I avoid the mistake of hitting low.

Of course it is assumed that while doing all these movements your eyes are focused on the incoming birdie.

3. Unwind for the shot. As the birdie comes to the right position, unwind for the shot. The right moment to hit the birdie is ideally at the highest possible height when it is above and infront of you. Take note of the phrase "above and infront of you," which means that the birdie is high up but not directly above you. Rather it is infront of you preferably five to six inches away. This is called a one or 11 o' clock position. A birdie directly above you is at a 12 o' clock position, which is not the position you like to hit the birdie. The reason for this is to allow you to hit down the birdie to the other court, rather than hit it upward as is the case with a clear. It allows you to move toward the birdie with all your weight and stroke for that killer smash. Also, when you hit the birdie make sure it is along your right shoulder, because if the birdie is wide away from your shoulder your shot will not be as powerful and may hurt your shoulder. So, the right position is above and infront of you along the right shoulder.

Having found the right position of the birdie, you are now ready to take the shot by:

a) Cocking the racquet, which is done by dropping the head deep along your back;
b) Turning your torso to the left or toward the net;
c) Unwinding your racquet from its cocked position by whipping your forearm upward toward the birdie (your elbow is now locked - meaning your racquet arm is straight up, as can be seen from Lin Dan's picture above);
d) Snapping your wrist so that the racquet face (stringed area) contacts the birdie in an explosive manner (For the wrist movement, see the video in the post "The Wrist Action");
e) Allow your swing to continue naturally downward for the follow-through until your racquet ends up either to the left or right side of your body.

Normally, the racquet head ends up to the left side of your body as a result of the turning action of your torso to the left or toward the net. In other players the swing may end up to the right side of the body. There is no problem with either case. What is important is do not stop your stroke upon contact with the birdie; make sure there is a follow-through for added power to your shot. Also, immediately after the follow-through be sure to assume back your ready stance to prepare for any return shot by your opponent.

Step a) is done immediately before hitting the birdie. It will be a fast action where you will normally see the racquet in but a blur when a good player executes it during a game. This dropping of the racquet head is a cocking action that supplies power to the shot. It is also done simultaneously with steps b) to e). Steps c) to e) are done in immediate succession or in one continuous motion. Make no mistake, these steps are but a breakdown of the shot; you may do them one by one to make sure you are properly doing each movement, but in actual application these are all done simultaneously and in succession - in one smooth and continuous flow.

Furthermore, as you do steps a) to e), you are doing a forward motion where your weight shifts to your left or non-racquet foot. It is also alright if your racquet foot moves forward and lands in front as you execute the smash. Now, you might be asking what happens to your left arm throughout this whole movement. You don't have to worry much about it as it will naturally drop and get out of the way as you perform the shot.

Notice in these steps that it is not only the wrist snap that provides power to your shot, but the twisting of your torso through your hips, the shoulder turn, the cocking of the racquet, whipping of the forearm and the weight shifting forward. All these contribute to the power behind the smash. Seasoned players who have developed powerful wrists, though, could still deliver a fatal smash even with the wrist snap only if they find themselves out of position.

There is a variation to the forehand smash in what is called an overhead smash. The overhead smash is done with the birdie being hit on the left side of the body, along the left shoulder, as when the birdie is sent to your backhand side. Instead of the forearm traveling straight up along the right shoulder, it will pass along the back of the head from its cocked position. This shot is done as a substitute to a backhand shot, especially if the player has a weak backhand. But even if your backhand is good it is still preferable to use this shot as the forehand is still more powerful, like what Lin Dan does who sparingly uses his backhand.

There is also the jump smash, but for now this will not be tackled as it is an advance shot already.

Finally, the smash uses a lot of energy so if you are not in tip-top physical condition or your opponents have strong smash defenses, use it sparingly; as much as possible use it only when it will deliver a kill as when the birdie is high up in midcourt when the opponent delivers a giveaway shot. But if your opponents are not as good in returning smashes and you have that reserve of energy, by all means smash whenever there is chance for this will put you always on the offensive and your opponent on the defensive. In doubles, even if the opponents can return your smashes there will be times when they will make weak returns that set them up for an indefensible smash by your partner who is positioned in front. So a smash is not only intended to deliver an instant kill but also to force your opponents make weak returns or giveaway shots.

For an illustration, click on the link below and check the video tutorial to see the smash in motion. Remember, there will be variations in what you will see from what have been discussed here. In this video the player jumps a little and the racquet is positioned differently in the unwinding for the shot. Focus on the racquet and arm movements as the shot is delivered.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-8QlW8_PdYbw/badminton_technique_forehand_smash/

VIDEOS ON SERVING

For a better understanding of the serve mechanics, check out the following videos on You Tube:

1. Low backhand serve: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iinFT878Zs

2. Low forehand serve: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAwKKcG48H4

In viewing these videos, you may notice a little variation from what I said in my post "Serving to win," but the differences aren't that many. The variation usually comes in the style or preference of a particular player. Always remember that there are no absolute rules in the way things are done in badminton; there are only the basics. Beyond these basics, individual preferences may come in, which would account for the differences in the execution of the movements. So don't get confused.

SERVING TO WIN

In this illusration, A1 is the server (serving from the right or serving to the left) in a doubles game and B1 is the receiver. The line infront of A1 near the net is the short service line, the first line behind on the back is the long or back service line for doubles and the second or last line in the back is the long or back service line for singles, the first line on A1's right side is the singles sideline and the second line is the doubles side line. The line on A1's left side is the middle line. In serving, A1 should stay only on the darker shaded box. For a proper serve, A1 should make the birdie land only on the darker shaded box where B1 is. (Illustration from Wikimedia)


Service initiates the game in badminton. Learning how to serve properly and effectively is important in a game, as it may either cost you a point or win one. There are different kinds of service, and there are two types of games where service is applied. The different kinds of service are:

1. Low serve - done by sending the birdie just after the receiver's front service line (see the court illustration);

2. High serve - done by sending the birdie just before the receiver's long or back service line; and
3. Drive serve - done by driving the birdie straight toward the receiver.

The two types of games to which a service is applied are singles (one person vs. one person) and doubles (two persons vs. two persons) games.

Basic Rules of the Serve

a) According to the Word Badminton Federation rules, followed in all pro tour, the birdie must be below the waistline when serving. The waistline is determined to be the imaginary line below the lowest rib cage of the body. Serving with the birdie higher than this level can result in a wrong serve.

b) Serving is done by sending the birdie diagonally to the other court.

c) The birdie must land within the front service line and the long or back service line (the inside line on the back of the court for doubles; the outer line for singles). If you're serving on the left (which means you are on the right side of your court) the birdie must also land within the sideline (the outer line for doubles; the inner line for singles) on the left side of the court. The opposite is true if you're serving on the right. See the court illustration for better understanding.

How to do the Serve

(Note: the instructions are for right handers. If you're left hander, do the opposite)

Low Serve

1. Using the backhand

a) Stand just before the front service line facing the opposite court diagonally to the left (if serving from the right) or to the right (if serving from the left). Your left foot is slightly behind with the right foot leading . Your toes should be facing the receiver.

b) Hold your racquet using the backhand grip with the racquet head down approximately below your waist, such that your thumb will be facing you and the other fingers facing the receiver.

c) The racquet strings should be facing the receiver.

d) Left hand should be holding the birdie with either the thumb and index finger clipping the edge of the birdie's feathers or the thumb and index finger together with the middle finger wrap around the end of the feathers - all depending on your preference, in my case I prefer the first method. Hold the birdie only lightly. The tip of the birdie or the cork part should be pointing just in front of the racquet strings which will be the point of impact. Remember to keep the birdie below your waistline to avoid a foul serve.

e) Move the racquet slightly to the back or toward your body for the cocking action, drop the birdie, then swing the racquet forward just in time to hit the birdie. Make sure the birdie goes over the net and lands into the receiver's box just after the front service line. If the birdie gets snagged on the net or lands short of the front service line, then you have a fault or error in service.

There is a variation to this serve by flicking the birdie faster or stronger to send it behind the receiver making sure it lands just before the long or back service line (first line for doubles and second line for singles). This is called the flick serve. The motion for both low serve and flick serve are basically the same, differing only in the speed of the racquet as it contacts the birdie. All you need to do for the flick serve is move the racquet back a little farther toward your body and swing it to the birdie faster to send the birdie farther into the back instead of landing only in front of the receiver. The trick of the trade is that if the receiver is too close to the net you want to do the flick serve, and if too far back you want to serve low in front.

In doing a low serve, make sure the birdie crosses just above the net to avoid it from being swiped or dabbed by the receiver who will rush toward your serve. If you do a flick serve make sure the biride flies high enough to the back of the receiver to avoid it from being smashed back. Better yet flick it to the receiver's backhand side (left side if he is right hander or right side if he is left hander).

2. Using the forehand underhand swing

a) Stand in the same position as in the serve using the backhand, only this time move the right foot behind with the left foot leading. Extend your left hand in front of you and hold the birdie with your fingers (either the thumb-index finger clip or thumb-index and middle finger wrap discussed above) leveled just below your chest. The bottom of the birdie is pointing to the floor. Other players prefer to hold the birdie lower below the waistline.

b) Hold the racquet with your right hand using the forehand grip. Bring the racquet back for the cock, drop the birdie, then swing the racquet forward with the racquet head traveling from a downward to an upward swing just in time to hit the falling birdie. The birdie should travel just over and across the net and land on the receiver's box.

This type of low serve is trickier in that you need more control and accuracy to deliver the birdie over the other court with the right height. Poor movement may either make the birdie travel lower thereby getting snagged on the net or higher allowing the receiver to tap it down. It takes more practice to do this.

High Serve

The position and movement is similar to the low serve using the forehand underhand swing, only this time you need to move the racquet back a little farther to give you more cocking action and to swing it forward faster. You need to increase the racquet speed to impart a stronger force that will send the birdie high up behind the receiver. Also, unlike the low serve, your racquet head ends up above your left shoulder for the follow through to your swing. This is important to give you more power to the serve.

In doing this, take care not to overshoot the birdie so that it does not go beyond the appropriate long service line at the back court or you will get an error in service.

Take note of the common error beginners make in doing this service. The error they make is that the racquet face (where the strings are) is facing the ceiling flat when it makes contact with the birdie. This makes the birdie fly high above the server only, not passing to the other court, or even if does it flies high up in front of the receiver instead of behind him, thus allowing a smash back. To correct this, try moving backward and make sure the racquet face is diagonal forward instead of parallel to the ceiling or floor when it makes contact with the birdie; in other words the racquet face is angled up halfway. It is also not correct that the racquet face is 90 degrees or at a right angle to the floor or ceiling as this will make the birdie fly straight into the net instead of over it.

The Drive Serve

Same position as the high serve. But this time, hold the birdie to the right side of your body with the birdie's bottom facing away from the net. Bring the racquet back for the cocking action, release the birdie as you hit it with the racquet by swinging it forward. Note that unlike the high serve, you do not swing the racquet from a downward to and upward motion, but simply from back to front; racquet follows a more sideways motion. This will make the birdie travel a straighter path toward the receiver, hence the name drive serve. To be effective, the birdie should be fast which means you need to increase your racquet head speed.

One final note. In serving, do not hurry. Take your time so that your service can be planned well and executed properly. Who knows you could probably serve an ace and win you a point instantly.

SHUTTLER NOTES - Lin Dan upsets Lee Chong Wei in the All England Badminton Open

(photo from Xinhua/AFP)

China's Lin Dan reprised his 2008 Olympic gold victory over world number one Lee Chong Wei by giving him another stunning defeat in the recently concluded All England Badminton Open in the men's singles event. In his fourth men's singles victory in the prestigious Birmingham tournament, Lin Dan defeated the Malaysian shuttler 21-19, 21-12.

Although top seeded Lee was obviously saddened by his new defeat he promised to work harder next time and find ways to break Lin Dan. According to Lee, Lin Dan played even better than in the Beijing Olympics and was more fast and aggressive in his attacks.

China also swept the women's singles and all doubles event, making it the first country since Denmark in 1948 to win all gold. This is also the first time that the Chinese team bagged all categories in an overseas tournament.

THE WRIST ACTION

They say that badminton is all wrist. This is, however, not an entirely accurate statement. As you can see from the previous post about the forehand clear, several parts of the body are involved: hips, shoulder, elbow, and wrist. All these are involved in the generation of power for your stroke. Former RP team coach Butch Oreta says that the notion that badminton is all wrist must have come from the experience during a fast-pace game where a player is not able to perform all the movements (shoulder and hip turn), leaving only the wrist to do the job.

That being said, wrist action, nevertheless, is important in having an effective stroke. The first video (shown below) shows the wrist action in a forehand clear. Notice the sideways movement of the wrist as opposed to the up-and-down movement of the wrist in the second video. The second video shows the panhandle grip (so-called because the hand mimics the handling of a frying pan) and this wrist movement is applied when hitting the birdie while floating just above the net in what is known as a net kill. The wrist action in the forehand clear starts with the dropping of the racquet head behind your back which provides the cocking action for maximum power, then followed by the uncocking of the wrist together with the full extension of the arm. Note that the stroke does not end with the racquet head at the top as shown on the video, this is just for demonstration purpose. In actual game the racquet head ends down for the follow-through, which is equally important for adding power to your shots.

The speed you impart to the racquet head with the movement of your wrist from its cocked to its uncocked position also determines the force and type of your shot. Reduce the speed of your racquet head to do a drop shot. Increase it for a deep clear, and do it even faster for a smash. As will be shown later, the mechanics of the forehand clear is the foundation for other high forehand strokes such as the smash and drop shots.

CLEARING WITH THE FOREHAND

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

(illustration borrowed from badminton.chorwong.com)

The forehand clear is one of the most versatile strokes in badminton. It can be used for defense, in which case it is called a "defensive clear." One can also attack with it, making it an "offensive clear." Yet again, players normally use it for warm-up before games. A "warm-up clear"? And beginners probably think it is the only stroke in badminton. I hope the following steps will help illustrate the stroke (note: for lefties, just reverse the movement):

1. As you see the birdie coming, position yourself by moving your right foot to the back and shifting your weight into it. Make sure the right foot is not alined directly behind the left foot as this will cramp your movement. The toes of your right foot should be pointing a little to the right. At the same time twist your body to the right so that you are now almost facing sideways to the net. See illustration (1) above.

2. While doing the above step, you will at the same time raise your arms above your shoulders with the left one leading in front (acting as a balancer) and the right arm behind, where your racquet is. The racquet should be held with the forehand grip (see previous posting on grips). See illustration (1) above.

3. Hit the birdie by bringing your right hand with the racquet to the front in a swinging motion (more on this). At the same time that you do this you will also turn/twist your body to the left and in the process shift your weight to the left foot. This will also make the toes of your right foot face to the front.

The swing or stroke is done by (a) swiftly dropping the head of your racquet behind your back so that you are holding the handle with the tip pointing upward [See illustration (2) above] (b) then immediately raise the racquet head by snapping your forearm up, locking your elbow, and twisting your wrist toward the direction of the birdie until the string bed of your racquet hits it in mid-air [see illustration (3) and (4) above] (c) continue the natural movement of your swing downward after hitting the birdie until your racquet head ends to either the left or right side of your body (follow-through) [see illustration (5) above]. These steps are all done in one swift motion and should not be done one at a time. The whole stroke is only broken down in steps for instructional purpose.

Also, you will do this stroke (all three steps) simultaneously with the twisting forward or turning to the left of your body. In other words, the turning or twisting of the body to the left, shifting of your weight to the left foot and the stroke are all done at the same time.

A little note about the above illustration: you will see that as the figure is about to strike the birdie the right foot is brought forward. This could also be done and can add forward thrust to your shot. Also you will notice that the birdie is hit directly above the head. This shows a situation where the birdie went pass the ideal hitting zone (to be discussed in the following paragraphs).

In executing this move, bear the following points in mind:

1) Your ideal hitting zone (where your racquet hits the birdie) should be above and infront of you, more or less about an arm's length away. They call this hitting at 11 o'clock.

2) Hit the birdie head on and at the highest point possible (meaning, at the highest point your racquet can make contact). The raising of the arms above shoulder level, discussed above, in preparation for the shot helps tremendously in achieving this. It helps you avoid hitting the shuttle late.

One of the most common mistakes for beginners - even among old timers with bad habits - is hitting the shuttle low. The importance of hitting high is to give you more shot options and steeper trajectory when smashing. It also allows you to send the birdie deep into the other end of the court.

3) Your swing should be just above your shoulder, not above your head (unless doing an overhead shot) nor away from your shoulder. If your swing is away from your shoulder because the birdie is way to the right by failing to position yourself properly, it will have lesser power and could hurt your shoulder.

4) Remember to always have a relaxed grip, tightening it only when your racquet hits the birdie.

5) Timing is important. You won't be able to hit the birdie if you swing early or late. Most of the time beginners swing too early and kapow! the birdie lands on their heads.

6) Most of the time, especially in doubles, you won't be able to do the whole steps outlined here, such as the twisting of the body to the right and back to the left, leaving you only with the swing. This happens because of the fast pace of the game or you are late in positining yourself. So good footwork becomes important to get you into position early so that you will be able to do the whole range of motion for that winning shot.

Now, if all these sound too abstract or complex to you and have difficulty imagining and understanding the moves because I am a lousy writer, I suggest you click on the following link and see a video of how the forehand clear is executed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHHPaVYcfII.

SHUTTLER NOTES - RP badminton team to be trained by an Indonesian

The Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) has reportedly hired an Indonesia national to train the Philippine national badminton team. Indra Setiawan, who has been around the country training players in private badminton clubs, has been tapped to prepare our national team for the coming South East Asian Games (SEAG).

While Indonesia is home to some of the world's top badminton players, among them 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the men's singles event Taufik Hidayat, I doubt the wisdom of this move. Unlike in basketball, where we also get foreign coaches for the PBA, it doesn't seem right to hire a foreign national whose country is one of the countries to beat when it comes to badminton. We don't know the extent of this Indra Setiawan's nationalism, but I would suppose he wouldn't want his country to be overtaken by us - although this may be a farfetched dream for now - in the field of badminton. He might not train our players to the highest level given the possible competition.

Besides, we got our own crop of good coaches in badminton like Errol Chan, never mind his ego, and Butch Oreta, who have devoted their lives in the development of the sport. I'm sure there are still others. What we need is support from the government or even the private sector to develop our players into top shuttlers. Instead of spending so much on foreign coaches (I heard this Setiawan guy will get around P100,000.00 monthly salary) why not do the same for our worthy kababayans?

By the way, I've read a thread on the badminton central forum that Setiawan did not even become a national player in Indonesia. The info may be wrong, but my opinion remains the same.

A WORD ABOUT GRIPS

(pictures borrowed from samyjk2009.wordpress.com)


Before even attempting to hit the birdie it is important that you learn how to handle your racquet. This proper handling is called a grip. For me this is a misnomer because you don't really grip the racquet, for to grip means to hold on to something tight. You should hold your racquet in a relaxed but firm manner; a tight grip (sounds redundant huh?) prevents you from allowing the racquet to play in your hands that gives it extra movement to help you in delivering a powerful shot or flexibility in experimenting with different and deceptive shots. A relaxed grip allows your racquet greater range that makes for a great stroke or shot.


But don't get me wrong, for while it is essential to have a relaxed grip you must tighten it at the point of impact with the birdie to impart more power to your shot and to prevent your racquet face from turning in the wrong direction. Renowned former Philippine badminton team coach Butch Oreta analogizes the importance of suddenly tightening your grip in a vise-like manner at the very moment of impact to a moving car that suddenly stops; the sudden braking imparts a strong forward force.


Okay let's go to the grips now. There are basically two types of grips that every badminton player should learn: (1) forehand grip (2) backhand grip. The forehand grip, shown on the second picture above, is to be used for all forehand strokes - meaning those that you make at or about the right side of your body while facing the net. The backhand grip, shown on the first picture above, is to be used for all backhand strokes - meaning those that you make at or about the left side of your body while facing the net and at the right side of your body with your back facing the net.


As seen on the picture, in the forehand grip your hand is like shaking the hand of someone forming a "V" between your thumb and forefinger. Try to spread your forefinger away from the other fingers and curl it around the racquet handle to provide extra support as seen on angle 2 in the forehand grip picture. Do not, as a lot of beginners do, extend your forefinger as if pointing.


In the backhand grip the extended thumb is resting on the flat side of the racquet's handle. As you might have noticed already after holding a racquet, its handle has two wide flat sides (opposite each other) and two narrow flat sides (also opposite each other) with bevels (slanted sides) connecting all four sides. When in a forehand grip one wide flat side rests against your palm while your fingers are wrapped on one of the narrow flat sides and on the other wide flat side. When in a backhand grip, your extended thumb rests on one of the wide flat sides (angles 2 and 3 of the backhand grip picture) while the inside of your fingers are wrapped around the other wide flat side and one of the narrow flat sides (angle 1 of the backhand grip picture).


It is important to learn how to switch from the forehand to the backhand grip. You'll need this in the course of the game as when the birdie suddenly moves to the left side of your body while in a forehand grip or vice versa. To do the switch from forehand to backhand, while in a forehand grip twist the racquet handle clockwise (for right handers) or counter-clockwise (for lefties) with your gripping hand so that it turns and your thumb rests on one of the wide flat sides of the handle. You will appreciate here the importance of not having a tight grip, because it will be hard or will require extra time to do the turning of the racquet handle. Remember even a millisecond delay may prove vital in the middle of a game. Do the opposite twist to go back to the forehand grip.


Practice doing this switching so that it becomes second nature to you. You could do it while watching TV or better yet, try hitting the birdie against a wall (walling) alternately from the right side and from the left side of your body, remembering to switch grip as you move from hitting with a forehand grip from the right side to hitting from the left side or vice versa.


As a final tip, you might want to find a neutral grip, meaning the grip that you are most comfortable with while waiting for the birdie to cross your court or while on a ready stance. It should be the grip from which you can easily switch to the necessary grip to deliver an effective shot or defend against an oncoming attacking shot. It may be a forehand, backhand or a variation of either, but the most important thing is it should prepare you to deliver the best shot.

SHUTTLER NOTES - Philippine Open coming this June

After being shelved last year to avoid low turnout of participants as a result of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, the official badminton body Philippine Badminton Association (PBA), headed by former first lady Amelita "Ming" Ramos, has announced that it will push through with the Philippine Open badminton tournament this coming June.

The Philippine Open is an international tournament being hosted by the Philippines, which started in 2006. In 2007, top players from the country and around the world participated in this much anticipated event, wherein 2008 Olympic silver medalist Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia bested one of China's top players Chen Hong in men's singles.

BEGINNING BADMINTON

So now you have decided you like badminton. The question is what's next? Whether you are playing badminton just for the sweat of it or to become a serious player, here are a few things that might prove helpful:


Your Getup


Your clothes should allow freedom of movement. Short pants and short-sleeved shirts are recommended for both men and women, although women can wear skirts similar to those being worn by tennis players. It does not hurt to invest in clima cool, dri-fit shirts being carried by popular sporting apparel company since these help make you dry and cool, especially in our hot tropical climate - that is, if you have the money to shell. But whatever is your preference the most important thing is your comfort, although wearing something simple and respectable at the same time isn't a bad idea.


Shoes are important. Since badminton is an indoor game and so as not to mess your club's court floor, you should wear shoes which have non-marking rubber soles, preferably gum sole shoes. There are shoes especially made for badminton, like those made by Yonex, Mizuno, Asics, or even by Adidas, Nike and Wilson. Squash and indoor volleybal shoes have much the same features as badminton shoes as in fact a lot of sellers advertise them for both badminton and these other sports. Correct shoes are important because they protect you from injury, such as sprain ankles, arch and heel pains. Make sure the shoes you're buying have good ankle, arch and heel support.

The Equipment

Your basic equipment are a racquet and shuttlecocks or birdies. The type of racquet you buy depends on your skill level, but since this is about beginning badminton it is obviously intended for beginners. Please, for your own good, do not buy racquets sold in pairs packaged with birdies that are usually found in department or grocery stores. These racquets are the two-piece types (the racquet frame is not one whole continuous piece from the shaft to the head) and are heavy, which will hurt your wrist and arms. Buy your racquet (one-piece type) from sporting goods store where you will find a huge selection from cheap to expensive ones. Cheaper ones may be heavier than the expensive types, but certainly not as heavy as the two-piece types.


If you are so minded, you might also want to consider the string tension which is measured in terms of pounds. As a rule, a lower tension is recommended for beginners with undeveloped or weak wrists (badminton uses a lot of wrist). A lower tension string adds power to your swing because of the so-called "trampoline effect"; the soft strung racquet gives more bounce to the birdie upon contact. For seasoned players, however, since they have already developed strong wrists they don't need a lower stringed racquet to aid them in delivering powerful shots, which explains why they usually have high tension strung racquets. But if you have powerful wrists, such as tennis players who are used to considerably heavier racquets, a high strung racquet might just work fine for you. The benefit of such racquet is the control it imparts. If the tension of your racquet string is low or loose, the additional bounce it imparts on the birdie makes it harder to control especially when doing net shots.


Training


Even if you only want to have a recreation and exercise, it is helpful to learn some of the basics of badminton. Only when you can do the basic moves that you get to enjoy the game more and get some sweat running down your body. The people you see in court who seem content on just hitting the birdie back and forth may soon get worn down by the exercise because it eventually becomes monotonous. If you're getting into the sport, might as well do it right even if you've no intention of becoming a pro. I promise you you will enjoy your game more!


At least you should learn the correct grips, forehand and backhand swings, and a little footwork. Of course, you can't play a game without knowing the rules.


Physical Conditioning

Badminton requries stamina, speed, flexibility, agility and strength. Stamina gives you endurance to last a game; speed to get to the birdie; flexibility to reach tight spots; agility to make sudden changes in direction or movement; and strength to impart power to your shots. You don't have to be in olympic condition to play badminton, though, especially if you only want to become a recreational player. But at least make an effort to develop these attributes if you want an enjoyable game.


Before playing any game or even just playing hit birdie back-and-forth, it is important to stretch and warm up. Be sure to stretch your legs, arms and torso to avoid injuries. The same thing is true of warm up; warm up your body to get your circulation going and limber up so that your tissues become ready for the battering they'll get. After the game it is also important to cool down gradually. Don't just sit down after a game. Allow a few minutes to settle your body by doing brisk walking around the court. You don't want to overwhelm your heart by suddenly stopping bodily movements after an intense game.


Stretch also to avoid muscle pains later on, although as a beginner you will surely experience muscle pains the following day because you will have woken up many of your before unused, sleeping tissues, especially if you're a potato couch or have been living a sedentary lifestyle. Equally important is that you consult your doctor if you are physically fit for undertaking strenuous physical activities before deciding everything else.

Hydration

Do not forget to keep yourself hydrated before, during and after your game. This is especially important during summers or high temperatures. Your body needs fluids and getting dehydrated may prove serious, even fatal. Be sure to drink water or high electrolyte fluids, such as power drinks. These types of drinks are highly recommended as they provide better supply of electrolytes in your body that you lose fast during games. Be careful not to drink too much water after a tiring game as you may suffer from water intoxication or hyponatremia. You may have heard of an American cyclist who died drinking too much water during a race. Drink water in moderation.


Well, I guess that pretty much covers your start. I wish you a fun and healthy game; happy smashing!!!

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

If you are asking why I made this blog, the title of this premiere post pretty much answers it: for the love of the game. I've been a badminton fanatic - baddict (badminton + addict) is more like it - for a long time now, and I figured it won't hurt if I put in my two cents worth on badminton, not to mention the fact that I get to occupy myself with a worthwhile advocacy for something I like to do.

Badminton's growth in the Philippines has been phenomenal. It's rare to see a town or city where there's no badminton court; they have literally sprouted like mushrooms everywhere in the country. Sad to say though this emerging popularity and newfound enthusiasm in the sport have yet to translate into world or even regional standing among our top players. Like in other sports we are into, there is that lack of funding and support from both the public and private sectors that will propel and sustain the efforts of those who excel in the sports into success in major pro tournaments. This will somewhat be a small voice speaking to those who will see the importance of badminton as an emerging national sport where, despite our physical limitations, could get a shot at being among the best, if not in the world at least in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Finally, this blog hopes to network with different players, both here and abroad, for the exchange of information, techniques, and other important developments in badminton to make us more informed, better players. Now if you have nothing else to do after reading this blog, don't waste your time; gear up and see you in court!