Badminton is not a sport for the faint of heart. With the shuttle flying at high speeds and a small court to navigate, you have to constantly be on your feet, ready for the next shot coming at you. Moving around the court and moving your body in relation to the shuttle is important to having success at badminton.
Do Footwork Drills
Before you even step on the court, you'll need to get your feet used to the fast pace and quick movements of badminton. One of the best ways to do this is through footwork drills. Jumping rope is one of the easiest and most popular footwork drills, and can be done from the comfort of your own home or in the gym. Grab a jump rope and practice jumping as fast and as low as you can, then move on to more advanced jumps, such as alternating your feet and rotating the jump rope twice within one jump. Ladder drills can also improve your footwork. Pieces of tape or rope joined together to look like a ladder can be placed on the floor to create this easy-to-use piece of drill equipment. Step in one section of the ladder with one foot, then in with the other, followed by stepping out with the first foot, then out with the next, in quick sequence. Then move on quickly to the next section.
Don't Get Caught Flat-Footed
Once you've got your footwork drills down, it's time to translate that hard work onto the court. Keeping your knees bent and balancing your weight on the balls of your feet instead of being flat-footed will help you be ready for and anticipate the next shot.
Keep Your Wrist Loose
Keeping a stiff wrist is an easy way to misplay shots and send the shuttle going where you don't want it to, so make sure your wrist is loose and flexible at all times. In fact, flicking your wrist while hitting a shot can help get more air under the shuttle, which comes in handy when playing lower shots.
Extend Your Arms
Think of the racket as an extension of your arm and use it that way. Extending your arms fully helps you to reach for shots that you might feel are out of your range, saving you from giving up points to the other team.
Practice Different Moves
Whether it's a smash or a lunge, you'll need to train your body to be in the right position and perform the correct maneuvers in order to pull off the shots you need to get the shuttle over the net. The lunge calls for you to duck your body toward the ground to reach a shot that is lower. A smash requires jumping up in the air and using your leverage to smash the shuttle over the net. Practice these moves until your muscle memory kicks in and you can perform them automatically during the game.
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