Henry's Physical Education

(5 min) Warm up 

(5 - 10 min) Initial Information by a teacher (Smash)

(30 min) Team Practice and Formal Competitions 

(5 min) Closure 

Question students as to when, why, and how to use these shots.

Badminton Smash

Badminton Smash is the most potent of all badminton shots. There is almost no defense against a well executed smash. It can be played both on the forehand and backhand sides.

The smash is a shot hit with power and speed downward to your opponent's court. The angle and the steepness of the shuttle's trajectory will make it hard for your opponent to retrieve.

Contact the shuttle further in front of your body than the clear or the drop shot. The optimum hitting zone is located somewhere above the central area of your racket.

You can also jump and smash the shuttle at the same time to generate more power and create a steeper angle for the shot. This will give your opponent even lesser time to react. As this is a more advance shot, master the normal badminton smash first before taking on any jumping smash.

The feeling of being able to smash powerfully and kill off a point is really great. But try not to get carried away. As the badminton smash requires a lot of energy, use it only when the opportunity arises. For example, a weak clear from your opponent to your midcourt area. Do not tire yourself out unnecessarily.

To learn more about the Jump Smash, https://youtu.be/kZ7Ymw-wHGs

Forehand Smash

The forehand overhead smash is similar to the action of throwing a ball. If you can throw a ball well, you shouldn't have problem playing this stroke. You can always practice throwing with a shuttle first before stepping on to the court.

Here are some pointers for playing a forehand overhead smash.

- https://peteachers.tistory.com/20?category=814790 

- Turn your body and stand sideways to the net with your non-racket shoulder facing the net.

- Shift your weight on to your rear foot.

- Bend your elbow and lock your wrist preparing to swing forward.

- Raise your non-racket hand and point at the shuttle to improve timing and balance.

- Contact the shuttle as high as possible and in front of your body using a strong throwing action as if you are going to throw your racket high and forward through the air.

- Straighten your elbow as you hit the shuttle.

- Snap down your wrist at the point of impact giving the shuttle extra power and angle towards your opponent's court.

- Follow through with your racket and shift your weight from your rear foot to your front foot.

- Move back to your base position.

Backhand Smash

It is difficult to play a backhand overhead smash. Even experienced players have problem with this badminton stroke. Try to play an 'around the head' forehand smash whenever possible.

However, it is important that you know how to play the backhand overhead smash. There are times when you just can't play the shuttle with your forehand.

Here are some pointers for playing a backhand overhead smash.

- https://peteachers.tistory.com/20?category=814790 

- Turn your body so that your back is facing the net.

- Lead and shift your weight to your racket foot.

- Lift your arm from the shoulder with the forearm parallel to the floor.

- Hold the racket across your body with the racket head pointing down.

- Keep the racket arm and elbow close into your body.

- Hit the shuttle at a high point of contact and in front of your body.

- Flick down your wrist powerfully at the shuttle.

- A follow through is not needed.

- Move back to your base position.

Around the Head Smash

This is actually a forehand overhead badminton smash played at the non-racket side of your body. Try to use it whenever play permits as a forehand stroke is always better and more powerful than a backhand.

The techniques for hitting this shot are about the same as the forehand overhead stroke with only some minor adjustments.

Here are some pointers for playing a forehand around the head smash.

- Stand squarely to the net.

- Bend your upper body sideways to your non-racket side as your arms come through.

- Shift your weight to your non-racket leg.

- Bend your elbow and bring the racket behind your head.

- As you swing forward, your forearm will brush the top of your head before straightening.

- Transfer your body weight rapidly as your non-racket leg pushes your body back to your base position.

An important thing to note here is that whether you are playing a badminton smash, a drop shot or a clear, your wrist plays a key part in creating deception.

The basic preparations for these badminton shots are the same, only the angle of the racket face, the speed of the racket head and the point of impact is different. Keep your opponent guessing.

Practice hard on your Badminton Smash and use it wisely. Be patient and wait for the opportunity to strike.

(5 min) Warm up 

(5 - 10 min) Initial Information by a teacher (Net Play)

(30 min) Team Practice and Formal Competitions 

(5 min) Closure 

Question students as to when, why, and how to use these shots.

Badminton Net Play

Badminton net play is a vital skill when you’re playing along the net with your opponent. This is a fairly difficult skill to master because you need EXTREMELY good control over your racket.

Types of Net Shots

The following are the tutorials for the various badminton net play skills.

1. The Tumbling/Spinning Net Shot

Badminton Spinning Net Shot (a.k.a. Tumbling Net Shot)
Force your opponent to lift the shuttle high up to you. If you can play extremely good spinning net shots, the net shot itself can be a ‘killer shot’ and you’ll find yourself winning rallies at the front of the net.

2. The Net Kill

Badminton Net Kill (Offensive)
When your opponent returns a weak net shot, strike it swiftly with net kill!

3. The Net Lift

Badminton Net Lift (Defensive)
The net lift is an important defensive shot. Send the shuttle to the back of the court with a net lift! This skill is important to keep you out of trouble if your opponent plays very well along the net.

https://youtu.be/2ByjAixfocA

(5 min) Warm up 

(5 - 10 min) Initial Information by a teacher (Drop shot)

(30 min) Team Practice and Formal Competitions 

(5 min) Closure 

Types of Badminton Drop

The Badminton Drop has 2 variations; the Fast and Slow Drop.

What is a Drop Shot

First, I’ll quickly explain what a Drop Shot is.

• It is a soft badminton shot performed from the Rear Court.
• It travels down steeply and land at your opponent’s forecourt.

Two Types of Drop Shots

Generally, there are 2 types of Drop Shots.

Fast Drop Shot: Travels down steeply. But lands further away from the net.

Slow Drop Shot: Does not travel down steeply. But lands nearer to the net.

Whether it’s a Slow or Fast Drop Shot, a good quality badminton drop will have the shuttlecock passing JUST SLIGHTLY ABOVE the net.

As a beginner, don’t worry too much about doing the perfect drop first.

Learn the correct technique of performing a badminton drop, and then practice to make it perfect.

Ideal Landing Point for the Fast Drop Shot

For the Fast Drop Shot, the shuttle will land somewhere on the YELLOW area below.

It’s called the Fast Drop because the shuttle travels down faster to your opponent’s side, but lands nearer to the mid court. Ideally, the Fast Drop will land on or after the service line.

Ideal Landing Point for the Slow Drop Shot

For the Slow Drop Shot, the shuttle will land somewhere on the RED area below.

We call it the Slow Drop because the shuttle takes some time before it lands on your opponent’s side. However, it will fall nearer to the Net. A good Slow Drop should land before the service line.

Objective of Playing the Badminton Drop Shot

1.     Get your opponent out of position. The Drop Shot draws your opponent to the front of the court. A good drop could disrupt your opponent’s footwork.

2.     Variate the pace of the game. This is a popular strategy. When used at the correct time, the Drop can be very deceptive. The key is to hit the Drop when your opponent expects a Clear or a Smash.You can then expect your opponent to return a weak shot; hopefully returning the shuttle to your mid court.

https://youtu.be/dotVTfOlpN8

(5 min) Warm up 

(5 - 10 min) Initial Information by a teacher

(30 min) Team Practice and Formal Competitions 

(5 min) Closure 

Question students as to when, why, and how to use these shots.

Clear Shot Cues

1. Move and get behind the shuttle.

2. Raise your Racquet Arm and Non-Racquet Arm.

3. Body face sideways with your feet pointing slightly sideways.

4. Stretch your Racquet Arm to as far back as possible. Stretch out your Non-racquet Arm. 

5. Take the shuttle at the Highest Point possible.

6. Full Arm Swing. Follow through with your swing after hitting the shuttle.

7. Shuffle your Racquet Foot forward as you swing your racquet forward.

8. After hitting your stroke, your body should face forward.

https://youtu.be/O1xrZ8zSUN4

Good Defensive Clear

The shuttlecock drops steeply to the baseline. Your opponent is forced to take the shuttle at point X, which is near the baseline. He won’t have a good angle for a smash from so far back of the court.

Poor Defensive Clear

The shuttlecock travels flatter towards the baseline. Your opponent can intercept at point X, which is nearer to the mid court. A smash taken at point X can be dangerous and difficult to defend.

Objective of the Defensive Clear

The objective of the Defensive Clear is to ‘create’ time for yourself. When you’re not able to keep up with the pace of the rally, hitting High Clears deep into your opponent’s baseline would be a smart choice.

1. Move into position and get behind the shuttle. Adopt the Forehand Grip.

2. Raise your Racket Arm and Non-Racket Arm.

3. Your body should face sideways with your feet pointing slightly sideways.

Important Tip: Bend your knees slightly

 4. Commence your Forehand Stroke. Stretch your Racket Arm to as far back as possible. Stretch out your Non-Racket Arm. Inhale. Then Exhale as you swing your racket forward.

Tip: Bend your Racket Foot lower than your Non-Racket Foot. As you swing your Racket forward, use your Racket foot to push your body weight forward.

5. Take the shuttle at the Highest Point possible. Contact Point: In step 1, you should place yourself right below the shuttle. So when you hit the shuttle, your swing will naturally direct the shuttle upwards.

Knees?: Straighten your knees as you reach out to take the shuttle at the highest point.

6. Complete a Full Arm Swing. Follow through with your swing even after you hit the shuttle.

7. Shuffle your Racket Foot forward as you swing your racket forward. After hitting your stroke, your body should face forward. Your Racket Foot should be in front of your Non-Racket Foot. Both feet should point forward.

(5 min) Warm up 

(5 - 10 min) Initial Information by a teacher (Short Serve)

(30 min) Team Practice and Scrimmages 

(5 min) Closure 

Badminton Basic - Short Serve in Badminton

To do a short serve in badminton, stand closer toward the front baseline with your right leg forward. Improve your short serve in badminton with help from a badminton coach in this free video on badminton.

https://youtu.be/yaEfnpA9rus

Serve

We're going to talk about the short serve 

You would stand closer towards the front baseline with your right leg forward 

To do the backhand short serve starts by having your backhand grip 

your racket start by positioning the racket’s head face down in front of you

like so next put the shuttle in front and in the middle of the racket make sure

that you hold it by one of the feathers of the shuttle so you have good control and feel of the shuttle

Once you put in the middle the serve starts as soon as you go forward with your racket meaning you can do anything else before that but as soon as it goes forward it has to be in one smooth motion and it cannot stop so from here push forward gently with your fingers and over the net

Make sure the contact point is below your waist

A general tip for beginners for short serves is when you begin 

Aim for the white tape on the net. This way you'll get to practice getting it right over the tape