Forehand Serve Techniques in Badminton

The world's largest shuttlecock is more than 18 feet tall, weighs approximately 5,000 lbs. and resides at an art museum in Kansas City. Thankfully, if you're playing badminton, the shuttlecock you have to serve over the net weighs only 4.74 to 5.50 g. To serve the shuttle, there are various forehand techniques that you can employ to keep your opponent off balance.

  1. Forehand Low Serve

    • The forehand low serve is aptly named because the placement of the racket is low; about waist-high or slightly above. Stand behind the service line with your front foot pointing toward the opponent's side of the court and your back foot parallel with the service line. The majority of your weight will be on your back foot at the start of the motion. Use a short grip on the racket, meaning hold the racket toward the top of the grip tape. The face of the racket is open and angled slightly upward toward the opponent's side of the court. This is more of a flat, straight serve than an arcing serve. Keep the elbow of your racket hand in and close to your body and your wrist cocked backward. The shuttle should be held about 6 to 12 inches above the racket. As you drop the shuttle and begin the swing, transfer weight from the back foot to the front foot. Simultaneously, as your arm moves forward, your wrist will flick forward as the racket makes contact with the shuttle. As you serve, both feet must stay in contact with the ground until the shuttle has been hit. You may then move to defend the returning shot.

    Forehand Long Serve

    • The forehand long serve occurs when the player is about 70 cm behind the service line. Again, place your feet so that the back foot is parallel with the service line and the front foot is pointing toward the opponent's side of the court. The weight is primarily on your back leg at the start of the motion. Hold the shuttle out slightly in front of you. Meanwhile, your racket hand is by your side. Use a normal grip toward the bottom of the grip tape with your palm facing up. As you drop the shuttle, your racket arm moves backward, extending behind your body until it is almost shoulder height. Next, swing your arm forward in a sweeping motion as if you were tossing a ball to someone in an underhand motion. The racket face will make contact with the shuttle at about the point where your arm is aligned with your front leg.

    Forehand High Serve

    • This serve is more analogous to a serve you might perform in tennis. Stand with your feet in the same "T" shape, with your back foot parallel to the service line and your front foot pointing toward your opponent's side of the court. Use a standard grip on the racket with it resting comfortably by your side. Hold the shuttle in your other hand. Toss the shuttle in the air by bending at the knees and lobbing it upward. Meanwhile, your racket arm will extend behind you. The racket face will rotate from pointing toward the ground, to pointing toward the sky to ultimately pointing toward the opposite side of the court as your arm makes a circular motion. Pause ever so slightly at the top of the motion. Many people mistime the shuttle by completing the motion all at once. As the shuttle reaches its maximum height and starts downward, strike it with the face of your racket. Continue the swing down across your body to complete the motion.

    Forehand Flick Serve

    • The forehand flick serve is a variation on the low serve. The major difference is that, instead of dropping the shuttle, you almost flick it out of your hand. Stand with your feet in the "T" shape behind the service line. Hold the racket face so it is perpendicular to the floor. Your elbow is close to your body, with your arm slightly cocked back. Your wrist is also slightly cocked. The shuttle is held about 6 inches in front of the racket face. As the serve motion begins, your arm and wrist flick forward in a sharp motion, just as you let the shuttle go in your other hand. Your arm stops short of making a complete motion across your body.