Coaching Points for Badminton

Coaching badminton can be a rewarding experience for any coach. Use coaching tips and tactics during practice sessions to help your players reach their full potential. The tips you give will help your players' accuracy, strength and focus which can then be used in their next badminton match.

  1. Pinning Your Opponent Back

    • For singles badminton play, forcing - or pinning - your opponent to their backline is a popular and effective tactic to teach any player. This requires hitting hard and long return shots to your opponent, forcing the opponent to stay back and away from the net. The pinning technique allows your player to execute a shorter, softer shot when the opponent least expects it.

    Teaching Proper Grip

    • A fundamental flaw that many players struggle with is an improper grip on the racket. Use this opportunity to coach your players on the appropriate way to handle the racket during a game. Players should "shake hands" with the racket's grip, holding the head with the non-playing hand, racket face perpendicular to the ground, racket handle resting in the V-shape between the thumb and forefinger.

    Footwork and Agility

    • Players also need increased agility and proper footwork in order to succeed in badminton. Coach your players to create a solid base in their stance by slightly bending their knees while placing their body weight on the balls of each foot. Players should hold their racket in front of the body, ready to move in whatever direction the birdie - or shuttle - flies.

    Serving Techniques

    • Serving a badminton birdie can be difficult for many players to learn when beginning the game. Coach your players to use a high-serve technique, which requires throwing the birdie high into the air with one hand and using an overhead forward swing to hit the birdie over the net. Over time, you can also teach the low serve, which asks the player to drop the birdie from his waist and hit it over the net with an underhand motion.