How to Serve a Backhanded Flick in Badminton

The backhand flick serve is a short quick serve designed to throw your opponent off guard and force her into an awkward position to either miss the shuttlecock completely or return a weak shot to you. Here's how to make this deceptive shot.

Instructions

    • 1

      Begin in the serving position with your shoulders square to the net and your serving foot forward (right foot for right-handers, left foot for left-handers). Hold the racket so the head is perpendicular to the floor with your fingers on the forward side of the grip and your thumb extended along the back. The thumb plays a very important role in this shot.

    • 2

      Bring your racket across and in front of your body so your knuckles are up pointing toward the net. Your elbow is at mid-chest level and the racket is slanting down diagonally toward the ground so the head is about waist level. This is the classic backhand position.

    • 3

      Pinch the feathers of the shuttlecock between the thumb and finger of the other hand and hold it out in front of the racket head just below waist level.

    • 4

      Pull the racket head back using only your wrist. The racket only needs to come back a few inches for this shot. Flick it forward and up quickly using only your wrist and your thumb to power the serve. The trajectory of this shot is just over the net, up above your opponent's eye level so it drops well up in the forecourt.