How to Do Drop and Hairpin Shot in Badminton

Both the drop and hairpin shots in badminton can win you a point outright, when exercised with strength and precision. While the drop shot can be played offensively or relatively defensively, the hairpin shot is a rescue stroke when you are under duress, but it is always played with aggression to win the point. Developing strong drop and hairpin shots relies on your hard work in training, but can save you a lot of time winning points during rallies.

Instructions

  1. Drop Shot

    • 1

      Play the drop shot only when the shuttlecock is hit to you above your head, deciding between a fast and slow drop shot. Aim wide into either side of your opponent's court when playing the drop shot, as this makes it harder to return.

    • 2

      Lead towards the flight of the shuttlecock with your racket-side foot before resting your weight back onto your weaker foot while swinging the racket over your head. Strike the shuttlecock fairly gently and connect with it towards the top center of the racket face.

    • 3

      Hit a slow drop shot by taking all the pace off the shuttlecock and angling it at a low, slow trajectory over the net, preferably wide into your opponent's court. Hit a fast drop shot by imparting a fair amount of power on the shuttlecock while angling it downwards over the net but not worrying too much about landing the shuttlecock close to the net. Strike the shuttlecock earlier, hence further in front of your body, when playing a fast drop shot and later and nearer your body when playing a slow drop shot.

    • 4

      Note that drop shots can be played on the forehand, backhand and around the head sides; where you play the drop shot from largely depends on your opponent's shot leading up to the drop shot, so practice all three types of drop shot to give yourself a completely rounded drop shot game. Adopt the correct grip and stance based on whether you are playing forehand, backhand or around the head.

    Hairpin Shot

    • 5

      Note that the only situation in which you can play a hairpin shot is when your opponent has dropped the shuttlecock very close to the net and very low down in court; hairpins are used as an aggressive rescue stroke only.

    • 6

      Hit the shuttlecock so its flight path resembles the shape of a hairpin, angled upwards and just over the net before dropping sharply over the top of the net and low and close into the opponent's court.

    • 7

      Step forward with your leading foot, adopting a crouched position with the racket held low in either a forehand or backhand grip, depending on which side the shuttlecock is.

    • 8

      Add slice and lift to the shuttlecock by moving the racket head laterally as well as lifting the racket in order to flick the shuttlecock over the net in a hairpin shape. Impart slice onto the shuttlecock to make it dart sharply downwards once it has risen over the net and into your opponent's court.