How to Improve Flick Serve in Badminton

A flick serve is a basic serving technique in badminton, a sort of "fake-out" serve meant to surprise an opponent by making the shuttlecock go a shorter-than-expected distance over the net. This serve may be more difficult for beginners to master immediately, as they may not understand the technique need to generate power from the racket. With practice and a few tips, you can successfully use a flick serve to your advantage.

Instructions

    • 1

      Play through a few games without attempting to do a flick serve. Get a feel for the racket and the flow of the game before trying a new flick technique. A flick serve is meant to be a surprise serve, so only using a flick serve after a few rounds without it to successfully surprise your opponents.

    • 2

      Use either your forehand or backhand to produce the serve, whichever you are comfortable with. Create the impression that you plan on performing a regular low serve. Start off the serve as you would a low serve, slow and gentle. As your racket approaches the shuttlecock, increase your speed. Let go of the shuttlecock sooner than you would a low serve.

    • 3

      Use your wrist to simply flick the shuttle over the net. Make sure your entire arm is relaxed. Try it during private practice a few times, getting a feel for the quick, sudden flick action. Use this serve down the center line instead of wide corners, as the latter requires greater distance and power. A flick serve is soft and stops short just over the net, so trying to be forceful will only tense your muscles and decrease your power.