Basic Badminton Techniques and Their Explanations

Badminton or badminton is one type of sport that has many enthusiasts spread all over the
world. The sport that makes rackets and shuttlecocks the two main pieces of equipment in this
game can be played by two people in a single game or four people (2 pairs) in a double
game. Badminton has 5 types of matches, namely men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles,
women's doubles and mixed doubles.

Understanding and History of Badminton

Literally, badminton comes from two words namely badminton and badminton. The word
"feather" is taken from the shape of a shuttlecock made of goose feather. While the word "deft"
is taken from the base word parry, where the core of the movement of this sport is to fend off the
movement of the shuttlecock (feather).

Various opinions arise regarding the origin and origin of the game of badminton. The first
opinion says that this game originated and developed in ancient Egypt 2000 years ago. The
subsequent opinion said that this game originated from India and mainland China. But the
development of this game until it was widely known by the world community was in the Middle
Ages in England, namely from a traditional local children's game
called Battledore and Shuttlecocks . This traditional game was very popular among the people
until finally a magazine called "Punch" published this game.

Basic Badminton Techniques

A professional badminton player at the local, national and international level at the beginning of
his career must undergo and pass a period of training and coaching first. It aims to prepare and
equip these players with a variety of knowledge that they must know and master until finally
deemed fit for the field of competition by the coach or agency that fostered them. In this training
and coaching period players are given theoretical knowledge and also practice to be able to play
correctly in accordance with the rules of the game of badminton.

In the game of badminton there are some basic techniques that must be mastered as basic capital
or initial capital to become a professional badminton player. The basic techniques in the game of
badminton, are as follows:

1. How to Hold a Racket (Grip)

The most basic technique of playing badminton is how to hold a racket. This is the main factor
that most influences the quality of the punch produced. A beginner who learns to play badminton
must really master this basic technique first in order to move on to the next basic technique of
playing badminton. The way to hold this racket consists of 2 types of techniques, which are as
follows:

 Forehand technique
 The way to hold a racket with the forehand technique can
be done using your right or left hand. The details of the methods are as follows:

1. the position of the racket head sideways

2. hold the racket just like when we shake hands with other people
3. between the thumb and index finger there is a distance shaped like the letter V
4. the other fingers (pinkie, ring finger, middle finger) grip the racket

 Backhand technique

Similar to the forehand technique, how to hold a racket

with this backhand technique can also be done with the right or left hand. Basically the way to
hold the racket with the backhand technique is the same as the forehand technique, there is only a
slight difference, namely the position of the thumb and index finger closer. The details of the
methods are as follows:

1. the position of the racket head sideways

2. thumb position slightly apart from the other four fingers
3. four fingers (index finger, middle finger, ring finger and pinkie) hold the racket

2. Punch
 The type of punch that is commonly used in badminton or
badminton sports games is the forehand technique. Blow using the forehand technique is done by
swinging the body from behind moving towards the front of the racket, where the position of the
palm of the hand is facing the shuttlecock . The details of how to do a blow with this forehand
technique are as follows:

1. hold the racket by handling the forehand technique

2. the position of the right leg and left cross (right foot behind and left foot in front)
3. tilt your body to the right
4. hit the shuttlecock while moving your shoulders forward
5. let the hand move downwards
6. when you want to do a clear blow, hit the shuttlecock as hard as possible

3. Footwork

In the game of badminton there is one basic skill or basic

skill that must be possessed, which is agility. A badminton player is required to be agile in
moving, not only the hands that do the blow but also other limbs including foot movements. This
is because in order to do and produce a quality blow as well as deadly, between the hands, body
and legs must occur in harmony. Good cooperation between the members of this body not only
we need when carrying out attacks, but also to survive the opponent's attack.

4. Body Attitude and Position

 The basic technique of playing badminton attitude and
body position refers to the concept of balance. Not only agility, balance is also an important
element in the game of badminton. Simple things and sometimes underestimated by ordinary
people. But for a professional badminton player, they understand very well how important this
balance element is in the game. Real evidence of the importance of the balance element in the
game of badminton can be seen in professional badminton competitions, both at the local,
national and international levels. Often a badminton player is not maximal or even fails to
produce quality blows simply because their balance is not good.

The ways that must be done in order to have a good balance are as follows:

 position the body resting on both the right and left legs (this applies when attacking or
defending)
 bend or bend your knees, then stand with your toes until your waist is in an upright position
 the legs should be shoulder-width apart with one leg or one foot in front
 one arm of the elbow that doesn't hold the racket is on the side of the body, so that the other hand
that holds the racket is free to move

5. Hitting Position

It is undeniable that in badminton sports games, not only

how to hit but the position of the body when making a blow also greatly affects the quality of the
shots produced. The details of body position when hitting the right one are as follows:

 try to position the body sideways toward the net

 left foot is in front of the right foot
 body position is behind the shuttlecock
 right shoulder slightly pulled back
 when doing some punches, there must be a change in the position of the right shoulder and right
foot

6. Service
In general, service techniques in badminton games are done by directing the shuttlecock to the
right, left, front or back of the opposing player. The thing that must be avoided when doing
service is the responsibility of the shuttlecock and is right in front of the opponent. This is
tantamount to suicide because that way your opponent will be able to easily restore service while
killing our movements. In doing service in badminton sports games there are 3 types of
techniques, which are as follows:

Also read: athletics

6.1 Forehand Service

Short Forehand
Short forehand service technique means doing service using only a little energy which results in
the swing on the racket is not too strong. When performing service with this technique, the
position of the shuttlecock will not be far from the net, and is in the front area of the opposing
player.

Forehand Height
High forehand technique uses full power when doing service. As a result, the position of
the shuttlecock fall will be very far from the net. The high service forehand technique results in
the movement of the shuttlecock to soar past the body of the opposing player and then fall in the
area behind the opposing player. Usually when performing this type of service with a high
forehand technique, players strengthen their body and standing a little more by opening their legs
as wide as their legs and legs and sideways.

6.2 Backhand Service

 The type of backhand service technique is slightly
different from the two previous techniques. This backhand service technique is done by using
moderate power and moderate swing (not too slow and not too strong). When performing
backhand service the foot position must be adjusted to which hand is holding the racket. If the
right hand is holding the racket then the right foot is in front, and the left foot is behind. Incorrect
/ Prohibited Service:

 when hitting the shuttlecock , the position of the racket head is higher or parallel to the handle of
the racket
 the position of the racket head is higher than the waist
 foot position above the midline (front line of the game area itself)
 left foot stepping
 right foot steps when the shuttlecock has not been hit
 the movement of swinging a racket and hitting the shuttlecock is done in a series of interrupted
movements
 service recipient moves when shuttlecock has not been hit by a player who performs service

Correct Service:

 when hitting the shuttlecock , the racket head must be lower (lower) than the racket grip position
 when holding the shuttlecock , it must be positioned lower than the waist
 left foot must be still (not step in the slightest)
 feet can shift but still should not be lifted from the ground / floor
 swinging a racket and hitting the shuttlecock must be done in a series of movements
 the service recipient is only allowed to move when the shuttlecock has been hit by the player
performing the service

Also read: basic volleyball techniques

7. Returns Service
 Not only the procedures for doing service, service
recovery techniques also need to be mastered in badminton sports games. This service return
movement can be done in various ways namely dropshot and netting. The most avoided
movement when returning a service is the smash movement. This is because the movement of
the shuttlecock in the service movement is not too strong / sharp, so if we make a smash
movement then the resulting smash is less / not sharp. And as a result the opposing player can
easily return our smash, even in some cases it is the opposing player who will benefit from this
because a weak smash will be rewarded with a very sharp smash. Until finally turn off the
movement of our own game.

8. Overhead

In badminton sports games, overhead is done when the

direction of the fall position of the shuttlecock leads to the back of our standing body
position. Furthermore, this overhead is done by hitting the shuttecock as well as throwing, and
the racket is held using the forehand technique.

9. Smash

In the game of badminton, smash is a movement

technique that is attacking and aims to kill the opposing player's movements. The best smash will
be created if done with a high jump, because in that position we can get the perfect smash
position. This smash is done with force and the shuttlecock is hit toward the bottom of the
opponent's area. Because it is done with full force, then the movement of the shuttlecock on the
smash is very sharp.

10. Dropshot
 Dropshot is a movement in badminton that is almost the
same as the smash movement, or rather the gentle version of the smash movement. Dropshot
movements are also attacking and aim to kill the opposing player's movements. Unlike the smash
movements that are done with full force, the dropshot is done with a soft touch or a little
push. The target of shuttlecock fall when doing this dropshot is not far from the net.

This dropshot movement is often used to outwit opposing players, namely by jumping high as
they will do a smash but in fact it is a dropshot movement whose shuttllecock falls not far from
the net and moves smoothly (not sharp like a smash). Doing a dropshot has its own difficulties
when compared to a smash. When making a dropshot there are several factors that are
interrelated with each other and affect the success or failure of the dropshot.

Factors that influence the dropshot blow:

1. body position
2. racket grip
3. leg movements
4. weight transfer that moves in harmony

Steps to do the dropshot technique:

1. hold the racket using the forehand technique

2. body position sideways towards the shoulder
3. body movements must be agile until the body position is behind the shuttlecock
4. hit the racket with a straight hand position, then do the movements like smash but just give a
little push and touch to the shuttlecock
5. point the shuttlecock to an empty position from the opponent player's area (an area that is
roughly inaccessible to the opposing player), either right, left or front

11. Netting
 Netting is one of the difficult movements in badminton
sports games. Even a player who has been counted as a national and international class
professional does not guarantee he always succeeds in this netting technique. This is because the
netting movement requires a high sense and the way and direction of placement of the ball that
must be precise. The netting technique is done by making a soft blow to the shuttlecock then
directing the fall position as close as possible to the net.