Every rally in badminton is built from a small set of shots. Coaches group them in slightly different ways, but almost all agree on seven: the serve, clear, drop shot, smash, drive, net shot and lift. Each one sends the shuttle on a different path to a different part of the court, and the skill of the game is choosing the right one at the right moment.
The 7 basic badminton shots
- Serve: starts every rally, underarm, below 1.15 m
- Clear: high and deep to the back of the opponent’s court
- Drop shot: soft, falls just over the net
- Smash: steep and fast, the main attacking shot
- Drive: fast and flat at about net height
- Net shot: gentle tap from the net that tumbles over
- Lift: underarm from the forecourt, high to the back
1. The serve
The serve starts every rally. It is hit underarm, with the whole shuttle below 1.15 m at contact, into the diagonally opposite service court. There are four types: the low serve (just over the tape, the standard serve in doubles), the high serve (deep and high, common in singles), the flick serve (looks low, goes high) and the drive serve (fast and flat). Full rules and technique: badminton serve rules.
2. The clear
A clear (also called a lob in some countries) is a high, deep shot that travels to the back of your opponent’s court. The overhead clear is hit from above your head, usually from your own back court.
- Defensive clear: very high, to give yourself time to recover to the centre.
- Attacking clear: flatter and faster, aimed just over the opponent’s reach to push them back before they are ready.
The clear is the foundation of singles. If you can hit a clear from baseline to baseline, you can play a proper rally. Use the same preparation as your drop and smash so your opponent cannot read which shot is coming.
3. The drop shot
A soft overhead shot that slows down and falls just over the net into the opponent’s forecourt. It forces them to run forward and lift. Disguise is everything: it should look like a clear or smash until contact. We cover slow, fast, slice and backhand drops in the drop shot guide.
4. The smash
The smash is a powerful, steep, downward shot played when the shuttle is high on your side. It is the main way to win points. Hit it from as high and as far forward as possible, aiming for the floor, your opponent’s body, or the gaps at their sides. Types and technique are in the badminton smash guide.
5. The drive
A drive is a fast, flat shot hit at about net height, from the side of the body, that travels parallel to the floor. Drives are mainly a doubles shot, used in fast mid-court exchanges when neither side wants to lift.
When is a forehand drive used? When the shuttle comes to your racket side at shoulder or net height in the middle of the court, typically in doubles, to keep the attack flat and stop opponents from smashing. The backhand drive does the same on your non-racket side.
6. The net shot
A net shot is played from close to the net, usually below the height of the tape, so the shuttle just crosses and tumbles down on the other side. A tight net shot is very hard to attack, so it often forces a weak lift.
Variations include the spinning net shot (the shuttle tumbles over the tape and is hard to hit cleanly), the net kill (when the shuttle is above the tape, you hit it down sharply), and the push (a flat shot from the net to the opponent’s mid-court).
7. The lift
A lift is an underarm shot from the forecourt, sending the shuttle high and deep to the back of the opponent’s court. It is the usual reply to a good net shot or drop. Lifts are defensive: they give your opponent the chance to attack, but a high, deep lift buys you time to get back into position.
Forehand and backhand
Every shot can be played on the forehand side (your racket side, palm facing the shuttle) or the backhand side (non-racket side, back of the hand facing the shuttle). Beginners usually find backhand shots from the back of the court hardest; the answer is footwork that lets you get behind the shuttle and play a forehand, plus a proper backhand grip for when you cannot.
Which shots to learn first
| Stage | Shots to focus on | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First sessions | High serve, underarm lift, overhead clear | Keeps rallies going and builds rhythm |
| First months | Low serve, drop shot, net shot | Lets you move your opponent and play doubles properly |
| Club level | Smash, drive, push, net kill | Adds attack and speed |
| Advanced | Slice drops, reverse slices, jump smash, deceptive net shots | Disguise and winners |
The best shot when your opponent is out of position
When your opponent fails to return to their base position (the middle of the court), hit the shuttle to the space they have left, usually the corner furthest from where they are standing. If they are stuck at the back, play a drop shot or a steep smash into the forecourt. If they are caught at the net, play a fast, flat clear over their head. The general rule: send the shuttle where your opponent is not, and as far as possible from where they are.
What do you hit in badminton?
You hit a shuttlecock, also called a shuttle or birdie: 16 feathers (or a nylon skirt) in a cork base. Unlike a ball, it never bounces in play. See our shuttlecock guide.
How many types of shots are there?
It depends on how finely you split them. The seven above are the core. Counted by variation (forehand and backhand, straight and cross-court, slice and flat), coaches list 20 or more. When people ask for “the 5 shots in badminton”, they usually mean the serve, clear, drop, smash and drive, or the net shot instead of the drive.
Practise them with our badminton drills, and learn when to use each in badminton tips and tactics.
