Most players improve fastest not by learning new shots but by fixing a few habits and playing smarter with the shots they already have. Here are 20 tips grouped by area, followed by the main tactics for singles and doubles.
If you remember only five things
- Get back to the centre after every shot
- Hit the shuttle early and in front of you
- Hold the racket loosely and squeeze at contact
- Hit to space, not to your opponent
- Make your clear, drop and smash look the same
Technique habits
- Ready position, always. Knees bent, weight forward, racket up in front of you. Most missed shots start with a racket hanging by your knee.
- Take the shuttle early. The higher and further forward you hit it, the more options you have.
- Relax your grip. Hold the racket loosely and squeeze only at contact. See how to hold a badminton racket.
- Use your body, not just your arm. Rotate hips and shoulders on overhead shots.
- Split step with a small hop as your opponent hits. It lets you push off in any direction.
- Lunge with your racket leg to the front court, and keep that knee over your toes.
Shot selection
- Hit to space. Aim for the corner furthest from your opponent, not at the middle of the court.
- Disguise. Prepare every overhead shot the same way. If your opponent cannot tell a drop from a clear, they have to wait.
- Clear deep, not high and short. A short clear is an invitation to smash.
- Do not smash everything. Smash when the shuttle is high and in front; clear or drop when it is behind you.
- Keep net shots tight. A net shot that rises above the tape gets killed.
- Lift high and to the corners when you are under pressure, to buy time.
Serving and receiving
- Vary your serve. Mix low and high (singles) or low and flick (doubles) so the receiver cannot settle.
- Receive with your racket up, close to the short service line in doubles, ready to attack any loose serve.
- Have a plan for the first three shots of every rally. Serve, expected reply, your next shot. Serving rules are in our serving guide.
Fitness and mindset
- Play the next point. Forget the last mistake. Rally scoring punishes long lapses in concentration.
- Watch your opponent warm up. Note their weaker side and test it early.
- Change a losing game. If your plan is not working at 11 points, change pace, height or target.
- Train footwork off court. Ten minutes of shadow footwork three times a week makes a visible difference. See our drills.
- Play better opponents as often as you can, and drill with people at your level.
Singles tactics
Singles is a game of movement and length. The court is long and narrow, so the main weapon is moving your opponent to the four corners.
- Use length first. Push your opponent to the back with clears and high serves, then drop or smash into the space at the front.
- Play to the backhand rear corner. It is the weakest area for most club players.
- Return to the centre after every shot, slightly forward of the middle when your opponent is at the back.
- Change the pace. A fast attacking clear after a series of slow rallies can win the point outright.
- Be patient. Wait for a short lift before you smash; smashing from the back line rarely wins against a good defender.
Rules for singles are in our singles guide.
Doubles tactics
Doubles is faster and more about formation than movement.
- Attack in front and back. When your side is hitting down, one player smashes from the back and the partner covers the net.
- Defend side by side. When you have to lift, both players move to the middle of their halves, ready to block smashes.
- Keep the shuttle down. Drives, pushes and net shots stop the opponents from attacking. Every lift gives them a chance to smash.
- Attack the middle. Shots between the two opponents cause hesitation over who takes them.
- Communicate. Call “mine” or “yours” early, and agree who covers the middle before the match.
- Serve low most of the time and rush the net after a short reply.
Serving order and court lines for doubles: doubles rules.
How to win more often
| Situation | Tactic |
|---|---|
| Opponent is faster than you | Slow the game down with high clears and tight net shots |
| Opponent has a big smash | Clear to their backhand corner, avoid short lifts |
| Opponent is tiring | Make rallies longer with deep clears to all four corners |
| You keep losing the net | Play more deep shots and drops instead of net battles |
| Close game at 19 all | Play high-percentage shots, no risky winners |
How long does it take to get good at badminton?
With two or three sessions a week, most adults can play comfortable rallies and proper games within a few months, and reach a solid club level within one to two years. Players who add coaching and drills improve much faster than those who only play games. It is never too late to start; many clubs have players who took up the game in their 30s, 40s or later.
See all the shots these tactics rely on, or start with how to play badminton.
