Physical Education 3

BADMINTON SERVICE AND FOOTWORK

MODULE 4
Badminton Service and Footwork

Learning Outcomes
4.1 Identify the basic badminton service and footwork
4.2 Perform basic badminton service and footwork

INTRODUCTION

This module contains information in different badminton service and footwork. It

covers the knowledge and skills required to identify the badminton service and footwork.
Completion of this module will help you in preparing for the succeeding modules.

This module consists of two (2) learning outcomes. Each learning outcome
contains learning activities with instructional sheets. Read the instructional sheet then
proceed to the activities. Your performance in each activity will ascertain that you have
acquired the knowledge and skill necessary for the learning outcomes provided.

Upon completion of this module, report to your teacher for your assessment
regarding the knowledge and skills requirement for this module.

CONTENT

Every battle for a badminton point starts with a serve. It’s the first step that opens
up the game and introduces players to each other. Every contact in badminton is
important, but the first time you hit the birdie may have a very significant effect on you.

For this lecture session, we will emphasize the other skills in playing badminton
which is the “basic service”.

A good serve can put you in an enormous advantage, since if played correctly;
the opponent might use up a big portion of mental and physical strength for the return.
This means that their counter won’t be as effective, which gives the serving player the
before-mentioned advantage because the next progress of the exchange can be
decided freely and entirely based on their judgment and needs.

Nonetheless, serving has its rules and technique as well. These need to be
obeyed in order to execute a correct initiation of the exchange. Let us learn together by
exploring and discovering the basic service in the sport badminton!
 Physical Education 3
BADMINTON SERVICE AND FOOTWORK
A. Basic Service

i. Low Backhand Service

The low backhand service is almost a gentle tap over the net with the shuttle,
with the aim of flying just over the net, yet falling just over the front of the line of his
service court. It must not to be too high or predictable, otherwise it would be easy for
your opponent to do an outright smash or net kill.

A nice and solid backhand serve can be taught in 5 easy steps. Firstly, pick up
your racket and hold it in the backhand grip, but not too tight, just the right amount to
feel comfortable. The position of the racket doesn’t have to be 100% perfect, you can
always modify it depending on the respective serve, just get the basic grip right.

Next up, use your thumb and forefinger to pick up the birdie so its head points
to you and the feathers to the net. Bear in mind that the angle of the birdie will have a
big effect on the overall trajectory of the serve, so choose it carefully and adapt to the
situation.

As far as the positioning is concerned, stand with your racket foot forward and
with your racket and birdie facing the net.

Once you are set, aim and execute the serve.

The recommended area to strike the serve to is the beginning or the end of the
square diagonally to your serving position. The momentum for the serve is created by
the shift of weight from the back foot to the front foot. The release of the birdie should
be done by a gentle flick. Be careful to maintain a sufficient distance to be able to create
enough momentum. Don’t be afraid to experiment in this regard.

Diagram 1: Low Backhand Service Position

In order to complete your understanding on how low backhand service perform,

you may use the link provided: https://youtu.be/YcmpvlBfrYA
 Physical Education 3
BADMINTON SERVICE AND FOOTWORK

ii. High Forehand Service

The high forehand service is a powerful strike upwards with the shuttle that aims
to travel a great distance upwards and fall deep at the rear end of the court.

Similarly, to the previous badminton serve technique, forehand can also be

described in simple steps which are needed for the basic understanding.

The first step would be to use the forehand racket grip, which was already
discussed in previous module. The grip should be comfortable and close to the base of
the racket for more control.

Secondly, take the birdie into your hands and use your thumb and other fingers
to hold it at the head while moving it up all the way to your shoulder height. The birdie
should experience a free fall to your thigh level height until it’s sent to the opponent’s
side.

Be sure to make two separate movements, one for the birdie and a second one
with the racket, don’t do it simultaneously. The forehand service is mostly used during
singles matches and requires a stance approximately 2 meters from the net.

Your arms should be raised and the racket leg behind. You should be always
aiming diagonally and into the front or rear part of the square on the court.

High forehand serves should land in the back area of the square, whereas, the
low forehand serve should be aimed at the beginning of this part of the court and the
contact with the birdie should be below your waist. The momentum is created mainly by
your hips and the upper-body movement. The weight is initially positioned on the back
foot and then changes to the front foot.

The distance between the birdie and the racket can be once again freely
modified to fit your needs but prepare to be in a full swing position. This means that the
racket needs to be approximately at your side. To hit the forehand badminton serve you
intend to, you need to change the power and angle of the birdie. The high serve, for
example, should have the qualities of height and distance to hit the rear of the court.
 Physical Education 3
BADMINTON SERVICE AND FOOTWORK

Diagram 2: High Forehand Service Position

For you to be more familiar in the high forehand service, here attached the link
that you may use: https://youtu.be/fr0HFft4PQ0

iii. Flick Service

The flick service is also played upwards but at a much lesser altitude. It is most
common for players to use their backhand to execute the flick serve and the trajectory is
lower as this grip has less power.

The whole point of the backhand flick serve is deception, by mixing your serves
up and making it look like you’re doing a low serve. For this reason, serving with your
backhand is thus very popular with competitive players.

Moreover, the flick serve is best used when your opponent is rushing you and
you’re under pressure. It works especially well in doubles games. However, keep in
mind that a flick serve can leave you vulnerable if your opponent can tell that it’s
coming. That’s why it’s best to use it only occasionally.

In order to generate power for the serve, you must shift your weight to your
dominant foot. However, to fool your opponent, it’s important to bring your racket back
in a slow, steady motion, just as you would for a normal low serve.

As you bring the racket forward to hit the shuttle, you must suddenly increase the
speed so your opponent doesn’t recognize the flick serve until the last moment. With
your wrist and forearm, generate enough power to flick or snap the shuttle over your
opponent so they don’t have a chance to hit it back.

After you flick the shuttle with the goal of lifting it over your opponent, make sure
to finish your swing’s follow-through. Your follow-through should mimic the line of the
shuttle, so you’re ready to defend against a possible return from your opponent.
 Physical Education 3
BADMINTON SERVICE AND FOOTWORK

Diagram 3: Flick Service Position

To fully understand how to execute flick service properly, use the uploaded link
as you guide: https://youtu.be/actiqtyjq40

iv. Drive Service

This is an attacking serve that is used by the top badminton players. The idea is
to hit the shuttle directly at your opponent, limiting their return options and catching
them off guard, winning you easy points. It’s a good change of pace but it also risky as if
your opponent is prepared, he could just smash the shuttlecock back at you.

This serve is executed with your forehand through underarm action and following
through. The shuttle should be dropped a bit sideways rather than in front of your body
and hit flatter.

Diagram 4: Drive Service Position

Here appeared a useful link courtesy from youtube that you may use while trying
to learn the drive service: https://youtu.be/6chDR28aa7g
 Physical Education 3
BADMINTON SERVICE AND FOOTWORK

Diagram 5: Four Basic Service

The diagram 5 “Four Basic Service” shows how to determine the approximate
high and landing position of each service.

Right now, we are thru discovering the basic service in badminton. It is the time
to jump into another part of this module that will focus on the different footwork that we
need to consider. Let’s get started!

Many people neglect badminton footwork because it might not seem important at
all.

You might hear some people say “why care about footwork when I can do a
300km/h smash”. Are you thinking that way too?

However I would say that the footwork is THE most important skill you should
master. It’s even more important than smashing!

This is because an effective and organized footwork provides superb speed and
agility which enables the player to move around the badminton court swiftly and return
every shuttlecock. So what if you can do a 300km/h smash when you cannot even
reach the shuttlecock in time?

Playing badminton is all about speed. The shuttlecock can move extremely fast
and you must move faster than the shuttlecock to be able to hit it.
 Physical Education 3
BADMINTON SERVICE AND FOOTWORK

Diagram 6: Movement on the Court

Always remember your base (starting point) will be at the gray dot in the middle.
The arrows indicate the possible movements around the court.

Every time you move away from your base to hit the shuttle, you MUST
QUICKLY return to your base to prepare yourself for your opponent shot.

For instance, you move to point A to take a shuttle and then stay there. Your
opponent then returns the shuttle back to you at point B. You are less likely able to get
to point B in time from point A.

Conversely, if you quickly return to your base after hitting the shuttle at point A,
you will definitely be able to return the shuttle at point B.

For the further learnings in the basic footwork in badminton, you can use the link
provided as a greatest source of information and techniques:
https://youtu.be/I9ALMfFaiIE

SUMMARY

 The low backhand service is almost a gentle tap over the net with the shuttle,
with the aim of flying just over the net, yet falling just over the front of the
line of his service court.
 The high forehand service is a powerful strike upwards with the shuttle that
aims to travel a great distance upwards and fall deep at the rear end of
the court.
 The flick service is also played upwards but at a much lesser altitude.
 Drive Service is an attacking serve that is used by the top badminton players.
 Physical Education 3
BADMINTON SERVICE AND FOOTWORK
 Speed, Agility, Power and Balance are the skills related fitness that need to
acquire in playing badminton.

References:
Hoeger, W., Hoeger, S., Hoeger, C., Fawson, A. (2019). Lifetime Physical Fitness and
Wellness. (Fifteenth Edition). Boston, USA: Cengage.
National Institute on Aging. (2020). Exercise and Physical Activity. Retrieved from:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-physical-activity
Spotebi. (2020). Exercise Guide. Retrieved from: https://www.spotebi.com/exercise-
guide/