Who wouldn’t like to become the fastest racket in the game? And if you’re not really into tennis, we suggest, so to say, its little brother – badminton. Despite badminton’s similarity with tennis, it has many distinctions. Moreover, there are various strategies to play badminton that can help you win much faster. In this guide, we’ll look at the doubles strategies and teach you how to play badminton effectively.
How to Play Badminton Doubles?
Generally, badminton has two types of play: singles and doubles. Badminton singles are played by two people on opposite sides of the field. They’re playing against each other, and there can be only one winner. What about badminton doubles? It’s a type of game in which four people play, two on each side. During this game, the partners should communicate with each other to win rallies and score points.
Badminton doubles is a team sport. It’s important to always keep the attack and stand on the defense of your partner. However, there are many useful strategies that can be applied only to doubles. These schemes can make your game smooth and profitable. Let’s talk about each of them.
The Importance of Communication
As we mentioned before, badminton doubles is a type of game in which you need to be very communicative with your partner. Before playing an actual game, try to train with your playmate to see how you react to similar things or how you behave in stressful situations. This will help you get ready to play together and teach you to support your partner.
During the game, you need to play cooperatively and pass the shuttlecock to each other if needed. This means that you can’t lead the game by yourself and don’t allow your playmate to intercept the birdie. Also, you should determine how you will communicate during the game and pass the shuttlecock.
The lack of communication will cause your team to lose. You won’t be able to predict your playmate’s next move and can make multiple mistakes during the game. Trust your partner and let them make the decisions that are important to the game.
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Court Positioning
When playing doubles, perhaps the main thing that can bring you success is a well-thought-out court position. Positioning depends on a few things, such as the opponent’s playstyle, the pace of the rally, and the level of communication with your playmate.
There are two positions:
- Offensive (shuttle can be attacked)
- Defensive (shuttle can be defended)
During the offensive position, the players should stand front/back, while during the defensive position, they should stand side/side. Each of these positions forms four combinations:
- Offensive / Offensive (F/B and F/B)
- Offensive / Defensive (F/B and S/S)
- Defensive / Offensive (S/S and F/B)
- Defensive / Defensive (S/S and S/S)
Source: https://badmintondoubles.com/badminton-tactics/badminton-tactics-1/
To make your game brilliant and communicate with your partner smoothly, you need to keep in mind these five tips.
Stand in the Side/Side Formation
When you take an offensive position in badminton, you can use the F/B position, but if you are playing on defense, you need to stand S/S. The Side-to-Side position allows you to block the line for the opponents and reflect the blow better. S/S will enhance your defensive opportunities, and as a result, you’ll be more likely to hit the shuttlecock before it hits the ground.
Know When to Switch Positions
Despite that, during Side/Side, you and your partner will stay along the line; you need to know when to switch positions. Imagine that the opponent is opening to set an attack, and your playmate wants to defend the most vulnerable parts of the court. In this case, you should allow your partner to stand closer to the tramline. You, otherwise, can move to the center to better reflect the blow.
Know How to Cover the Court
There is one working way to cover the court effectively. If your playmate moves to the tramline, you need to cover their open areas and stand in the center. Your partner should do the same if it’s you who wants to stand near the tramline.
Realize the Importance of Communication
Before making any decisions, team members should discuss them with each other. This is important because you should be aware of the plans of your partner. You need to work together and defend each other on the field when needed.
Source: https://www.badmintonsbest.com/blog/badminton-tips-for-doubles/
Serving Strategies
The main purpose of serving is to gain the first attack. To obtain the first attack, you must choose serves that will pressure your opponent to lift the shuttlecock. Don’t worry if you won’t win the rally on serve. Your task, as the badminton player, is to make your opponents lift the birdie.
The low serve is considered the best serve in the doubles. This is because this serve is way too difficult to attack than other serves. Low serve is the only serve that starts to fall right after crossing the net. So, before participating in a real tournament, try to train this serve with your teammate.
How to Set Up Offensive Plays From the Serve
To make your offensive plays exceptional, you need to:
- Play a flick serve.
- Create an opportunity for your playmate to play flick serve.
- Reflect all the blows.
If your opponents reflected all the blows, repeat these steps. Flick serve is the best serve in offensive play. This serve goes upward and lands near the service line. This serve is similar to the low one but can surprise your opponent, except for the low serve.
Tactical Placement of Serves
During the game, it’s important to switch between serves to surprise your opponent. This will distract them and make them forget about defensive positions. In the meantime, you can hit their weak spot and catch them off guard. Communicate with your partner and switch between low, straight, and flick serve. The opponent won’t know what to expect from the next shot and will miss the shuttlecock.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=zFV-2kfG4D4
Offensive Play: Smashing and Net Play
If you play in an offensive position and want to improve the quality of your game, you need to understand all the intricacies of this style of play. The smashing and net play are considered the best serves in offensive games. By acknowledging these shots, you’ll outmaneuver your opponents quickly and smoothly.
Smash
Smash is the downward shot that puts your rivals under pressure in a couple of seconds. To make this shot, you’ll need to:
- Adjust the rocket in your hand.
- Stand sideways to the net.
- Hit the shuttle at the highest point you can reach.
By practicing this shot, you need to pay attention to the timing. The best way to make an ideal smash is to hit the shuttle as it starts to descend.
Net Play
Netplay is a crucial thing in singles, the same as in doubles. Playing sideways to the net allows you to control this zone and hit all the shots in time. Moreover, net play can be especially useful during offensive play. In this case, the shots you do right next to the net are called net kills. To make them start to:
- Stand right next to the net.
- Hit the shuttle aggressively right near the net area.
This shot will make the shuttlecock spin, and as a result, it’ll be harder for your opponent to hit the shuttle.
The Role of the Front Player
If you want to play an attacking game, you need to communicate tightly with your partner. In this case, the player standing next to the net will take the main offensive position. The second player should stand behind and defend the weak spots of their playmate.
How to Maintain Offensive Pressure During Rallies?
The most important thing in an attacking game is to maintain constant pressure on your opponents. The quick switch of tactics and serves will help in this case. If you and your partner change shots between smash and net kicks, your opponent will definitely feel surprised and can miss the hits. Also, the change in position plays a role, too. Train with your playmate before the actual match, and prepare tactics in advance.
Source: https://blog.decathlon.in/articles/badminton-basic-rules-and-regulations
Defensive Strategies
The defensive position in doubles can be tricky. Imagine that there are two of us in offensive play. The one attacking the opponents, while the other defending your positions. During defensive play, it’s difficult to escape the attack because two people on the other side are cooperating to hit the shuttlecock over the net. However, there are many ways to protect your positions and enhance your game.
The most effective way to return smashes is to make:
- Lift
- Drive
- Block to the net
- Push to the midcourt
Lifts are perfect to continue the smashing when you can’t make a counterattack. They are made in that case when the attack is too strong to counter it immediately. The drive is a counter-attacking shot that will be super good against flat smashes. The main aim while making a drive is to get the shuttle beyond the front player so he cannot hit it. Block to the net is a challenge for the attacking player. This maneuver presents blocking the net for the opponent by pressuring them to play a lift. And last but not least is Push. This shot is nearly the same as the block but with extra pace. During the push, your aim is to get the shuttle past the front player to make it fall in the midcourt.
Side-by-Side Defense Technique
Perhaps, the best position during defensive games is to stand side-by-side with your playmate. This strategy can give you more ways to defend your positions and hit as many smashes as possible. By standing S/S near the net, you basically create a block for the attackers and gain an opportunity for counterattack.
How to Recover From Difficult Shots
Another skill that you can obtain during challenging games is to quickly recover from difficult shots. Even skilled players can make many mistakes during their play, so if you miss the shot or break some rule, just try to relax and start the game over. Cooperate with your partner and, if needed, ask them to replace you in your position. The most common mistake is to lose your temper and start getting nervous. This way, you can make even more mistakes than if you remain in a calm state of mind.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=QfBFWBwX4p4
Movement and Footwork
The base position in doubles is to stand near the center. So, if you hit the birdie, it’s better to return to your initial position. When you play doubles, you should keep in mind your and your playmate’s positions on the court. There are 3 main positions:
- Frontcourt
- Sidecourt
- Backcourt
Every player must move in the direction of the shuttle’s flight. This means that during forward footwork, you need to run after the birdie. You don’t need to move your entire body; just try to reach the shuttle with a racket. If you’re practicing backward footwork, you have to move the feet in turn behind each other. During this movement, it’s better to keep your body and head as still as possible. Sideway footwork will allow you to hit the shuttle flying at a special angle diagonally. By practicing this footwork, just make the steps forward with the rocket in your hands.
How to Move Efficiently As a Team
Movements during doubles play a crucial role. Generally, you play as a team, so you need to move according to your partner’s actions. You should know all combinations of different positions that can be applied to the doubles game and switch them quickly. Also, don’t stand too close to the playmate, and don’t limit his space to maneuver. Move according to the technique that you chose and help each other during challenging moments.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=06tQXbHbXhA
Conclusion
Badminton doubles is a fun and quick rocket game that requires great teamwork skills. By making attacks in time, properly defending your positions, and supporting your playmates, you can obtain superior results and quickly defeat opponents. So, if you want to start playing badminton and don’t know where to start, read this helpful guide and play like your favorite athlete!
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