Translated Version¶
For beginners who have just started mixed doubles, they will probably encounter two frustrating problems: failing to react in time when the opponent serves a fast flat shot, and either missing or getting smushed when netting a cross-court net shot. Today we will break down these two skills into steps that even total beginners can learn, to help you get started quickly.
1. Practical Skills for Receiving Fast Flat Serves¶
The fast flat serves in mixed doubles are usually shots where the opponent hits the shuttlecock flatly towards the front net area, with fast speed and a net-clear trajectory. Beginners often panic when facing these shots. You can handle them easily by practicing the following steps:
1. Find the correct receiving position (the most common pitfall for beginners)¶
When receiving serves in mixed doubles, the receiver should stand near their own front service line (the line closest to the net under the net), about 1 meter away from the net:
- Don’t stand too far back: You will not have enough time to react, and will only reach for the shuttle when it is right in front of your face
- Don’t stand too close to the net: You will be vulnerable to the opponent’s net-clear shots that directly score points
If the female player is taking the front court receiving position (the standard mixed doubles formation), the male player should stand near the center line of their own back court to be ready for support, and never take the front court spot away from the female partner.
2. Relaxed and fast ready stance¶
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and your center of gravity on the balls of your feet (this allows for faster starts). Hold your racket at chest height, around the level of your stomach — don’t hold it too high (which slows down reaction speed) or too low (which makes it hard to reach the shuttle). Beginners are recommended to use the backhand grip first, since most fast flat serves land in the backhand zone, and backhand starts are more flexible than forehand ones.
3. Predict the incoming shuttle direction in advance¶
While the opponent is serving, keep your eyes fixed on their racket face:
- If the racket face is flat, it means a fast flat serve that will fly quickly close to the net
- If the racket face is tilted upwards, it is most likely a clear shot or a short net shot
Adjust your racket face and footwork ahead of time, instead of panicking and moving only when the shuttle is already upon you.
4. Stroke: Fast, accurate and steady, don’t swing hard¶
The contact point for a fast flat serve must be on the front side of your body, near the net, don’t reach for the shuttle only when it is right in front of your face. You don’t need to swing hard when hitting: just flick your wrist slightly, tilt the racket face slightly forward, and push the shuttle to the opponent’s backhand back court or the gap between their two teammates.
If you really can’t react in time, simply lift a soft clear to the opponent’s back court — at least don’t give them the chance to smash, and never swing blindly and send the shuttle out of bounds.
5. Common mistakes for beginners¶
- Standing too far back and missing the optimal contact window
- Using your upper arm to swing, which is too slow to adjust the racket face in time
- Being afraid to take the initiative to hit, which leads to more mistakes
2. Practical Skills for Net Cross-Court Net Shots¶
The net cross-court net shot is one of the most commonly used scoring skills in mixed doubles, which can easily disrupt the opponent’s formation. Beginners can learn it quickly once they get the feel of it.
1. Understand what a cross-court net shot is¶
Simply put, it is to hit a front net shuttle from your side to the opponent’s opposite front net area, curving its path. For example, if you are standing on your right front court, you can hook the shuttle to the opponent’s left front court, forcing their receiver to run over and stretch their positioning.
2. Stance and ready posture¶
Stand 30-50 cm away from the net, don’t get too close (which risks touching the net and committing a fault). Keep your knees slightly bent, lower your center of gravity, and hold your racket at chest height to be ready to strike at any time.
3. Two types of cross-court net shots (beginners should learn backhand hooks first, which are more commonly used)¶
Most female players in mixed doubles are positioned in the backhand zone at the net, so we will start with the most practical backhand cross-court net shot:
1. Switch to the backhand grip, and let your wrist relax naturally
2. Try to make contact with the shuttle as close to the net as possible, at the position in front of your left shoulder (if you are standing in the left court, the contact point will be in front of your right shoulder)
3. Gently externally rotate your wrist, and use the side of the racket face to lightly slice the bottom side of the shuttle, so that the shuttle flies along the net’s arc to the opponent’s right front court.
The forehand cross-court net shot is the opposite: switch to the forehand grip, internally rotate your wrist, slice the right side of the shuttle, and hook the ball to the opponent’s left front court. This is suitable for forehand position front net shots.
4. Key details for beginners¶
- Hit the shuttle close to the net: Keep the trajectory as low as possible, don’t lift it high, otherwise the opponent will easily smash and score points
- Keep the stroke hidden: Pretend you are going to push a straight shot, then suddenly switch to a cross-court hook, and don’t turn your racket face towards the diagonal too early, which would let the opponent predict your shot in advance
- Don’t swing hard: Only use the strength of your wrist and fingers, don’t swing your arm widely, otherwise the shuttle will easily fly out of bounds
5. Quick practice method¶
You don’t even need a shuttle: practice 100 swing motions every day against a wall or the net to get the feel of wrist flicking. You will get the hang of it after 2-3 days of practice. You can also ask a partner to feed you front net shuttles for hands-on practice, which will let you get used to real matches faster.
6. Mixed doubles coordination tip¶
After successfully executing a cross-court net shot, the opponent will most likely return a straight shot to the back court. The male player standing at the back can get ready to smash in advance, and seize the opportunity to win the point.
The core of mixed doubles is actually partner coordination and attention to details. Beginners don’t need to aim for perfect shots right away. Just master your positioning and basic movements first, and practice more with your partner, and you will quickly find your rhythm in matches.
