Beginners who have just started playing mixed doubles badminton will most likely be thrown into a flurry by the fast-paced running and delicate net play on the court. Especially the two core introductory skills: backhand net serve and front court positioning. They seem simple but hide a lot of details. Below we will break down these two skills in straightforward steps to help you get started quickly.
Backhand Net Serve: Practical Skill for Mixed Doubles Opening¶
Why prioritize backhand net serve in mixed doubles¶
Compared to forehand serves, the backhand serve has a more concealed movement, allowing you to easily adjust the serve落点 (serve落点? No, serve placement, and you can target the body of the opponent’s female partner to disrupt their positioning. It is the key to seizing the initiative at the start of a mixed doubles game.
Step-by-step breakdown for absolute beginners (take right-handed players, left-handed players just reverse the movements)¶
- **Ready Position
Stand in the corresponding service area on your side (right-handed players stand in the right service area, left-handed players stand in the left service area). Place your left foot forward and right foot back, with your center of gravity on your right foot, and your body slightly sideways towards the net.
A simple way to grip the racket for backhand: For regular forehand grip has your thumb against the narrow side of the racket handle. For backhand, move your thumb to the wide flat edge of the handle, let the rest of your fingers naturally hold the handle, don’t grip too tightly. Hold the shuttlecock with your left hand in front of your abdomen, with the racket head pointing gently upwards. - **Shuttlecock Toss and Hitting
Gently toss the shuttlecock up with your left hand, control the height to 10-20 centimeters, don’t toss it too high, let the shuttlecock land right in front of your waist and abdomen.
Keep your arm naturally relaxed, only use the power of your wrist and fingers to flick the racket face, don’t swing your whole arm. Gently scrape the middle-lower part of the shuttlecock with the racket face to “send” the shuttlecock to the opponent’s net area, try to make the landing point as close to the net as possible (no more than 30 centimeters from the net), don’t serve it high. - **Post-serve Transition
Immediately retract your arm after serving, turn sideways to prepare for moving forward to position yourself in the front court, don’t stand there doing nothing.
Common Novice Mistakes & Quick Fixes¶
- Mistake 1: Tossing the shuttlecock too high and swinging the arm too widely → The shuttlecock flies high and far, directly allowing the opponent to jump smashes. Fix: Control the toss height to around 10 centimeters, only use wrist and finger power.
- Mistake 2: Using forehand grip when doing backhand movements → Stiff movements and unable to hit a net-tight serve. Fix: Remember the backhand grip mantra: “Thumb on the wide flat edge”.
- Mistake 3: Serve landing too far back → The shuttlecock lands near the opponent’s service line, giving the opponent enough reaction time. Fix: Practice aiming at the first half of the net, try to make the shuttlecock land right against the net.
Front Court Positioning: Core Key Points for Mixed Doubles Front Court¶
70% of the scoring points in mixed doubles come from the front court. Doing positioning well can not only block the opponent’s attacks but also quickly create scoring opportunities. Absolute beginners should first remember 3 core rules:
1. Basic Stance: Don’t crowd the center, don’t cross the line, keep low center of gravity¶
- Stance position: Stand between your own service line and the net, about 1 meter away from the net. Stand with your feet apart front and back (front foot closer to the net, bend your knees slightly, place your center of gravity on the balls of your front feet, so your starting speed is the fastest.
- Area division: Agree on the responsible areas with your partner in advance. For example, the female player is in charge of the left front court + left center, and the male player is in charge of the right front court + right center. Don’t both crowd the center, and don’t both avoid the center and leave a gap in defense.
2. Starting & Positioning Skills¶
- Start the moment the opponent receives the serve: The moment the opponent receives the serve, immediately push off the ground to start moving, don’t wait until the shuttlecock flies in front of your eyes before moving.
- Flexibly respond to two types of returns:
- If the opponent plays a net drop shot, quickly step forward to block the shuttlecock’s route with the racket face. Beginners first practice “blocking the shot”, just return the shuttlecock to the opponent’s back court, don’t rush to jump smash.
- If the opponent lifts a clear to the back court, immediately move aside to leave space for your partner at the back court to attack.
- Avoid your partner’s hitting route: Don’t stand on your partner’s back court hitting route. For example, when your partner is smashing at the back court, you should stand near the sideline, don’t block the center and block the opponent’s line of sight.
3. Common Novice Mistakes & Quick Fixes¶
- Mistake 1: Standing too far back → Equivalent to not positioning yourself at all, the opponent can easily lift or drop the shuttlecock to hit you. Fix: Move to the position in front of your service line in advance, don’t stand at your own back court.
- Mistake 2: Fighting for position with your partner → Both of you crowd the center, directly leaving a defensive gap. Fix: Agree on each area with your partner in advance, don’t cross the boundary to grab the shot.
- Mistake 3: Keeping knees straight → Slow starting speed, unable to react in time. Fix: Always keep a half-squat stance, lower your center of gravity like you are about to sit on a chair.
Quick Practice Guide for Absolute Beginners¶
Backhand Net Serve Practice¶
- Step 1: Practice tossing the shuttlecock and swing against a wall, don’t worry about the landing point, first make the movement smooth first.
- Step 2: Stand face to face with your partner at the net, practice hitting backhand net serves to each other, practice controlling the landing point.
- Step 3: Simulate a mixed doubles scenario, one person serves, one person positions in the front court, practice the post-serve transition movement.
Front Court Positioning Practice¶
- Step 1: Find a partner to feed multiple shuttlecocks, let your partner continuously play net drops, you practice quickly starting to position and block the shot.
- Step 2: Simulate a receiving serve scenario, one person receives the serve, one person positions in the front court, practice responding to different return methods.
Don’t pursue perfection when you first start practicing. First make the movements standard and match your partner’s rhythm, you will gradually find the feeling of mixed doubles after playing a few times.
