Learn badminton

Practical lessons to try with a partner, from your very first rallies. Each one fits in a session: a clear task, a few attempts, one adjustment at a time.

Getting started (10)

• Your first badminton ralliesA simple partner exercise to find a comfortable grip and keep the shuttle going.Level : Beginner
• Learn a short backhand serveA partner exercise to start a rally calmly and notice where your serve lands.Level : Beginner
• Return a short serve without rushingPractise one high return, watch where it lands, then swap roles.Level : Beginner
• Move towards the net and get ready againTry a short journey forwards and back, then add one easy shuttle.Level : Beginner
• Lift the shuttle from your forehand at the netPractise one high return, then get ready again.Level : Beginner
• What you need to start playing badmintonA short, no-brand checklist for a first session: racket, shuttles, shoes, clothes and a bottle of water, and what is not worth buying yet.Level : Beginner
• Forecourt, midcourt, rearcourt: three zones to talk about the courtWhat coaches mean by the front, middle and back of the court, and which strokes usually belong to each zone.Level : Beginner
• In what order should a beginner learn the strokes?A suggested order for the basic strokes, from the backhand serve to the overhead drop shot, and the reasons behind it.Level : Beginner
• Hit with your hand first: a balloon, a soft ball and a shuttleSimple solo and partner games that teach you to watch the object and meet it with the hand before a racket is added.Level : Beginner
• Your first racket contacts: hold the racket shortHow holding the racket high up the handle makes the first hits easier, and three small exercises that use the forearm.Level : Beginner

Strokes (27)

• Play a gentle forehand net shotPractise a short return near the net with easy feeds and one adjustment at a time.Level : Beginner
• Lift the shuttle from your backhand at the netFind a relaxed thumb grip and practise a high return from an easy feed.Level : Beginner
• Holding the racket: forehand grip and backhand gripThe two basic grips, when to change between them, and the habit to avoid at the start.Level : Beginner
• The overhead forehand clear: stance, contact point and follow-throughHow to send the shuttle high and deep from the back of the court, step by step.Level : Amateur
• The forehand drop shotWhat the drop shot is for, how to make it look like a smash, and a progression of drills from a hanging shuttle to a game.Level : Amateur
• The backhand drop shotHow to play a soft shuttle to the front of the court from your backhand corner, hiding it behind the same preparation as a clear.Level : Amateur
• Changing grip during a rallyHow to move between the forehand and backhand grip with the fingers, why a loose hand helps, and drills to make the change automatic.Level : Amateur
• Defence: the block and the counterHow to handle a fast attacking shuttle: ready position, a soft block to the net, a lift to the rear, and a simple progression of drills.Level : Amateur
• The backhand clearHow to send the shuttle deep from your backhand side without running round it: turn, grip, contact and a progression of drills.Level : Amateur
• The drive, forehand and backhandThe flat, fast shot for neutral moments: when to use it, how to play it on both sides, and how to practise it.Level : Amateur
• The net drop: dropping the shuttle tight to the tapeHow to play a soft shuttle that crosses the net low and falls close to it, from either side, and a progression of drills.Level : Amateur
• Three serves: short, flick and highWhat each serve is for, how they start from the same position, and simple drills to make them land where you want.Level : Amateur
• The forehand smashWhen to smash, how the movement is built from the legs to the racket, and a few drills to practise it safely.Level : Amateur
• Straight or cross-court: four ways to change the direction of a strokeThe four ways the BWF manual gives for sending the same stroke straight or diagonally, with simple practice ideas.Level : Amateur
• The forehand net kill: finishing a high shuttle at the netWhen and how to hit a shuttle that is above the tape downwards from the net, on the forehand side, and a safe way to practise it.Level : Amateur
• The backhand net kill: finishing a high shuttle on your backhand sideHow to hit a shuttle that is above the tape downwards from the net with the thumb grip, and a safe way to practise.Level : Amateur
• Four ideas behind every hit: backswing, big to small, rotation, bend and straightenThe four basic principles of how the body produces force when hitting the shuttle, in plain language, with a simple feel exercise.Level : Amateur
• Make your shots look alike: a simple way to surprise your opponentWhy the BWF manual asks you to prepare related shots in the same way, and five examples to try in practice.Level : Amateur
• The pulled forehand drop shot: a defensive way out of the forehand cornerWhen the shuttle is behind you in the forehand corner, a pulled drop shot can ease the pressure. How it differs from the attacking drop, and how to practise it.Level : Experienced
• Blocking a smash in singles: straight or cross-courtHow a block sent straight or cross-court makes the smasher run further, and what the racket and the legs do on each side.Level : Experienced
• Backhand defence off the body: the drive defence and the long defenceTwo ways to answer a smash or drive that comes at your backhand side: a flat counter or a high, deep reply that buys time.Level : Experienced
• The forehand spin net shot: brushing across the shuttleTwo ways to put spin on a forehand net shot, when each is used and what the racket does.Level : Experienced
• The backhand spin net shot: brushing across the shuttleTwo ways to put spin on a backhand net shot, when each is used and what the racket does, as a step beyond the plain net drop.Level : Experienced
• The cross-court net shot: when to send it and how to hit itHow to play a net shot diagonally across the net, from the forehand or backhand side, and why it needs a balanced, early contact.Level : Experienced
• Forehand serves: the low serve and the flick serveHow the forehand low serve and the forehand flick serve share one start, what each is for, and practices that begin with dropping the shuttle into a tube.Level : Experienced
• The backhand flick serve: looking like a low serve, going to the backWhat the backhand flick serve is for, how to hit it from the same start as a low serve, and target games to practise it.Level : Experienced
• The forehand high serve: from drop to long swingWhat the forehand high serve is for, how to swing it, and a progression that starts with dropping the shuttle into a tube.Level : Experienced

Footwork (12)

• Move sideways with small chassé stepsPractise a short sideways journey without crossing your feet, then try a partner's signal.Level : Beginner
• Find the rhythm of a small split stepRehearse a gentle restart, then link it to a partner's slow pretend stroke.Level : Beginner
• The lunge and the basic steps: run, chassé, cross-behind, pivotThe building blocks of movement on court, how to lunge safely, and practice ideas, based on the BWF manual.Level : Beginner
• The split-step: the small jump that gets you moving fasterWhat the split-step is, when to do it, how to land, and three simple drills to practise it.Level : Beginner
• The chassé: gliding a short way without runningWhat a chassé is, when to use it and when not to, and a tramline drill with a partner calling the changes.Level : Beginner
• Running forwards and backwards on court: arms, knees and a back-court drillHow running steps differ going forwards and backwards, the arm action the manual describes, and a simple drill between the back tramlines and the low service line.Level : Beginner
• The movement cycle: start, approach, hit, recoverThe four parts of every move on court, why the return matters as much as the approach, and a three-step way to practise the whole cycle.Level : Beginner
• Building the move to the forehand net, one link at a timeA chaining method that starts from the lunge and adds the chassé, the split-step and the recovery step, with a hand-fed forehand net shot.Level : Beginner
• The cross-behind step: one at a time, both sidesWhat the cross-behind step is, why it is rarely repeated, and a zigzag drill that works both sides, forwards and backwards.Level : Beginner
• The hop and pivot: a three-shuttle pick-up drillWhat a hop and pivot is for, and a simple drill with three shuttles that trains it on both legs and in both directions.Level : Beginner
• Move towards the back court with a side-on stanceTry one short backward chassé, then return towards the net under control.Level : Amateur
• Jump and turn in the air: hitting from the back of the courtWhat the jump and turn is, where it fits in the movement to the rearcourt, and a floor exercise to learn the landing before using a shuttle.Level : Experienced

Tactics (24)

• Reading the situation: attacking, neutral, defensive, and hitting earlyThe three situations in a rally, why hitting the shuttle early moves you towards attack, the base position, and a drill with a marker on the net.Level : Beginner
• Doubles: understand front and back in attackUse two counters to discuss the front and rear roles, then change the picture when your pair has to defend.Level : Amateur
• Doubles: get ready side by sideShare a defensive position with your partner, then try easy feeds with one hitter at a time.Level : Amateur
• Mixed doubles: agree on a shuttle between youUse a sketch to explain who intends to play an imagined shuttle and check what your partner understood.Level : Amateur
• Mixed doubles: choose your next positions togetherWalk through two situations, share the space and try both roles with your partner.Level : Amateur
• Mixed doubles: review your shared space when play changesCompare three paper situations, explain a possible new arrangement and keep missing information open.Level : Amateur
• Singles: read the space before choosingUse a court sketch to explain a short or long shot choice, without treating the drawing as a match result.Level : Amateur
• Singles: keep a two-shot plan flexibleDiscuss an imagined rally and adapt your next idea to three different reply cards, without predicting what the opponent must do.Level : Amateur
• Singles: choose a recovery positionPractise getting ready for likely replies, without treating the centre as a compulsory stop.Level : Amateur
• Attacking in doubles: one player front, one player backThe attacking shape in doubles, what the rear and front players each do, and when to swap roles.Level : Amateur
• Defending in doubles: side by side, and turning defence into attackHow to stand and move as a pair under attack, where to lift, and how to use blocks and drives to take the initiative back.Level : Amateur
• Doubles: serving short, flicking, and returning the serveWhere to serve, where your partner stands, and how to answer a low serve or a flick, for men's, women's and level doubles.Level : Amateur
• Mixed doubles: who covers whatThe usual split of roles between the woman and the man in mixed doubles, in service, return, attack and defence.Level : Amateur
• Singles tactics: choosing your serve and returning itHigh, low and flick serves in singles: what each is for, where to aim, and how to answer them.Level : Amateur
• Men's and women's doubles: a fast game and a patient gameWhat the two level-doubles events share, where the BWF manual says they differ, and what to take from it for your own pair.Level : Amateur
• See where your serves and returns land: a simple sheet for a doubles pairA way to record where each serve and return goes, using a sketch of the court, so your pair can spot patterns and choose what to practise.Level : Amateur
• Seven small doubles games: practise one pattern at a timeSimple rule changes for a normal doubles game, taken from the BWF manual, that push a pair to practise serving, returning, rally length and lifting.Level : Amateur
• Reading and deciding: space, yourself, your opponent, pace and partnerWhat tactics means in the BWF manual, the five things to read on court, and a "guess the plan" game that trains reading and deciding.Level : Amateur
• A simple match plan: two or three points, a plan A and a plan BHow to prepare a short, realistic plan for a match, doubles included, and how to use the breaks to adjust it.Level : Amateur
• Singles attack: move your opponent away, then hit the weak spotHow to build an attack in singles by moving your opponent away from an area of weakness and then playing into it, and where to stand while you do it.Level : Amateur
• Singles defence: from the rearcourt, the midcourt and the forecourtWhat to play when you are under pressure in singles, depending on where the shuttle is, and three short games to practise the choices.Level : Amateur
• Singles neutral play: straight or cross-court, and moving your opponentWhat to do when neither player is attacking in singles: why straight shots keep you in control, when a cross-court shot is worth it, and three games to test them.Level : Amateur
• Doubles: read both opponents' positionsCompare three paper pictures and explain what the positions of both opponents tell you about a possible target.Level : Experienced
• Receiving a short serve in doubles: which foot steps forward?The two ways to step to a short serve in doubles, what each gives you, and who may need the other one.Level : Experienced

Fitness (10)

• Warm-up and cool-down for badminton: a simple plan from the BWF manualWhat to include before you play, in which order, and how to finish a session, with exercises you can do on court.Level : Beginner
• Warming up by age: children, adults and older playersThe same warm-up idea adapted to who is playing: how to change the length, the pace and the content for young, adult and older players.Level : Beginner
• Strength, endurance and flexibility: what suits each ageWhen strength, endurance and stretching training make sense for children and young players, and the general figures the BWF manual gives for adult endurance work.Level : Beginner
• What fitness does a badminton player need? Nine componentsA plain map of the physical qualities that matter in badminton, five general ones and four specific to the court, and what each one is for.Level : Beginner
• Staying safe on court: shoes, floor, grip and a few habitsPractical precautions from the BWF manual that lower the chance of slips, sprains, strains and eye injuries, and what to do if you do get hurt.Level : Beginner
• Coordinate your hands and steps at your own paceTry feet and hands separately, then link them in a slow sequence without chasing speed.Level : Amateur
• Begin your warm-up at your own paceTry three gentle activities, notice how they feel and prepare for the first drill.Level : Amateur
• Find a steady stance after a small side stepMove sideways at your own pace, pause on both feet and compare a small step with a smaller one.Level : Amateur
• Common badminton injuries: where they happen and what the evidence says about warming upThe usual injury sites, why a warm-up is recommended, and how weak the evidence still is.Level : Amateur
• Balance and quick feet: simple exercises for the courtLeg swings, lunges, jumps and fast-feet games from the BWF manual that train dynamic balance and quickness with no equipment but the court lines.Level : Amateur

Mental game (7)

• Why you play: enjoyment, motivation and a good practice groupThe difference between playing for enjoyment and playing for rewards, and simple habits that make a practice group work well together.Level : Beginner
• Separate your action from the result you hope forSort four practice goals on paper, then turn one hoped-for result into an action you can choose.Level : Amateur
• Ask your partner for specific feedbackPractise asking about one visible action and responding to three different replies, on paper with a partner.Level : Amateur
• Choose one cue for the next rallyTry a short between-rally routine with a partner, without judging it by the score.Level : Amateur
• Handling pressure in a matchWhat pressure does to your body and your decisions, and simple routines between points to stay calm and play the next shuttle.Level : Amateur
• Staying focused: a calm word and a picture in your mindTwo simple tools to keep your attention on the next shuttle: a short slow breath with a calm word, and imagery that gives a clear target to a part of your game.Level : Amateur
• Process goals and outcome goals: aim at what you can controlWhy "win the tournament" is a poor goal for a practice, and how to set small goals about your own play that lower pressure and build confidence.Level : Amateur

Drills by level (6)

• Beginner: adjust a throw towards a targetTry a simple placement game, change one setting and check whether it suits you.Level : Beginner
• Choose the target your partner callsHear a target before each gentle hand throw, confirm it and record the landing separately.Level : Beginner
• Hand feeding: safe, useful practice shuttlesHow to throw shuttles to a partner so the practice looks like the real game: safe position, realistic flight, the right rate, and underarm and overarm throws.Level : Beginner
• Intermediate exercise: alternate between two familiar targetsKeep a known throwing setup and separate the target you announce from where the shuttle lands.Level : Amateur
• Racket feeding: multi-shuttle practice and the rallyHow to feed with a racket once hand feeding is no longer enough, and how to move from many shuttles to a real rally with a little doubt built in.Level : Amateur
• From simple to complex: a ladder of practices for any strokeA step-by-step way to practise a new stroke, from copying in the air to a game with bonus points, moving up only when the step below feels reasonably secure.Level : Amateur

Training plans (7)

• Adapt a session when you have less timeRework a familiar plan, keep room for preparation and breaks, and decide what to leave for another day.Level : Beginner
• Share a session with two personal goalsUse one familiar activity, take clear turns and keep each person's observation separate.Level : Beginner
• Badminton for children and juniorsHow to adapt games, equipment and time for young players: short turns, play first, small rules and safe habits.Level : Beginner
• Stages of a player's development: what to emphasise and whenA simple map of the BWF development stages, from first movements to competition, showing what to emphasise in technique, tactics, fitness and mindset at each one.Level : Beginner
• Build a short session around one goalChoose a familiar exercise, allow time for breaks and leave with one useful observation.Level : Amateur
• Planning and running a training sessionHow to choose one aim, split the time into blocks, organise the court and the people, and look back afterwards.Level : Amateur
• From observation to a session goal: a simple way to decide what to practiseHow to watch a player without judging, pick the one or two things that matter most, and write goals that can be checked at the end of a session.Level : Amateur

Rules and umpiring (25)

• The badminton court: lines, net and what counts as "in"Learn which lines bound a singles or doubles court. Separate the serve from later shots before judging a landing.Level : Beginner
• Winning a point, a game and a match: toss, rally scoring and change of endsHow a rally is won, who serves next, when players swap sides, and what the 2027 change will alter.Level : Beginner
• The serve: what makes it legalPositions, feet, height under 1.15 m, no spin and continuous racket movement, in plain words.Level : Beginner
• The 3x15 format: what changes in the laws of badmintonBest of three games to 15: the format scheduled internationally for 4 January 2027.Level : Beginner
• How the rules got here: from serve-only points to rally scoring and a fixed serve heightAmateur level: compare dated scoring and service rules, then recognise which version a match actually uses.Level : Amateur
• Choose the serving side in singlesUse the server's points to choose right or left, with three separate examples on paper.Level : Beginner
• Find the singles boundaries during a rallyIdentify the correct side lines, keep the full court length and explain why a shuttle on a boundary is in.Level : Beginner
• Continuous play: intervals, delays, advice and leaving the courtWhen you may rest, when you may be advised, and what happens if you slow the game down, in plain words.Level : Beginner
• Referee, umpire, service judge, line judges: who decides whatThe roles of the officials in a match and how to appeal a decision, in plain words.Level : Beginner
• Singles: where to serve, where to stand, and when the shuttle is out of playThe court choice in singles follows your own score, and three events end a rally. Both explained in plain words.Level : Beginner
• Find the back boundary in doublesCompare a service landing with a landing after the return, using the same place on the court.Level : Amateur
• Doubles service order: who serves, from where, and what to do after a mistakeEven and odd scores, the four-player order of service, and how an error is corrected.Level : Amateur
• Faults and lets: when a rally stops and who serves nextSeparate a fault, a replay and a suspension, then work out the score and the next server in three singles examples.Level : Amateur
• Organising a competition: knock-out, league, ladder and club nightHow to choose a format when you have few courts or many players, with byes, seeds and a way to count matches.Level : Amateur
• Faults at the net: touching, reaching over, getting under, distractingThe five actions of a player at the net that are faults, and how a coach shouting differs from a player shouting.Level : Amateur
• Faults of the stroke: carried shuttle, double hit and the partnerThree ways the hit itself can be a fault: slinging, hitting twice, and a partner touching the shuttle.Level : Amateur
• Faults by the shuttle: out, net, ceiling, walls and other objectsThe five things the shuttle can do during a rally that make it a fault, with the exact wording of the Laws.Level : Amateur
• Standing Para badminton: half-court, service and medical exceptionsWhat the Laws change for standing classes: the half-court, the alternative service and the exceptions to the feet rule.Level : Amateur
• Wheelchair Badminton: faults and the extra intervalFaults specific to the wheelchair, a shuttle caught in the net that becomes a fault, and the extra interval allowed.Level : Amateur
• Wheelchair Badminton: how the serve differsThe service conditions that change in a wheelchair: wheels, shuttle height and service courts.Level : Amateur
• Para badminton: courts and extra equipment in the LawsWhich court each Para badminton group plays on, and what the Laws say about wheelchairs and crutches.Level : Amateur
• The racket in the Laws: size limits and what may be attachedThe maximum dimensions of a racket and of its stringed area, what may be added to the frame, and who rules on a doubt.Level : Amateur
• The shuttle in the Laws: materials, size and weightWhat the Laws of Badminton require of a feathered or synthetic shuttle, with the exact limits.Level : Amateur
• A broken or tampered shuttle: when it is a let and when it is a breachWhat the Laws say when a shuttle falls apart during a rally, and why you must not alter a shuttle to change its flight.Level : Amateur
• Testing a shuttle for speed: the Law 3 methodHow the Laws say to check that a shuttle flies at the right speed, step by step.Level : Amateur

Coaches’ corner (3)

• Choose a next step from a factual session noteRead three practice notes, keep missing information visible and agree on one useful next step without inventing progress.Level : Experienced
• Observe one thing, then let the player try againPractise giving a clear comment using a simple throwing task, an observable result and a second attempt.Level : Experienced
• Organise a practice rotation for three peopleGive each person a turn at throwing, observing and coordinating a short activity, with a shared stop signal.Level : Experienced

Glossary (1)

• Badminton vocabulary: the words you need to start135 useful badminton words, grouped by theme (equipment, court, shots, scoring, faults, doubles, training, officials, the Laws, Para badminton, tournaments, techniques, racket and shuttle details, words heard on court), each with a short explanation.Level : Beginner

Coming next: strokes, footwork, tactics and the laws of the game.