Building the move to the forehand net, one link at a time
A 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.
What it is
Players often learn the pieces of movement and then struggle to join them. The BWF Level 1 Coaches' Manual (2nd edition, 2017, Module 6) suggests "chaining": start with the hit, then gradually link the movement into and out of the stroke. Its sample pattern for the forehand forecourt is split-step, chassé (or running step, or cross-behind), lunge, then a chassé and/or step back.
The one thing to change
At each link, check one thing only. In the first link the check is the lead knee and foot: they should point in the same direction, towards the likely point where the shuttle will be hit. In later links, the check is that the chassé is quick, with short ground contact.
The chain, five links
Use a partner to feed shuttles by hand for the net shot. Stay on the same side; swap after a few tries.
- Lunge only. Stand just behind the low service line and step into a lunge. Check that the lead knee and foot point the same way.
- Add the hit. Lunge and play a forehand net shot from a hand-fed shuttle. Aim for a good range of movement.
- Add the chassé. Start with a wide stance, front foot just behind the low service line. Chassé, step into the lunge, and hit as the lunge is completed.
- Add the split-step. Start by walking towards the forecourt, then split-step with the racket foot leading, chassé, step into the lunge and hit as the lunge is completed. Walking into the split-step makes it more like the match. Make the split-step explosive, with short ground contact.
- Add the recovery. Repeat the last link, then chassé back once. Keep a relaxed but upright posture on the way out.
Mistakes to avoid
- Skipping links. If link 3 is messy, go back to link 2.
- Leaning forward from the waist to reach. Keep the upper body upright and use the rear arm for balance.
- Forgetting the way back: in the last link, the recovery counts as much as the hit.
Limits
The manual says patterns are personal and depend on the situation; these are common ones, not all of them. This is a description of coaching practice, not medical advice: stop if you feel pain in a knee, ankle or hip.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.