Defending in doubles: side by side, and turning defence into attack
How to stand and move as a pair under attack, where to lift, and how to use blocks and drives to take the initiative back.
The shape
When the other side attacks from the front and the back, you defend side by side. The two of you share the width of the court, each taking one half. The most frequent replies from the attacker go straight or down the middle, and standing side by side makes those easier to meet.
Moving as a pair
- When the shuttle is lifted wide, the pair slide across together, towards the side the shuttle is on.
- The player who may face a cross-court shot can stand a step further forward. A cross-court stroke takes longer to arrive, so there is more time to react, and it helps to anticipate a drop to the middle.
- If the attacker is under pressure in a rear corner, both of you can move forward.
Turning defence into attack
Do not only lift. Use:
- Blocks (soft returns off a smash) and drives (flat, fast shots) into space.
- A step forward after the block or drive, to cover the net and force the opponent to lift.
- If the block goes cross-court, it can be better for the partner to step forward.
This moves the attackers around and makes it harder for them to keep the attack going.
When you must lift
- A cross-court lift off a straight attack.
- A straight lift off a cross-court attack.
This sends the shuttle away from where the attacker is aiming and makes them reorganise.
Mistakes to avoid
- Lifting every shuttle to the same place: it becomes easy to smash.
- Standing frozen at the back: after a block, move forward.
- Two players going for the same shuttle, or neither: agree who takes the middle.
- Moving one at a time: the pair must move together.
A simple practice
- Without shuttles: four players side by side. A name is called; that player goes to the rear corner, the partner goes to the front. The other pair forms a side-by-side shape straight away. Notice who shifts to the shuttle's side and who stays a little forward.
- One attacker works: a player in the rear corner plays drops between a side-by-side pair, who lift to move them across the back line. The pair slides across together each time.
- Defence game: play doubles where nobody may lift off a smash. Players must find other answers. Then try: lift only cross-court off straight attacks, then only straight off cross-court attacks. Talk afterwards about the strengths and weaknesses of each choice.
Limits
These rules are habits that work for many pairs, not laws. Your reach, speed and partner may call for different positions; try each version in practice before using it in a match.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.