Hit with your hand first: a balloon, a soft ball and a shuttle
Simple solo and partner games that teach you to watch the object and meet it with the hand before a racket is added.
Why start without a racket
A racket puts the ball or shuttle some distance from your hand. Before you learn to judge that gap, it helps to learn the basics with the hand itself: watch the flying object closely, then move your feet and hand so that the hand meets it. The BWF coaching manual uses these hand games as a first step, mainly with children and beginners.
Games to try
- Solo, palm. Keep a balloon or soft ball in the air using the palm of one hand. Try the other hand, then alternate.
- Solo, back of the hand. The same, using the back of the hand.
- Both sides. Keep it up using both palms and both backs of the hands. Invent your own sequence of small tricks, such as touching the floor and standing up again between hits.
- Hit it out of the hand. Hold the balloon or ball above your head. Reach up with the other hand and turn the arm so you can see your palm. Strike the object out of your hand with the palm. Let the arm carry on so that, at the end, you can see the back of your hand.
- With a partner. Rally a balloon or soft ball using palms and backs of the hands, seated or standing.
What to notice
- Do you look at the object until the moment of contact?
- Do your feet adjust, or do you just stretch the arm?
- Does the arm turn through the hit and carry on, instead of stopping dead?
Safety
Use a balloon or a soft ball, not a hard ball. Clear the floor of bags and loose shuttles, and keep enough distance from other players.
Limits
These games come from a coaching manual written mostly for children and beginners. They are a gentle first step, not a requirement. If you already hold a racket comfortably, move on to the next lessons.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.