Move towards the back court with a side-on stance
Try one short backward chassé, then return towards the net under control.
Set up a short, clear route
Try this after the small sideways chassé steps feel comfortable. Warm up gently and work with a partner on a dry, clear court. Leave bags and loose shuttles outside your movement area. Today you need neither racket nor shuttle.
Choose a starting spot with room towards both the net and the back of the court. Identify a nearby finishing spot towards the back, using existing lines as references rather than objects on the floor. Check the whole route before each turn. Your partner watches from outside it; agree on a stop signal.
Turn side-on before moving
Start facing the net, then turn your body and feet together with small steps until you are side-on. Put the foot on your usual racket side nearer the back of the court: right foot for a right-handed player, left foot for a left-handed player. The other foot is nearer the net. Keep your knees soft and your weight balanced; do not twist on a planted foot.
To travel towards the back, move the rear foot first, then let the other follow without touching or crossing it. This pair of steps makes one chassé. Keep it small and low. To travel towards the net, reverse the order: the foot nearer the net leads and the other follows, still leaving a gap.
Use only one short chassé today. If it takes a long stride or makes your feet tangle, bring the finishing spot closer. This is one way to explore a short movement, not a rule for every shuttle behind you.
Try three short rounds
- Five backward journeys each. Settle side-on, make one chassé towards the back, then stop balanced. Walk back and reset before the next attempt. Your partner watches whether the feet stay apart. Swap roles after five.
- Five out-and-back journeys each. Make one backward chassé and pause. From that balanced position, make one chassé towards the net and pause again. Start the next journey only when you are ready. Swap after five. If the reversal feels awkward, return by walking as in the first round.
- Five choices each, if comfortable. While you are still, your partner calls “towards the back” or “towards the net”. Make one chassé that way, stop, then walk back to the start. Mix the calls; swap after five. The call comes before you move, rather than asking you to change direction mid-step.
Every attempt counts, including an awkward one; five organises the round, not a success target. Stop if anything hurts. If someone enters your route, stop and check it again.
Keep one observation
Did you have to cross your feet, lean back or rush the stop? Shorten the route and try one adjustment next time. A controlled stop is useful here. In a rally, the shuttle's flight and the time available help determine your movement; this rehearsal does not teach an overhead stroke or its timing.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.