Straight or cross-court: four ways to change the direction of a stroke
The four ways the BWF manual gives for sending the same stroke straight or diagonally, with simple practice ideas.
Why direction matters
Any stroke can be hit straight (down the line, to the same side of the court) or cross-court (diagonally). Being able to choose late, using the same preparation, makes your play harder to read.
Four ways to hit cross-court
- Take the shuttle further in front of the body. Meet the shuttle out in front of the body rather than beside it.
- Change the grip to alter the racket face. A small change of grip turns the racket face towards the other direction.
- Bend the wrist to alter the racket face. A bend of the wrist does the same job.
- Slice the shuttle. Hit across the side of the shuttle instead of straight through it.
Examples from the manual
- The backhand drive: strike the left or right of the shuttle to send it cross-court. A corner grip can be used when the shuttle is at your side or when you want to hit cross-court.
- The backhand clear and the pulled drop shot: change the grip and bend the wrist to change the racket face for straight and cross-court versions. The deeper the shuttle, or the more cross-court you want, the more you turn the grip towards a panhandle.
- The net lift: a cross-court lift is a slightly shorter action because you hit the side of the shuttle.
Make both directions look the same
The manual repeatedly asks for strokes to look like related shots. Keep your preparation the same for straight and cross-court, and decide late. Our lesson on deception explains the idea.
A simple practice
Two players rally gently with drives or clears. Call "straight" or "cross" before each shot and try to hit that direction without changing your preparation. Start with half-court rallies and keep control before adding pace.
Limits
The four ways are a list of options, not a ranking. The right choice depends on your position, balance and the time you have. Using the wrist heavily can be tiring; if your wrist hurts, rest and ask a qualified coach.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.