The hop and pivot: a three-shuttle pick-up drill
What a hop and pivot is for, and a simple drill with three shuttles that trains it on both legs and in both directions.
What it is
In the BWF Level 1 Coaches' Manual (2nd edition, 2017, Module 6), a hop is a small jump that takes off on one foot and lands on the same foot. In badminton it is often combined with a pivot, a turn. The manual says hops can be about gaining height, but they are often used to cover distance, particularly when a hop and pivot are combined.
It appears in the manual's sample patterns for reaching the backhand rearcourt: after the split-step, a hop and pivot around the non-racket leg. The manual adds that the hop should cover some distance, so that it helps you move into the corner.
The one thing to change
Learn to pivot on both legs and in both directions (clockwise and anticlockwise), not only the one that feels natural.
A drill: pick up three shuttles
- Put one foot on a marker (a cone, a piece of tape).
- Place three shuttles on the floor, each reachable by a lunge.
- Reach down and pick up a shuttle, then pivot or hop around the foot on the marker.
- Put the shuttle down behind you, then pivot back round to collect the next one.
- Repeat until all three shuttles have finished behind you.
Variations from the manual: make it a race against other players, or work in groups of three and pass shuttles to each other instead of picking them up from the floor.
Mistakes to avoid
- Moving the marker foot: it is the fixed point you turn around.
- Always turning the same way.
- Treating the hop as only a jump up. In a rally it often covers distance.
Limits
This is a description of coaching practice, not medical advice. If you feel pain in a knee, ankle or hip, stop and see a professional.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.