Psychomotor Skill |
Learning Cues |
| Grips Forehand Grip |
v Used for forehand shots and serves v Thumb is placed on one side of racquet grip, index finger is placed higher (pointing) on the other side of the handle (this hand position forms a “V” on the handle v Other fingers should be curled around the handle, keeping the grip relaxed v The grip is similar to that of a handshake |
| Backhand Grip |
v Place thumb near the base of
the handle with the forefinger approximately opposite to it v Rest the handle in the base of the fingers to keep the grip lose and to allow the racquet handle a greater range of motion within the grip v Racquet head should be parallel to the ground; can achieve this by rotating the handle (from the forehand grip) ¼ of a turn to the right (for a right-handed player) |
| Ready Positions Basic Ready Position |
v Position used to help the player
move quickly, in any direction, from a balanced ready position v Position to return to after every shot player makes, particularly when in a defensive rally v Knees slightly bentv Feet approximately shoulder-width apart v Non-racquet foot forward v Weight mainly on racquet footv Racquet held about at chest level |
| Attack Stance |
v Forehand grip on handle v Knees bent and non-racquet foot forward v Both feet pointed towards the net; racquet foot slightly angled towards the right line |
| Serves Forehand Short Serve |
v Often used in singles play v Forehand grip v Stand about one racquet length from the service linev Feet shoulder-width apart v Non-racquet foot slightly forwardv Hold racquet at about hip height with open face v Contact shuttle in front of racquet foot immediately after dropping the shuttle (contact must be made waist height or lower) v Small wrist movement to propel or push shuttle; the wrist should be the only part of the arm that moves v Follow-through is short v Aim bird at either of the near corners of the service area v The tighter the bird is to the net the better the serve |
| Backhand Short Serve |
v Backhand grip v Stand directly behind the service line v Racquet foot slightly forward and bearing most of v player’s weight v Shuttle held just below waist, in front of the body v Racquet head tip pointed slightly down, and face angled slightly upward; racquet head at waist height v Small wrist movement to propel or push shuttle; the wrist should be the only part of the arm that moves v Follow-through is short v Aim bird at either of the near corners of the service area v The tighter the bird is to the net the better the serve |
| Long Serve |
v Forehand grip v Non-racquet foot forward, weight on racquet foot v Racquet held behind body, below waist v Shuttle held at around chest height v Drop shuttle – weight transferred to non-racquet foot and body squares towards the net – contact shuttle in on racquet side of the body, slightly closer to the net than the non-racquet foot v Large follow through to racquet shoulder v Most effective if placed behind opponent, in far backhand corner |
| Service Return Long Serve |
v Forehand grip v Ready position, in center of service receiving court v Racquet held up at head level v While moving to receive bird, maintain high position of racquet, holding it slightly behind the body to prepare for a quick overhead stroke v Hit the shuttle as high and as early as possible v Follow-through across body v Most effective if return the shuttle high and deep into the opponents back court |
| Short Serve |
v Forehand grip v Ready position, in center of service receiving court v Racquet held up at head level v Push off with racquet foot v Player in “lunge” position with extended racquet arm v Usually short follow-through, unless player chooses to and is able to hit the shuttle into the back court |
| Strokes Overhead Forehand Stroke (clear) |
v Forehand grip v Non-racquet foot forward with foot pointing out at about 45 degrees v Feet about shoulder-width apart, with racquet foot to the rear of the non-racquet foot v Racquet foot about parallel to the baseline v Racquet leg bent at the knee and bearing most of the weight v Non-racquet hip and shoulder should be facing towards the net v Non-racquet arm should be held up, with the elbow approximately even with and in front of the shoulder v The upper part of the racquet arm point towards the floor, and the elbow is bent at 45 degrees and held close and comfortably to the body v The racquet should become a natural extension of the forearm, and the racquet head should be pointing up and about even with the racquet shoulder; outside edge of the racquet should be pointing towards the net v As the lower body extends the racquet hip pushes toward the net – the racquet shoulder does the same and begins to initiate the arm action v Begin a throwing motion – the elbow will lead the wrist – as the elbow moves forward the forearm is pronated and the wrist is flexed v Contact the shuttle high and early; racquet arm should be nearly straight on contact v Follow-through down and across the body v After contact, the racquet leg should step forward to complete the follow-through and the stroke recovery (this facilitates getting ready for the next shot) |
| Smash |
v Forehand grip v Non-racquet foot forward with foot pointing out at about 45 degrees v Feet about shoulder-width apart, with racquet foot to the rear of the non-racquet foot v Racquet foot about parallel to the baseline v Racquet leg bent at the knee and bearing most of the weight v Non-racquet hip and shoulder should be facing towards the net v Racquet arm is stretched back behind the body in “back-scratch” position v Extend racquet arm above and in front of the head v Rotate above waist to increase power (do not rotate the waist) v Contact the shuttle high and in front of the body with the racquet face angled downwards v Racquet acts like a whip v Aim for mid-court at feet or racquet hip of opponent v Follow-through down and across body, racquet foot steps forward |
| Backhand Overhead Clear |
v Backhand grip or variation v Variation of backhand grip – rotate handle so thumb is placed on small bevel closest to body (on corner of racquet handle) – this allows for x-court shot making v Facing back court, racquet leg steps towards the back court and bears most of the body’s weight v Racquet knee is flexed slightly v Simultaneously with positioning/lunge of racquet leg, racquet is brought downwards and elbow is “thrown” upwards – edge of the head of the racquet follows the side of the hand upwards v Upper arm is rotated outward and forearm is supinated to present the racquet face to the net v Contact shuttle high v After contact, as arm is extended, the arm reaches full rotation and supination |
| Backhand Underarm Clear |
v Backhand grip or variation v Variation of backhand grip – rotate handle so thumb is placed on small bevel closest to body (on corner of racquet handle) – this allows for x-court shot making v Facing back court, racquet leg steps towards the back court and bears most of the body’s weight v Racquet knee is flexed slightly v Forearm must be pronated with the back of the hand facing upward and elbow flexed v Elbow extends and forearm supinates v Angle between racquet shaft and the forearm should be maintained throughout the stroke |
| Forehand Drive |
v Forehand grip v Racquet is held in “back scratch” position v Step forward with racquet foot v “little finger” leads the forward stroke v Contact shuttle at shoulder height and outside of the body v Whip-like action of the wrist generates power for the shot v Follow-through down and across the body |
| Backhand Drive |
v Prep positioning same as backhand
clear v “little finger” leads the forward stroke v Contact shuttle in front of body (toward back court), slightly outside of the body (toward line) and at about shoulder height v Whip-like action of the wrist generates power for the shot v follow-through outwards and away from the body |
| Drop Shots |
v Forehand grip v Body position same as the overhead clear v Same stroke as the overhead clear except rather than hitting the birdie the stroke “pushes” the bird over the net (more relaxed stroke) v Contact point same as the overhead clear, contact bird slightly ahead of racquet shoulder v Follow through same as the overhead clear |
| Net Shots Forehand Net Shot |
v Racquet foot lunges towards
the net on the racquet side of the body v Racquet is held with extended arm, racquet face up, and aimed toward wear the shuttle will be received v Racquet held so palm of hand is facing upward v Angle the racquet face slightly toward the net before contact v Land with racquet foot and contact shuttle in one motion v No swing of the racquet is needed v Contact the shuttle as close to the top of the net as possible |
| Backhand Net Shot |
v Racquet foot lunges towards the
net on the non-racquet side of the body (across the body) v Racquet is held with extended arm, racquet face up, and aimed toward wear the shuttle will be received v Racquet is held so the back of the hand is facing upwards v Angle the racquet face slightly toward the net before contact v Land with racquet foot and contact shuttle in one motion v No swing of the racquet is needed v Contact the shuttle as close to the top of the net as possible |
| Cognitive/Conceptual Skill |
Learning Cues |
| Singles Center Court Base |
v Players generally are positioned
at the “center court base”, which is approximately 3-4 feet behind the front
service line and straddling the center service line v Players generally should attempt to return to the center court base after every shot – this is to allow them to more easily reach any location that their opponent returns the shuttle to v The center court base can be shifted slightly in one of four directions depending on where the return shot is anticipated to go to |
| Ready Positions Basic Ready Position |
v Upon returning to center base
court, the player generally should assume the basic ready position to prepare
to receive the next shot v The above is especially true if the player is playing a defensive role in the rally (e.g. defending against smashes) |
| Attack Stance |
v Body position that a player assumes
if he/she is anticipating a “kill” situation (e.g. forcing the opposing player
to lift a return makes the likelihood of a “smash” opportunity more likely
|
| Serves Long Serves (High Serve) |
v The main serve for singles play
due to the back service line being the very back line of the court v The closer the shuttle lands to the back line the more effective the serve v If used effectively, this serve can eliminate the opportunity for the player’s opponent to play an aggressive return |
| Short Serves |
v Is also used often in singles
play v Most effective if the serve is concealed (e.g. forehand serve can be made to be difficult to predict if player is an effective server) v The serve must be close to the net to be effective, or else player may be setting him/herself up for an aggressive return shot v Short serve ideally should land either on the front service line, or within a few centimeters of the service line if it was allowed to land v A good mixture of short and long serves keeps the opponent guessing |
| Service Returns Long Serve |
v The best option for return against
a well-placed long serve is an attacking clear to one of the opponent’s back
corners v Generally the attacking clear is a “forehand drive” straight down the nearest sideline v An effective attack clear can force the server out of position and off-balance – this often results in a weak return shot v Another option is a drop shot – either straight ahead or cross-court v This shot should be used cautiously (a defender who reads this shot well will have a very good chance to end the rally), however, the shot can be used to ensure that the server is prepared to cover all four corners of the court v This, therefore, can keep the server honest |
| Short Serve |
v The receiving player should attempt
to reach the shuttle as early and when it is as high as possible v If the shuttle is received around head height the player may attempt to send the shuttle into the back court v If the player is unable to reach the shuttle until it is lower, a tight net shot is the best option |
| Singles Tactics/Strategies |
v Smashing v Smash to the center of the court v Smash to the player’s inside hip v Smash to the body of the player v Smash to the non-bias side of your opponent v Hold your racquet high when a)you have hit down and the opponent is forced to hit upwards, and b)after a good tight net shot to enable a kill on any net return v Always attempt to do the following: get behind the shuttle, hit the shuttle as early as possible, and hit the shuttle as high as possible v Depth wins matches – either deep clears or tight net shots v Be deceptive – if your opponent is unable to accurately predict which shot you will make, your chances of winning a rally and the match are much better v Generally, it is best to take more chances when you hold the serve than when your opponent does v Always try to move your opponent away from his/her central base – the exception of this is when you smash at an opponent’s body v Try to get the shuttle behind your opponent as much as possible – this results in the elimination of threatening |