Coaching

Emphasis once again on kick-through on striking overheads, correct striking action (V shape, L shape and then pronate as you strike through), bouncing as your opponent strikes the shuttle to prepare you for movement to the shuttle.

Remember the 4 parts to the shot cycle – (1) Prepare to move (bounce)    (2) move    (3) execute the shot   (4) recover. 

Recover to your base is most important.  It prepares you for the next shot in the rally, thereby giving you that extra half second that may make all the difference.  Your “base” is elusively defined as “the best place from which to start the next shot cycle”.  This means that you must (a) have a reason for playing your shot  (b) understand what your opponent will do in certain circumstances (c) anticipate what and where the return may be  (d) move to probably the best place to cover the most likely return(s).  Easy really !!

Homework as normal.  You should be up to 400 skips daily by now.

Following on from last week, remembering to do the split/bounce every time your opponent hits the shuttle.

Also, the action that we use to strike the shuttle.  V shape as the racket comes back (strings facing down of course), L shape as the racket comes up in the vertical plane, forearm supinated. Then strike by swinging and pronating the forearm. A lot to remember I know, but practise will make it all automatic.

We spent some time on the net-kill.  Key points are

(1) take the shuttle at the net, not back at the service line!  

(2) Pan-handle grip.  Yup, this is the one time I’ll let you use it !  

(3) No big swing needed! Just a fast tapping action to snap the shuttle downwards  

(4) You’ll hit this shot in a hurry, so you’ll probably have leapt at this, and hit the shuttle before your feet hit the ground.  All-or-nothing shot; total commitment !  Gail Emms is a master at this.

Don’t forget, this net-kill shot applies equally to men and ladies.  Very useful in Level doubles as well as Mixed.  Once we all get the hang of doing the forehand, we’ll have a go at the backhand.

Homework – as normal, skipping and arm rotation.  Practise your footwork drills please.

Looking mainly at fundamentals again this week. 

Split-step, or bounce, every time your opponent(s) hit the shuttle, in preparation to move towards the shuttle in order to play your next shot.

Fundamental action in striking the shuttle – the turning (or pronation) of the forearm.  Particularly obvious in forehand overheads, this fundamental movement prevails throughout badminton strokes.  The forearm turns as you are striking the shuttle, so that you use the large muscles in the forearm (as well as the wrist) when striking the shuttle.  It is imperative that the correct grip is used.  Also, try to relax right up to the point of impact, at which time you should grip the racket tighter, to further emphasise the muscle usage. Relax immediately afterwards.  When you get the hang of that, then move on to turning the forearm the opposite way just before you strike the shuttle, so that you turn it slightly one way before turning it the other way to strike the shuttle.

Homework:

Skip at least 300 times daily.  Try 5 minutes every day, aiming to do between 60 and 80 skips every minute.

The “water drips on the ends of your fingers” exercise, to build up the pronation/supanation muscles.  Remember you want the sudden stop at the end, and the “swan’s neck” shape of your bent arm and wrist.

2 minutes daily on the arc-step, or kick-through.  Remember the 1-2-3 count, weight moving forwards, elbow kept high, V-shape then L-shape then hit.