Badminton Short Serve vs. Rushing Receiver
Practice of the backhand short serve used in doubles, where the receiver may attack any serve that floats too high. The server learns to skim the shuttle over the tape, and the receiver learns to read the serve and punish weak ones.
How to play
- Pairs on each half of a doubles court. Use flat disc cones to mark a 50 cm (20 in) strip just past the receiver's short service line (2 min).
- Technique: the server chokes up on the grip, holds the shuttle by the feathers in front of the waist, and pushes it with a short backhand stroke, no backswing. Ten serves with no receiver (3 min).
- Game: the receiver waits in the ready position and may attack as soon as the shuttle is served. If the serve lands in the strip and the receiver cannot hit down, the server scores; if the receiver hits it down, the receiver scores.
- Sets of 10 serves, then switch roles and record points (3 sets per role, 8 min).
- Debrief: each pair shares how high over the net the shuttle should pass (2 min).
Rules
- The serve is hit below the waist, as in the official rules.
- The receiver attacks toward the floor, never at the server's body.
- If the shuttle clips the net and goes over, re-serve.
- Shuttles are collected at the end of each set.
Variations
Easier
The receiver cannot attack and only returns softly to the net; the server aims for the strip.
Standard
The receiver may attack any serve that rises above the tape.
Harder
The server may mix short serves and flick serves, and the receiver must read which is coming.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: serve and receive seated with a wider target strip.
- Autism or shyness: start with serves only and join the game when the student is ready.
- Skill level: students who land 8 of 10 move on to the flick-serve variant.
Learning goals
- Perform the backhand short serve with a short stroke and no backswing.
- Send the shuttle low, just over the tape.
- Read the serve and attack those that rise too high.
Equipment for a class of 25
- rackets: 26
- shuttlecocks: 60
- nets: 4
- flat disc cones: 30
Teacher tip
The common error is flicking the wrist so the shuttle pops up; cue "push, don't hit," with the thumb behind the handle. Have every pair serve in the same direction.
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