One of the most common mistakes we see that impact a player’s success on the court is their grip choice. It is important to learn the correct grips as the wrong grip can reduce your power, minimise the control of your shots and increase the risk of injury.
The 4 grips used in badminton are:
- Forehand grip
- Backhand grip
- Bevel grip
- Panhandle grip
These 4 grips are all used for different shots, and it’s important to learn and practice each of them so that they become engrained into your game and are easy to perform in a match!
Forehand Grip: The Basics and Application
The forehand grip is one of the most basic and commonly used grips in badminton. Mastering this grip will help you achieve better control of your racket, allowing for precise forehand shots.
How to Grip:
- Pretend to Shake Hands: The simplest way to learn the forehand grip is by imagining you are shaking hands with someone. Position your index and middle fingers to form a “V” shape.
- Relaxed Hold: When gripping the racket, ensure your fingers remain relaxed. A tight grip will hinder your shot control and power, especially when you need to quickly change grips during play.
- V-Shaped Finger Position: The space between your index and middle fingers should form a “V”, which will allow for better control and stability during the shot.
The Forehand Grip is Used for:
- Forehand Clears: For powerful and accurate high shots.
- Smashes and Drops: Effective for aggressive plays such as smashes and drop shots.
- Forehand Net Shots: When the shuttle is close to the net, the forehand grip offers more control for precise net plays.
Backhand Grip: Precision and Power Combined
The backhand grip is often considered one of the more challenging grips to master. However, with proper technique, it becomes a powerful tool, particularly when dealing with backhand shots and plays at the net.
How to Grip:
- Position the Thumb: Place your thumb on the wider portion of the racket handle, with the racket face pointing towards the floor. Your fingers should remain relaxed and placed on the sides of the racket.
- Racket Face Angle: Keep the racket face pointing towards the floor to ensure better shot control when performing backhand shots.
The Backhand Grip is Used for:
- Backhand Clears: For clearing shots when you’re on the backhand side.
- Backhand Net Shots: Essential for quick reflexes and precise net play.
- Backhand Serves: For serving from the backhand side, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
Angle Grip: A Versatile Strategy
The angle grip is useful in situations where you need more flexibility, especially when hitting backhand shots from the backcourt. It provides a better angle and control, allowing for powerful and accurate shots in specific situations.
How to Grip:
- Start with the Backhand Grip: Begin with the basic backhand grip, then rotate the racket head slightly to angle the strings diagonally.
- Thumb Adjustment: For right-handed players, rotate the racket counterclockwise; for left-handed players, do the opposite. Adjust the thumb placement on the racket’s bevel to create the optimal angle for hitting the shuttle.
The Angle Grip is Used for:
- Backhand Clears from the Backcourt: Provides greater angle and power when clearing from the backcourt.
- Forehand and Backhand Net Shots: Can be used depending on your positioning at the net.
- Defensive Shots in Singles: If you’re caught out of position, the angle grip can help you return shots more effectively.
Panhandle Grip: Stability and Control
The panhandle grip is often considered the most natural grip for beginners. It is particularly useful when performing overhead shots and allows for a stable and controlled strike. Though it’s considered basic, the panhandle grip has specific applications during certain game situations.
How to Grip:
- Thumb Placement on the Side: Place your thumb on the side of the racket handle, squeezing it with your fingers to create a firm hold.
- Relaxed Control: Keep the grip light and relaxed to maintain ease of movement and fluidity when hitting overhead shots.
The Panhandle Grip is Used for:
- Backhand Clears: The panhandle grip provides good stability for overhead shots, especially for clearing from the backcourt.
- Net Recovery: When recovering the shuttle from the net on the backhand side, this grip allows for quick movement.
- Certain Net Kills or Drives: Depending on your position and preference, the panhandle grip can be used for some fast-paced net kills or drives.
How to Quickly Change Your Grip: Boost Your Badminton Skills
Being able to quickly and efficiently change your grip is a crucial skill for improving reaction time and shot quality in badminton. At first, you might feel overwhelmed by the different grips for various shots, but with focused practice, you’ll be able to switch grips naturally and seamlessly during your game. Here are some effective training methods to help you improve the speed and accuracy of your grip changes.
1. Practice Without a Shuttle: Familiarize Yourself with Grip Changes
The first step to mastering grip changes is to practice without a shuttle. This allows you to focus solely on switching grips smoothly and confidently, without the added challenge of hitting the shuttle.
- Visualize Shot Scenarios: Start by imagining you’re performing different shots (e.g., forehand clears, backhand defense, etc.) and determine which grip is ideal for each shot.
- Simulate Grip Changes: Practice the motions of changing grips without hitting the shuttle. This helps you develop muscle memory for each grip position and ensures smoother transitions during actual gameplay.
- Incorporate Basic Movements: Once you’re comfortable with grip changes, add in simple body movements, like simulating a footwork pattern or preparing to strike the shuttle. This will help you integrate grip changes with physical movement.
2. Add Movements: Introduce Racket Swinging
Once you’ve practiced grip changes without a shuttle, it’s time to add racket swinging into the mix. This stage helps you connect the grips to the actual shots and prepare for real-life situations.
- Basic Drills: Start with simple drills, like transitioning from backhand defense to forehand defense, or from backhand to forehand shots. Focus on smooth grip changes without worrying about shot accuracy or power.
- Wall Practice: If you don’t have a partner to practice with, try practicing against a wall. This allows you to simulate different shots while focusing on grip changes.
3. Introduce Game-Like Scenarios: Dynamic Drills
After mastering basic grip transitions, introduce more complex scenarios to simulate real gameplay. These exercises will improve your ability to make quick decisions about which grip to use in various situations.
- Unpredictable Shot Directions: Have a partner hit the shuttle to different parts of the court. After each shot, you’ll need to decide which grip to use. This helps train you to react quickly and change grips based on shot placement.
- Side-to-Side Movement: Practice moving side to side while performing net shots. Your partner can move you around the court, forcing you to switch grips quickly. This drill simulates the unpredictability of a real game and helps you react more fluidly.
4. Enhance Response Speed: Train with Real Match Conditions
To achieve fast grip transitions, you need to practice under conditions similar to an actual match. This will help you react instinctively and make quicker decisions during the game.
- Defense and Counterattack: In doubles, your partner will place the shuttle in different areas of the court, forcing you to quickly change grips to defend or attack. This type of practice sharpens your grip transitions while improving your defense and offensive response time.
- Combining Net and Backcourt Shots: Practice integrating both net and backcourt shots into your routine. This will help you adapt to different shot placements and quickly adjust your grip in any position on the court.
5. Speed and Fluidity: Focus on Transition Efficiency
At this stage, your goal is to improve the fluidity and speed of your grip changes. Focus on training yourself to switch grips rapidly without losing control of the racket.
- Speed Training: Set time limits for each shot and challenge yourself to change grips as quickly as possible. Practicing under time constraints will help you react faster and make your grip changes more precise.
- Consistent Practice: Grip transition speed and fluidity improve with consistent practice. By repeating drills that simulate real match conditions, you will develop an intuitive understanding of when to switch grips.
Professional Tips for Faster Grip Changes:
- 保持手指放松：避免握拍过紧。放松的握法可使握拍转换更快、更顺畅，而紧握则可能减慢您的速度。
- Anticipate Opponent’s Shots: Being able to predict where the shuttle will land helps you make grip changes faster and more accurately. By reading your opponent’s movements, you can prepare your grip in advance for the next shot.
- Continue Practicing: To master quick grip changes, practice consistently. Every practice session should simulate match conditions as closely as possible to help you react faster and more naturally during games.
In practice, top athletes have become comfortable adjusting their grip and quickly choosing the most appropriate grip position, often happening so naturally that they don’t even realize it. Behind this ability is the mastery of subconscious level skills accumulated through countless repeated practices. It is this unconscious ease of operation that marks the technical maturity of an athlete.
Similarly, the ultimate goal in learning any skill is to translate those skills into natural, fluid movements that become part of the reaction chain, rather than relying on deliberate thought and effort. We hope that each student can gradually turn these techniques into their own instinctive responses through continuous practice and reflection, so that they can be more comfortable in practical applications. In this way, you will not only make significant progress in practice, but also stand out in future challenges with these internalized skills.
