Badminton Glossary: Explanation of the most important Badminton terms – Part III

Longline – shots that are hit straight are called longline shots

Crosscourt – shots that are hit diagonal are called cross or cross court

Clear – a stroke that is hit into the rear court to make the opponent move there and create space in the front, sometimes played to have enough time after a defensive situation (see defensive clear)

Offensive clear – a flat clear or delayed clear used to pressure the opponent in the rear court Delayed clear – a clear with delay to destroy the opponents split step timing, sometimes in addition with the deception of an incoming drop shot

Defensiv clear – a very high clear, played to have enough time after a defensive situation

Drop – or drop shot is a stroke called that is hit into the fore court

Cut drop – a drop shot with deception that is created with cutting the shuttle

Net drop – a drop shot at the net

Stop – the short (drop shot) return of a drop shot at the net is sometimes called stop Backhand Serve – a service performed with the back hand, commonly used in doubles and men’s singles but also more and more often seen in women’s singles

Deceptive shot – a feint shot or shot with deception, one show’s one or two possible strokes but at the end performs a different one into an other corner. Used as a tactical solution. Sometimes played for fun.

Delayed shot – a shot that is resolved at “the last second”, before the point of impact the opponent does not know where the shuttle flies to, the moment before impact the racket head is usually moving extra slow towards the shuttle

Feint shot – also trick shot, see deceptive shot

Trick shot – see deceptive shot

Flick – a shot played from the net or sometimes mid court just over the reach of the opponent into the deep rear court corners

Swip – see flick Lift – depends on which background it can be a clear, high clear or flick from the net or underhand position

Serve - or service is the first stroke called that brings the shuttle into play

Return – or service return is the second stroke following the service is called Short serve – a short serve into the fore or mid court to make it difficult for the opponent to attack in the return

Flick serve – a service used in both singles in doubles as alternative to a short serve to make the opponent have to move into the rear court quick, often also to surprise the opponent

High serve – a high service mainly used in women’s singles that is hit as high and wide as possible

Net kill – a stroke near or at the net that is hit to finish the rally, either direct on the ground or into an difficult area to return

Drive – a fast and flat shot used for counter or neutral situations

Push – a controlled flat shot used for controlled counter or neutral situations

Sliced shot – a cut shot normally cut under the shuttle with cut direction towards the net is called slice

Tumple Net Shot – a cut drop shot at the net that tumbles so that the shuttle is harder for the opponent to kill or even to return in a controlled manner

Spin Net Shot – a cut drop shot that spins in either on dimension (see tumple net shot) or even better is tumbling and spinning around his center of mass that makes a return even more difficult

Wood shot – or frame shot is a legal shot that is accidently hit with the racket frame

Carry – a return that is caught with the racket thrown over the net, sometimes referred as a sling or thrown (shot). This is legal as long as is a continuation of a normal stroke and not a multiple hit. These accidental shots have not been legal a long time. Against the rules would be to catch and throw (by purpose).

Forehand – strokes or shots where the palm of the hand in the moment of impact points towards the net are called forehand shots, most of the shots are played on the racket hand side (right side for right handers)

Backhand - strokes or shots where the back of the hand in the moment of impact points towards the net are called backhand shots, most of the shots are played on the non-racket hand side (left side for right handers)

Underhand – strokes that are hit with the racket head under the height of the hand or strokes that are hit with the racket head pointing left or right out of the court and the string surface pointing up (with shuttles that moving up)

Sidehand – strokes that are hit with the racket in neutral positions and the string surface pointing up towards the net at the impact of the shuttle and the shuttle is traveling straight towards the opponent, mostly flat, sometimes with small angles as in a flick

Overhand – offensive positions where the racket head is pointing up and the string surface pointing up towards the net, shot like offensive push, block, drive and kills are played – often used in doubles also for net shots and deceptive lifts

Overhead – strokes being hit over the head as clear or smash

About the author:

Diemo Ruhnow is currently working as National Coach for the German Badminton Federation, responsible for Women’s Double and Strength and Conditioning Training for the Women’s Team. In his free time he writes for his websites http://www.badminton-training.com (English), http://www.badminton-training.de (German) and other Badminton journals.

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