Badminton Glossary: Explanation of the most important Badminton terms – Part III
As beginner or even as an advances player or coach some terms used by other players or coaches are sometimes leaving question marks. This Three-Part-Series covers most of the terms used. Part II covers Badminton footwork.
Ready step – the step backwards form the lunge or push step position with your lead leg to get in an anatomic better position for a quick return to the center of play (not to mingle with plyo or split step or timing step)
Split step – or plyo step is the movement called before the opponent hits the shuttle. In offensive play it could be a small jump while in defensive situation it is normally a disengagement from the feet and the ground while the body’s center of mass is lowered
Plyo step – see split step
Timing (ready) step - see split step
Push step – the lunge like step at the net in offensive position or rear court in defensive position
Lunge – see Push Step
Directional step – the movement after the split step to get the body in a better position for quick push towards the shuttle. There are different ways depending on the athletes abilities and tactical situation. The principle is the same – the pushing foot needs to be brought away from the center of mass in the direction opposite the intended way to the shuttle and one leg is place slighty towards the shuttle. Different players use different legs to do so, both with advantages and disadvantages
China jump – a parallel jump or sidestep jump mostly done in offensive or counter situations to intercept the flight of the shuttle in midcourt in singles or sometimes also in front court in doubles
Chasse jump – see China jump
Chasse step – see side step
Side step – a parallel movement using several lateral pushes while the legs are not crossing, also seen for example in fencing
Crossover step – a parallel movement using several lateral pushes while the legs are crossing, slower as a side step but covers more distance. Also the start movement sometimes are called cross overs where the pushing leg overtakes the front leg
Scissors jump – the jump backwards initiated be the pushing of the racket leg and a change of legs in the air initiated by hip extension and hip and trunk rotation, landing position with non-racket leg behind the body and a kick with the front leg forwards that hits the ground a slight moment after the back leg (but almost at the same time – only fraction of seconds difference)
Malay step – a small step with the non-racket leg backwards while moving in the round-the-head corner, sometimes called double hop
Round-the-head – the backhand corner is sometimes called round-the-head corner as forehand shot with some pressure are hit over or even left of the left shoulder – this makes it possible
Footwork – normally the specific running technique is called footwork - in the Badminton context footwork is sometimes associated with quick feet exercises that are used widely in the sport
Diemo Ruhnow
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About the author:
Diemo Ruhnow is currently working as Head National Coach Doubles for the German Badminton Federation. 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.
