How to Improve Badminton Footwork

A badminton player who has mastered all the strokes but who is flat footed and unable to move around the court will be at the mercy of opponents who are more nimble on their feet. Here are some steps to improve badminton footwork.

Instructions

1. Skip for at least 10 minutes a day. This is reputed to be one of the best and quickest ways to develop the ability to move around the court as it keeps you on your feet at all times.

2. Hire a coach or solicit the help of a better, more experienced player who can guide you on how to improve your footwork. Alternatively, watch recordings of professional players and study and emulate their footwork.

3. Practice shadow badminton exercises so you can move based on instinct rather than having to consciously think about where you need to go next.

4. Place shuttlecocks on their sides at each corner of the court . Then, move as quickly as possible from each corner to the next and place the shuttlecocks upright. This drill will help improve your speed and balance. Time yourself to track your improvement over time. As you get better, increase the challenge with additional shuttlecocks along the sidelines.

5. Listen to the sound your feet make as they land on the court. Good footwork is represented by minimum sound as you make your way across the court. The less sound, the better you have learned to absorb the pressure of your weight and maintain proper balance as you move around.

6. Stay alert, but allow your legs and body to remain loose and relaxed so that they can react quickly when they need to move into action. If you are tense, you will tend to move slower.

7. Come in heel first on your racquet foot when lunging forward to the net. Extend your non-racquet arm behind you to improve your balance. Your heel will absorb the pressure and the weight of your body better, and you will be more balanced on your lunge.

8. Move back fast on your first step after your lunge, but slow down on your final step. If you charge back to the center of the court in your final step, an experienced opponent can easily return the shuttle to where you originally were and put you off balance.

9. Play half-court singles. This forces you to focus on basic techniques and footwork as you will be unable to rely on cross court shots to buy time or get out of trouble as you would on a full court.

10. Practice hard and play hard. You will improve.