A Serve Receiver Positioned for Attack, but Expecting the Long Serve

Badminton: Mental Cue for Service Reception in Doubles

Dick Moss, Editor, PE Update.com

When receiving serve in doubles, many players lean forward near the front service line, racquet up, ready to pounce on any serve that's too high.

This is a good tactic, but rushing the net puts players at risk for a flick serve over their head. Part of the problem is their eagerness to attack the net. This mental focus on the net makes it difficult to react to a longer serve.

Coaching Cue
An effective tip for such players is to tell them to “Lean forward but think backwards.”

Since they'll be anticipating the longer flick serve, they'll get back faster to cover it. However, their proximity to the net will also allow them to react instantly to a low serve.

References:
1. Gord Smith, “Tips for coaching beginner/intermediate players.” [Online], 1995.
2. Bernd-Volker Brahms, Badminton Handbook: Training - Tactics - Competition, Meyer & Meyer Fachverlag und Buchhandel GmbH, 2010.

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