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Badminton: Get the Foot Down First
in the Defensive Lunge Clear

Dick Moss, Editor, PE Update.com

Incorrect Technique—Foot Lands After Contact With the Shuttle
Incorrect Technique—Foot Lands After Contact With the Shuttle

The defensive lunge clear is used to clear the shuttle on shots dropping in front of your player. For example, on a drop shot near the net, players lunge forward with the racquet arm and front leg to reach the bird.

Footwork Error
Many players make a subtle footwork error when lunging forward for such shots.  They contact the shuttle before their front foot lands on the ground.

Why is this a problem? Because your players are still moving forward as the shuttle enters the opponent's court.  This slows their reaction to the opponent's next shot.

Correct Technique—Foot Lands Before Contact With the Shuttle
Correct Technique—Foot Lands Before Contact With the Shuttle
Correction
A better technique is to allow the front foot to land on the floor before contacting the shuttle.

This allows your players to instantly push backwards on contact with the shuttle, providing a quicker recovery and better preparation for the return shot. Having the front foot on the floor also provides better control on the shot.

Diagnosis
Your sense of hearing can help you diagnose this error: if you hear the player's shoe go thump before hearing the twang of the racquet, you know there's a problem.

References
1. Bernd-Volker Brahms, Badminton Handbook: Training-Tactics-Competition, Meyer & Meyer Fachverlag und Buchhandel GmbH, 2010.
2. Edith Hayman, Coaching Badminton Enrichment Clinic, Ontario Badminton Association, 1992.


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