In badminton, doubles play is essential for teams looking to win. A well-executed doubles strategy can help a team achieve victory against an opponent with a more powerful singles lineup. To be successful in doubles, players must employ a variety of tactics and strategies. This article will explore some of the most effective ways to win in doubles.
Winning doubles is about executing your offense well and defending well against your opponent’s counterattacks. Understanding your opponent’s footwork is key to winning doubles. You can also target one player while you are on defense. Here are some tactics to follow during a doubles match.
Understanding the footwork
You don’t have to ignore footwork just because you have a court partner. You don’t have to cover all the court, but at least half of it needs to be covered by you. Badminton doubles can be a fast and frenetic game. It is important to keep your feet on the ground and move around constantly. Doubles require quick reactions and explosive movement, which is not the case with singles.
High-level doubles require quick feet and explosive recovery, as well as great anticipation. Mats Wilander is a seven-time Grand Slam winner and defines footwork “the game between shots.” Doubles is a team sport, which means that the success of each player relies on his or her partner’s performance. As such, doubles players must make sure that both partners are doing their part before attempting to win points.
A common mistake is to assume that their opponent doesn’t have a strategy. Doubles players should be proactive, active at the net, and never let their opponent settle into a rhythm. Find the best combination for you and your partner.
You may not have the advantage of footwork and if this happens, you can change your strategy so that it matches each other’s strengths. One advantage of playing badminton is that there are a lot of skills you need to acquire in order to play the game well. When you know what these skills are, you can develop your own strategy and plan of attack to win the game.
Serving in badminton doubles
In badminton doubles, the winning team will serve first in the next rally. The serve must be delivered from the left side of the court. The winning team will then rotate positions during the next rally, starting with the person who served last. The person who serves last will serve again, and so on. Serving in badminton doubles is similar to singles service, but requires a little more strategy.
One rule of serving in badminton doubles is that the shuttlecock must be below one meter (3.8 feet) above the net before it is considered a valid serve. A serve that hits the net is a valid serve, but it rarely happens. When it hits the net, it will skim it and bounce a bit, but will most likely go over the net. It is rare, but it does happen. When a serve hits the net, it will most likely be a mistake, so players must react to the change in direction.
When a team loses the service advantage, it loses the right to serve, so when the first team regains the service advantage, the second player on the winning team serves. The players on each team alternate serving and receiving the shuttlecock. The court dimensions are slightly bigger and wider in badminton doubles, but the rules are the same. In doubles, the server serves from the right side of the service court.
Choose the right shots in doubles
One of the most difficult shots in doubles is the return of the serve. Make sure to use your body to decide which shots are most effective. A good shot selection will also make your partner’s job easier.
Pass shots: While playing on the net, the goal is to get your opponent out of the middle and into the backcourt. If your team has two right-handed players, a down-the-line pass is ideal, as it is the most difficult shot for your opponent to make. It also works well against two left-handed opponents. It forces your opponent to make an error, but it will force your opponent to make a mistake.
Place your smashes with purpose
When you’re playing doubles, attacking is the key to success. When your opponent is on defensive, attacking with purpose and power is the way to win games. While reckless smashing is not optimal, attacking with purpose will keep your opponents on the back foot. While smashes from the back of the court often end rallies, it is often the front players who win points with the net balls they intercept.
Get your defensive positioning right
When playing doubles, it’s important to get your defensive positioning right. Singles players align themselves along the middle line of the court. In doubles, however, players should discuss who’s responsible for the middle line and who needs to shift into the center of the court to defend. In doubles, the defensive partner will shift into the middle of the court when their teammate returns a shot. The depth of the shift is also important, as it prevents the defensive player from blocking the shot coming into their range.
When playing doubles, you’ll want to stand about halfway between the center line and the doubles alley. Starting too far back will take pressure off your opponent and give them a wider court to hit. Ideally, you’ll stand between the center line and the service line, with the server and returner at approximately four feet apart. If your opponent is too close to the net, you’ll have a hard time hitting the ball.
In order to have a good defence and a great attack, badminton needs a lot of fitness related components. For example, you need good stamina to be able to run around the court quickly, you need good reflexes to hit the shuttlecock back, and you need good hand-eye coordination to hit the shuttlecock accurately.
Basic Doubles Formation
There are several different doubles formations to choose from, but the standard doubles formation is the most common. This setup allows baseliners to hit deep ground strokes cross-court, while the other team members cover lobs. It also provides each player with more space to correct errors. The standard doubles formation is ideal for most players. But it also helps both teams to get more time to prepare their attacks and defend against lobs.
The side-by-side formation is crucial when playing doubles. This arrangement allows both players to cover the full width of the doubles court, which protects them from smashes and drops. It also allows each player time to react to a smash, which can come close to the net.
Exercises and Drills for Doubles Players
Winning doubles requires quick reactions, accuracy and strength. You also need to understand your partner’s style and rhythm. Hence, you’ll need a range of exercises and drills that improve your game. These drills will help you develop the necessary skills and get used to your partner’s style. They can also help you become a better team player. Listed below are some of these exercises.
- No-bounce-doubles: This drill aims to boost your confidence at the net. This exercise involves playing aggressively. Using an aggressive style means controlling the net, not just hitting hard to win. Attacking the net is your goal. By doing this, you’ll learn to put pressure on your opponent. By performing aggressive drills, you’ll build your confidence at the net. You can also use this drill to help you learn how to play a point out at the net.
- Crosscourt: In this drill, each partner must hit the ball across the court. This is a good opportunity to practice attacking shots into the front corner and boasts. Try to play this game on the opposite wall from the usual practice. This will help you improve your crosscourts and ball control. This drill is essential for winning doubles. In addition, it’s a good way to improve your volleys.
- Random net drill: This net drill helps you develop your reflexes and agility.
Communication is key
Doubles tennis is won only if you communicate well. The first thing to remember is that you can’t yell at your partner. Instead, try to be positive and work together to break the opponent’s rhythm. Doubles is all about staying positive, regardless of whether your partner is an experienced player or a newcomer. Communication is as vital as serving or volleying. But how do you do it? You can follow some of these tips to help you improve your communication skills and win more doubles matches.
During each game, make sure to talk to your partner to know his/her strengths and weaknesses. Ask your partner about his/her favorite weapon on the court. Communicate before each shot, whether it is a volley or a serve. You should also ask your partner for feedback to help you both improve. Communication with your partner is key to a better team.
You should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of your partner when you play doubles. You should be supportive and not let bad behavior affect your play. To win in doubles, you must trust your partner and build confidence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, badminton is a complex and challenging sport that takes practice and skill to master. However, by following the tips provided in this article, you can give yourself a better chance of winning when playing doubles. Remember to focus on your footwork, choose the right shots, place your smashes with purpose, and get your defensive positioning right. And most important, communication is key in doubles play – make sure you are constantly talking to your partner and working together as a team.
