Basic badminton shots for beginners: clear, drop, smash, net shot, drive and footwork

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Almost every rally in badminton is built from five shots. Learn what each one is for, and how to move to the shuttle in time to play it, and you can hold your own in club games. This guide explains each shot and the footwork that makes it possible.

The clear

The clear is a high, deep shot from your back court to your opponent's back court.

An attacking clear is flatter and faster, aimed just over the opponent's reach to push them back.
A defensive clear goes higher, buying you time to recover to the centre.
Use a full overhead throwing action, turning side-on and hitting the shuttle in front of your head at full stretch.

Clears are the first test of a beginner: getting the shuttle all the way to the back line from the back of your own court takes timing more than strength.

The drop

The drop is a gentle shot from the back of the court that falls just over the net.

Disguise it with the same preparation as a clear or smash, then slow the racket at contact.
A slow drop lands close to the net; a fast or sliced drop gets there sooner but lands a little further back.
A good drop forces your opponent to lift, which gives you the attack.

The smash

The smash is the steep, powerful downward shot that wins points outright.

Hit the shuttle in front of your body, at the highest point you comfortably can, with the racket face angled down.
Power comes from the body's rotation and forearm, not from swinging the arm hard alone.
Aim at the sidelines, or at the opponent's body, especially the racket-side hip, where returning is awkward.
Do not smash from the very back of the court. The shuttle slows quickly, and a tired smash from deep is easy to return.

The net shot

Net shots are played from the front of the court and drop just over the net on the other side.

Take the shuttle as high and early as you can, close to the tape.
Use a soft touch with the racket in front of you; a spinning or tumbling net shot makes the shuttle hard to control for the opponent.
From a good net shot, the opponent can only lift, which sets up your attack.

The drive

The drive is a flat, fast shot that travels parallel to the floor, just over the net.

Used mainly in doubles and in mid-court exchanges.
Keep the racket up in front of your body and use short, punchy swings rather than big backswings.

Footwork basics

Most beginners lose points not because they cannot hit the shot, but because they arrive late.

The base: after each shot, return to a central position, roughly in the middle of the court and slightly behind the front service line in singles.
The split step: just as your opponent hits, make a small hop that lands with both feet apart. It loads the legs so you can push off in any direction.
Moving to the front: lead with your racket-side foot into a lunge, keeping the knee over the ankle rather than past the toes.
Moving to the back: turn side-on and use chassé steps (sliding, without crossing your feet) or a crossover step to get behind the shuttle.
Recover: push back to the base immediately after hitting.

Shadow footwork, moving to the six corners of the court without a shuttle, is one of the most useful things a beginner can practise.

A simple practice routine

Pair clears back and forth to build length and timing.
One player clears, the other drops; then switch roles.
Net shots across the tape, trying to keep the shuttle tumbling.
Finish with a few minutes of shadow footwork.

Which shot gives you the most trouble? Ask your question, or share the drill that finally fixed it for you, in the comments.