Featured Image: Ian Patterson
Anticipation in a badminton context is the ability to be able to predict where the opponent is going to play their shot. At the front of court, this skill is particularly impressive. Players such as Cai Yun, Hendra Setiawan and Zhao Yunlei make their interceptions look so easy. However, you’ll notice that not all professional players have this skill quite to the same level as others. All players have their relative strengths and weaknesses. This is one of the reasons why you’ll find strong rear court attacking players paired with players who are stronger at the net.
It is true that some people are naturally better at anticipating than others. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t learn this skill. Anticipation is not always about how fast you see the shuttle. It’s about how well you can read the game, how well you know your opponents and the shots that you or your partner play to create situations in which you know the outcome. This article will not focus on how to play the interception, but more on how you can improve your ability to intercept.
Proximity To The Net
I will be covering this in my next article so I do not wish to go into too much depth here. In general, you should not stand right in front of the net. Not only does this limit your movement, but the shuttle will also come at you much faster. So even if you anticipate correctly it’s much more difficult to react and play the shot. Standing a little further back gives you time to adjust yourself in order to make a clean interception.
Play Tactically
In order to anticipate returns at the net, you need to have faith your partner will play the right shots to encourage this. I covered the role of the rear court player previously. This plays a very big part in allowing you to cover returns from your opponents at the net. In the same way, the front court player must also set up the rear court player to maintain the situation where you can intercept the shuttle.
The more often you are exposed to these situations, the more comfortable you will become with them. An understanding will develop of where your opponents are going to hit the shuttle in response to your attack. From the front of court, the game seems much faster. As you’re put in these situations you will start to see patterns in gameplay. So although the game is still fast, you instinctively know where the shuttle is likely to travel to based on the attack from your partner. This will give you more confidence to intercept the shuttle.
Take Risks
Players who are in the forecourt position are often scared to intercept shuttles for fear of making a mistake. The only way you will improve is to go for those shots. Guaranteed, the first few times you try this you will miss the shot. You will not be confident enough in your ability. But it’s the same as learning any other skill in badminton. Over time it will become easier for you to play such shots. Then as you understand the flight path of the shuttle in different situations you will be more confident in cutting them out. I am not saying you will be able to intercept everything. But it will certainly give you the confidence to go for them more often. Watch the below video from 1.27 to see the great Hendra Setiawan make interceptions look easy.
Body Language
Next time you are playing, make a note to analyse the opponent’s footwork, body movement and position on court while they play certain shots. This sounds like a lot of information to take in. But actually, the human brain is exceptional at noticing little nuances once it’s been exposed to it enough times. Across the badminton season, usually, we will be playing against the same opponents. Whether it’s within your club or local leagues. So take notice of their body language. Even over the course of a match, you might notice certain actions of your opponent that give away what shot they’re going to play. Use this to your advantage.
Opponents Playing Style
Along the same lines, does the opponent have a certain way of playing? Do they play the same shot all the time when put under pressure? Do they like to play net shots more than a lift? Again if you can decipher these patterns you’ll be much better at anticipating responses from opponents. When your opponent’s game is predictable, it’s much easier to anticipate their shots and counterattack/kill replies. At higher levels, players do not give much away in terms of body language and will have a very direct playing style. It, therefore, becomes harder to read opponents. In these instances, you need to force situations in which known replies will occur.
Practice!
In order to get better at these shots, you need to practise. If possible get a friend or coach to drill you by playing you into situations in which you can practice your interceptions. You’ll find if your training is effective it will naturally form part of your game and you’ll be confident in your abilities to cut the shuttle out at the front.
Percentage Game
Anticipation in badminton is about recognising when is the right time to play an interception. It’s not about being able to read your opponent’s every shot. It’s more about recognising the situation, understanding the chances an opponent will play a certain shot and acting accordingly. You will not be able to cut out every shot from the front court. A little patience will ensure you take the shot you need to, not the shots you want to.
There are situations when you can be 80-90% sure of your opponent’s return and there are other situations where it might be more 50/50. It’s therefore important to calculate when is the right time to make your move.
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