Featured Image: Pierre-Yves Beaudouin
In the last entry in this series, we discussed the role of the rear court player. Now we will discuss the role of the front court player and how they contribute to the success of the overall strategy.
Most players are not naturally strong in the forecourt. Unless you have been coached, the front of the court is a pretty scary place and a lot of players try to get themselves out of that situation as quickly as possible. Even if it means giving up the strategic advantage of the attack.
This may be due to not understanding the role or just feeling that the game is too fast for them in this position. In the rear court, players have more time on the shuttle whereas in the forecourt the shuttle can seem more of a blur. However, the forecourt position plays a vital role in the partnership, helping to maintain the attack for the rear court player and finishing off the rallies.
The front court player’s role, in a nutshell, is to:
1. Set up the rear court player
2. Make interceptions in the front court and pressurise the opposing front court player.
3. Kill off weak replies at the net
Front Court Position
At the front of court, you should be square onto the net with your legs bent. This gives you a low centre of gravity and allows you to move quickly forward to the net for net kills and to either side of the net for wide responses from the opponent.
Best Place To Stand
Some people think that being at the net means being beyond the front service line and right in front of the net. However, this is not correct. There are only certain situations in which you should be so close to the net. When you’re pressuring an opponent after a net shot or block at the net, or you’ve anticipated a return from the opponent to the net are good examples.
In general, the best distance from the net is behind the service line. How far back from the service line is a matter of judgement. Some players come back as far as the midcourt, while others stand a little closer. You will be moving back and forward from the net depending on replies from the opponent.
The reasons why this is the preferred position when your partner is smashing is detailed below:
1. Gives you more time to react to the shuttle. Standing a little further back from the service line allows you to assess the flight path flight of the shuttle better than standing at the front of the net. If you stand too close to the net you have very little time to react and play your shot.
2. Allows you to move to in all directions towards the net. The above diagram depicts that you can cover the whole court from this position. If you stand too close to the net you’ve limited your ability to cover the net to basically only where you’re standing. This will make it extremely difficult to return wide shots from your opponent.
3. Give your greater range of shot options. There is relatively more space to manoeuvre your racket and body when you stand in this position. This allows you greater shots options. For example, you can extend the racket to play net shots and kills, play to either side of you or take the shuttle overhead on the forehand and in the around the head positions. When standing too close, realistically your only options are a block and a net kill. That’s assuming the shuttle happens to come where you’re standing.
Shadowing
The position in the above diagram is not the set position for the front court player. The base position will move depending on where the rear court player is attacking from. The forecourt player moves to the same side of the court as the rear court player is attacking from. Also known as shadowing.
It does not mean their position is so far across as to open the court. The position should still be relatively central but biased to the side the rear court player is attacking from. This is to cover any likely straight replies from the opponent on both the backhand and forehand sides. The more confident you are in your anticipation, the more you can bias your position to the same side as your partner’s attack.
As mentioned in my last article, a strong smash is much more likely to result in a straight reply from the opponents. This is demonstrated in the image below based on X’s attack on the forehand side. If the opponent plays a cross-court defence the front court player can still intercept this if their racket is up, by playing around the head or on the backhand.
Racket Position
At the front court, the player should always have their racket raised above the net. The reasons for this are similar to why the racket should be raised when receiving the serve.
Just briefly, I will list the advantages below:
1. Allows you to hit in a downward direction.
2. The racket is always ready to intercept. If you hold the racket below the net you have to raise your racket first which takes time and this will impact your ability to intercept the shuttle. It’s easier to drop your racket in the event you need to than to raise it.
3. Can easily adjust your racket position if the shuttle comes at you differently than anticipated. Holding the racket above your head gives you a range of motions you can play, including around the head so your area of interception is broader.
Watch Goh Liu Ying in the above video. Her racket is always up ready to intercept the shuttle. In addition, watch her movement and positioning on the court. She moves back and forth from the net and biases her base position to her partner’s attacking direction or where she knows he is going to attack. This comes with partnership chemistry. Because of this, she anticipates where the shuttle will be returned. She moves closer to the net when she knows she can finish the rally.
Grip
Unlike the rear court, you should hold the racket a little higher towards the shaft. This gives you more control over your shots at the net. Kim Ha Na in the photo above is a good example. Shots at the net require short sharp movements which are better played with a higher grip.
As generic advice that applies universally to gripping the racket, it should not be held too tightly. This is especially true at the net.
The wrist and finger power plays a little more of a role at the front of the court. Therefore if you hold the racket too tightly you cannot utilise your wrist or fingers to aid your shot.
Summary Of Front Court
This article was just to give a summary of the front court positioning and how you should best position yourself and your racket to be effective at the net. In the next article, we will look at shot choices at the front of court and which are most effective in which situations.
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