Featured Image: Pierre-Yves Beaudouin
Just like my strategies and tactics series on doubles, we will begin where all rallies begin, the serve. There is a little less pressure on the serve in singles than in doubles but this makes it no less important. A good serve in singles can help to play to your strengths and create an initial advantage in the rally.
Serving Position
In doubles, the serve is played standing as close to the service line as possible. This allows the shuttle the cross and fall below the net in the quickest time. However, in singles, we cannot afford to bias our position so far forward because it opens up the rear court for the opponent to exploit. Therefore after you have served, you want to be able to ensure that you can adequately cover both the front and rear court.
The serving position is about a foot or two foot back from the service line. There is no rule set in stone for this. If you feel that you might struggle to reach the rear court you can adjust your position to be a little further back. However, as mentioned before you need to be able to cover potential returns of serve to the net as well!
You should also notice that the server stands close to the centre of court. Again this is to ensure that all potential shot replies are covered. standing too far to either side would open up the court and make it difficult to retrieve these shuttles.
Serve In Singles
In singles, there are two choices of serve. The high serve in which the shuttle is lifted high into the backcourt, or a short serve where the shuttle is played low to the net and to the opposing service line. Occasionally the flick serve is also used but is much rarer. Let’s discuss each in turn.
High Serve
As mentioned above, the high serve is played high into the backcourt using an underarm action. It’s essentially a lift.
Feet Position
When playing a high serve, the non-racket foot is placed forward. When using the high serve this allows for greater movement for the swing of your arm and more body rotation. This is part of what will allow you to get a good height and length on the shuttle.
Just try and perform a high serve with your racket leg forward. It feels very unnatural and awkward because it does not allow your body to rotate into the shot.
Relax!
Like with any shot in badminton, it’s hard to play a good quality shot if you’re too tense. Being tense during a high serve will reduce the energy transfer from your body to the racket and ultimately into the shuttle. The whole motion should be fluid.
How To Play The High Serve
I was going to write a section here about how to play the high serve, but to be honest it would probably make this article a little too long for anyone to fully read! Luckily Badminton Famly has created a great video taking you through the high serve step by step, starring former World Champion Thomas Leybourn!
Direction of Serve
Tactically the best place to play the high serve is to the middle of the court, (obviously within the serving boundary!) This limits the angles of reply available to the opponents. In addition, to the height of the serve, targeting the middle also helps to limit the penetration of the opponent’s attack through angled shots.
When you play the high serve to the middle, you can take up a fairly central position on the court and should be able to cover any potential replies from the opponent. Particularly when we consider downward attacking shots which might give your opponent the advantage.
When playing the high serve to the corner, aside from increasing the angles for your opponent, you also have to adjust your base position. In the example below, the serve would bias his base position slightly to the left in order to receive a potential straight smash. By doing so the right-hand side of the court becomes more exposed and therefore the angled shots become more dangerous.
Advantages Of The High Serve
- Neutralise attacking opportunities. We mentioned above about limiting the angles of reply. However, there are also two other advantages here:
- A serve right to the back of court means that a smash is likely to be less potent and therefore more easily defended. (“Easily” is used loosely here)!
- A high serve will result in the shuttle almost falling vertically. When you hit the shuttle, you’d want to hit the cork first as this provides more power and a cleaner shot. However, with a vertical shuttle, it’s difficult to do this. You’re more likely to hit the feathers first which can mean a loss of control of the shot. The vertical flight path can also cause mistiming of the shot.
- The height of the serve buys time for you to get into your base position and prepare adequately for your opponent’s shot.
- If the opponent is slow to recover to their base, then forcing them into the rear court with your serve will open up the frontcourt to exploit.
Low Serve
The low serve is played roughly from the same position on court as the high serve. The shuttle is played low over the net landing roughly on the opponent’s front service line.
Foot Position
Unlike the high serve, with the low serve the racket foot usually is placed forward. This allows more efficient movement to both the frontcourt and the rear court. This is only a marginal difference. Depending on the quality of your footwork, having your non-racket foot forward might not be such an issue. If you find it comfortable and it doesn’t hinder your retrieving of certain shots, then, by all means, carry on.
However, at the elite level, small margins make a difference. Having your racket-foot forward means you might only have to chassé to the net, rather than taking a step. This could mean you reach the shuttle earlier and therefore, in a better position to dictate the rally.
Forehand Or Backhand?
You might have seen people play the low serve on both the forehand and backhand side. Either is acceptable as long as it conforms to the BWF service rules. Both are seen at the professional level, but many players have a preference for the backhand low serve. It has often been quoted by that the backhand low serve allows for more deception, but honestly most good players will not be so easily fooled on a serve.
How To Play The Low Serve
The BWF have helpfully provided the below video describing the basics of the low serve. In both doubles and singles, the same technique is used. However, in singles, you may hold the shaft a little further down as it’s unlikely you will be trying to dominate the net the same way a doubles player would do. Another obvious difference is the distance from the net.
Direction Of Serve
Similarly to the high serve, the low serve in singles should be played to the middle of court. If you serve out wide, you put yourself under pressure. First of all, you have to follow the shuttle to cover the net, but also, the opponent has the whole court to play with. They can cross-court lift, straight lift, straight net or possibly a cross-court net.
If you serve straight, their most likely net response will be straight because it’s the point at which they can take the shuttle earliest. Perhaps they can play a little to the sides but not enough to put any real movement pressure on the server. Their only other option would be a lift to either corner if your serve is good.
Advantages Of The Low Serve
- Doesn’t give the opponent a chance to play attacking shots.
- Limited number of options for the opponent in reply to the serve. (If played straight).
- More potential to control the rally from the serve.
The High Serve and Low Serve At The Professional Level
The low serve is more prominently used in men’s singles than women’s singles. Because the male players are stronger, they are able to move back quickly and therefore a high serve is almost an invitation to allow the opponent to dictate the rally. Therefore the low serve gives the server the best opportunity to control the rally in the men’s game.
In the women’s game, the high serve is the serve of choice. Their attacking game is not as penetrating as the men, so it’s relatively safer for them to lift the shuttle. While both the men and women rely on moving their opponents out of position in singles, it is a more pertinent strategy in women’s singles. The high serve achieves this from the start of the rally, moving the opponent away from their base position.
Conclusion
I have said many times and will reiterate again here. The serve is the most important shot in the game. A good serve in singles will improve your chances of controlling the rally, therefore dictating the pace and improving your chances of winning the point. Like any other shot, it’s important to choose the serve which will give you the best advantage.
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