The Lift – Underrated In Doubles?

What Is The Lift?

The lift is an underarm action which sends the shuttle high into the rear court. In singles, you might see it commonly as a high serve. This is much more the case in women’s singles than men’s singles but appears in both. However, in this video/article, we’re focusing on this shot in doubles.

When Is The Lift Used In Doubles?

In doubles, the lift is most commonly seen as a defensive shot to the smash. Sometimes the opponent’s attack can be very strong and difficult to counterattack. Therefore the lift is used to send the shuttle high and into the rear court. This helps to neutralise some of the opponents attacking power as the shuttle now has to travel a further distance, and also creates time for the defensive pair to prepare for the next attack by setting themselves in a stable defensive position. In addition, it can be used to be patient in defence while waiting for better opportunities to counter-attack.

Sometimes the opponent’s smash will come a little slower, or at a more favourable angle, or you might simply anticipate the smash better. So sometimes it’s better to be patient and wait for that opportunity.

Other situations include when the opponent may have played a shot to the net, and they are ready to pounce on any net reply. In these situations, it’s less risky to lift the shuttle than to take on the opposing frontcourt player. Particularly if their netplay is very tight to the net. However, if you can, you should strive to take on the opposing front court player as this will help you to improve your ability to not give away the initiative.

What Makes An Effective Lift?

There are several aspects to a good lift.

1. Height
2. Length
3. Movement Pressure

Height

The height of a good lift is very important. Many players in doubles sometimes think a shallow lift is a better option because they think it makes it difficult for opponents to hit the smash as the shuttle isn’t as high. The problem here is that you can’t hit a shallow lift with good length. So that shuttle will be punished by any opponents quick enough to attack that shuttle.

When you hit the shuttle high, the flight path causes the shuttle to fall vertically. While this might not seem like much of a benefit, it actually does have an important impact. Preferably, 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 loss of control of the shot. The vertical flight path can also cause mistimings of the shot.

Length

The length of the lift is important too. Ideally, your lift would be hitting the back baseline on every lift. Of course, this level of consistency is extremely difficult. A more achievable benchmark would be to aim between the two back tramlines. As mentioned, earlier, a good distance on the lift will help to mitigate the potency of the opponents smash.

Movement Pressure

Finally, a good lift in doubles will apply movement pressure to the opponents. Moving the opposing rear court player side to side prevents them from attacking from a stable base, and therefore reducing the strength of their attack. In addition, if the front court player has to move into the rear court to cover their partner, they will be taking the shuttle while moving backwards. Of course it would be preferred for them to take the shuttle while moving forward.

But You Should Never Lift The Shuttle Right?!

The whole game of doubles is based on the attack. Therefore both pairs will be working to achieve the lift from the other. Eventually, one pair will have to concede. In principle, you should aim to never lift the shuttle. However, in an actual game, this is impossible.

In situations where there’s no other conceivable option, you should lift the shuttle. Trying to avoid it in these situations will lead to unforced errors and shots which will be more easily punished by your opponent.

It is important to fight not to lift the shuttle, but it’s also important to know when you have to. It’s better to stay in the rally then lose to the point! Even the best players know that lifting the shuttle in order to reset is sometimes the best option.

A Constructive Shot?

A constructive shot is usually thought of as one which creates attacking opportunities. For example, a net shot attempts to force the lift and therefore it’s constructive. However, the lift itself is often not considered constructive.

Whether the lift is constructive or not depends on the strategy you’re employing. If you are playing mixed doubles, for example, part of your strategy will be to force the female player into the rear court. The lift will be one of the shots that will enable you to do this. So it might not be constructive to your attacking play, but it is constructive to at least part of your strategy.

Conclusion

The lift is not just a reactive shot in doubles. It has a particular purpose to minimise the opponent’s attack and giving you time to move into a stable defensive position. It’s not just lifting the shuttle for the sake of returning the smash. When you start to see the benefits of the lift, not just as a shot you shouldn’t play, you will understand more the right times to play it and recognise the advantages it can give you in certain situations.

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