Grip and ready position

Setup

1. Players spread out across one half of the court facing the net, each with a racket and at least two racket lengths of space.
2. The coach stands on the other side of the net where every player can see them.

How it runs

1. Forehand grip: the coach holds a racket out edge-on and each player shakes hands with the handle, fingers slightly spread, so the thumb and first finger make a V along the thin edge.
2. Backhand grip: turn the racket a little in the fingers so the pad of the thumb rests flat on the wide back of the handle.
3. Ready position: feet a little wider than the shoulders, knees soft, weight on the balls of the feet, racket up in front at chest height.
4. The coach calls 'grip check' at random times; players freeze and the coach checks a few hands.
5. Then the coach points forward, back or to the side: players take one or two steps that way, reach with the racket and come back to ready.

Coaching points

• Hold the handle loosely, near the end, so the racket can turn in the fingers.
• Racket up in front before the coach points, not after.
• Push off the balls of the feet and land back in ready with the knees bent.
• Eyes on the coach (later on the shuttle), not on the feet.

Common mistakes

• The frying-pan grip: hand on top of the handle with the racket face flat to the floor.
• Standing tall with the racket hanging down by the knee.
• Squeezing the handle so hard the wrist locks.
• Drifting away from the start spot instead of coming back to it.