Doubles rotation after the lift

Setup

1. Pair A starts front and back in attack; pair B starts side by side in defence.
2. Pair B are the working partners at first: they play the set shots so pair A can learn the routes.
3. Clear stray shuttles off the court between repeats; the rotation routes cross the whole half.

How it runs

1. A1 smashes from the back. B2 blocks short to A2's side of the net, and A2 has to lift.
2. As A2 lifts, A2 backs out down their own side and A1 slides across to the other half: side by side.
3. B attack front and back. B1 smashes at A2, who blocks short; B2 is forced to lift.
4. The lift goes to the rear corner on A2's side. A2 moves back to attack and A1 moves forward to the net: the pair has rotated.
5. Run the pattern at walking pace, then at match pace; after five clean repeats swap so pair B rotates.
6. Finish with free rallies from the same start, scoring a point for every rally where both players rotated in time.

Coaching points

• The player who lifts usually backs out on the side they are on; the partner covers the other half.
• When your side is lifted to, the player on that side goes back; the partner takes the front, near the middle.
• Move in a circle, not a cross: partners should never have to run past each other.
• Start moving as the shuttle goes up, and be set before the opponent hits.
• Call it early: 'mine' from the player going back, 'front' from the partner.

Common mistakes

• Both players chasing the same lift.
• The front player retreating straight backwards into the partner's path.
• The back player staying back after the lift instead of moving across to defend their half.
• Arriving in position but still moving as the opponent smashes.