Badminton · Volley & net play

Tight net shots and tumbles

Rally net shot to net shot in the front court, brushing across the shuttle so it spins and tumbles over the tape.

P1P2
Start / 4
Time
10 min
Players
2–4
Age
U10+
Area
Front court
Equipment
6 shuttlesrackets2 throw-down lines

Setup

  1. Mark a net zone on each side, about a metre deep from the net.
  2. Pairs face each other across the net, each a step in front of their short service line; two pairs can share a court, one on each half.

How it runs

  1. One player starts with an underarm net shot; both then rally net shots only, straight or crosscourt.
  2. Every shot must land in the opponent's net zone.
  3. After two minutes of cooperative rallying, play games to 7: a shot that misses the zone, hits the net or sits up loses the point.
  4. Swap partners after each game.

Coaching points

  • Take the shuttle as high and as early as you can: the nearer the tape, the tighter the net shot.
  • Arm extended, racket out in front with an open face, wrist relaxed.
  • For a tumble, brush or slice across the base of the shuttle so it spins over the tape.
  • Lunge with the racket foot and keep the racket and body off the net.
  • Push back to a ready position, racket up, after every shot.

Common mistakes

  • Waiting for the shuttle to drop, then having to lift it.
  • Punching the shuttle so it flies high and loose.
  • Touching the net with the racket or body, which is a fault.
  • Squeezing the grip so tight that there's no feel.

Say it: “High, early, brush.”

Make it harder

  • Allow a push to the mid-court whenever a net shot rises above the tape.
  • Crosscourt net shots only.
  • A tumble that the opponent can't return cleanly scores 2.

Make it easier

  • Use a slower shuttle or lower the net.
  • One player hand-feeds; the other plays the net shot and the feeder catches it.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.