You must be able to change quickly and accurately between different badminton grips, especially in a fast-paced doubles rally.
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You can practise changing grip at any time: all you need is a badminton racket. You can also practise changing grip by hitting the shuttlecock against a wall, alternating between forehand and backhand shots.
After you play a stroke, it’s often helpful to return to the basic grip: the basic grip helps you change quickly to other badminton grips.
Another option is the bevel grip. In my view, the bevel grip is slightly quicker for making grip changes, although not quite as versatile for hitting the shuttlecock. If you are forced to hit with the bevel grip before you have time to change, then that could be a disadvantage compared to the basic grip.
- Key tip
Remember, the bevel grip is very similar to the basic grip. Either of these grips is good for changing to other badminton grips.
If you hold the racket using the panhandle grip or the thumb grip, then it is much harder to change quickly to a different badminton grip.
For the most effective grip changes, hold the badminton racket lightly in your fingers. You can then change the angle of the racket by rolling the handle between your thumb and first finger.
Details of badminton grip changes
When you change between badminton grips, you need to start the rolling and then let go the racket handle momentarily. This allows you to reposition your fingers around the new angle of the badminton racket.
You can coordinate this with the movements of your arm and body, so that the badminton racket snaps into place without excessive manipulation by the fingers (which is slow). For example, when you play a backhand net kill, change to the thumb grip as you bring your badminton racket up and across.
This is also helpful when you need to change between short and long grips
(see grip length). For
example, you can release the racket handle as you bring your arm back for a
smash, letting the badminton racket slip from a short grip to a long grip. The
same grip change can be achieved by walking
your fingers down the handle,
but that method is slower.
When you change from the basic grip
to the panhandle or thumb grips, you have a choice of which
direction to turn the badminton racket. Normally, you should turn it anticlockwise for panhandle and clockwise for the thumb grip (clock directions as seen
looking from the racket butt towards the head), because these directions are
more coordinated with your wrist movement, and they also help you to use in
between
badminton grips (such as a partial panhandle).
Copyright © 2008–2012 Mike Hopley. All rights reserved.
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