Badminton Footwork Part 1

Badminton footwork is the study of how badminton players move around the court, with a special focus on the feet.  There are many aspects to footwork and movement that lead to efficient and effective technique. Conversely, there is much footwork that can lead to poor movement and injury.  This first article on footwork will attempt to break down movement on the court into the most important aspects.  The most important aspect of footwork must be to minimise injury.  Secondary to that, increasing speed around the court is the aim of good footwork.  The footwork in singles is essentially more critical than it is in doubles. There are a couple of reasons for this: the first is that the player must cover more distance, and they do not have the benefit of a partner. There are three basic steps in badminton:

• Walking or jogging
• Side lunging
• Rotational lunging

The most basic step in badminton is something that we do every day of our lives, that is simply walking.  This step is the most correct way to move forwards and backwards. Surprisingly, some people are confused about how to walk. There are two basic ways that we propel our bodies forward.  The first is walking, or jogging which is based on walking, and the second is sprinting. The fundamental difference between them from a footwork point of view is observed when the foot is placed on the floor, or the ground. In sprinting, the ball of the foot strikes the ground first.  In walking and jogging, the heel of the foot strikes the ground first.  This simple detail accounts for many movement difficulties and injuries.

The second most basic step in badminton is the side lunge.  This movement is used to move from side to side.  Both feet face forward with respect to the body.

There is another movement that is used to move to the side and that is a rotational lunge. The main difference between side lunging and rotational lunging is the direction that the lunging foot faces.  The lunging foot faces forwards with respect to the body in a side lunge, whereas it faces the direction of movement in a rotational lunge.

These three basic movements are used in the vast majority of badminton movements. There are exceptions, of course, but the exceptions are generally a sign that a player is moving in an uncontrolled way.  For example, a player sprinting on the court indicates that the player is not in control.

Technical mastery of these three basic movements can help to reduce the risk of injury and to increase speed of movement on the court.  Mastering these movements is more important than performing numerous drills with poor footwork.