Types of Badminton Shots: Learn to Use the Badminton Clear, Drop Shot, Net Shot and Smash to Win Rallies

There are a few types of badminton shots that are commonly used in badminton games today.

On this page, you’ll get to know more about the various shots and how to use them wisely to win your rallies.

1. Defensive Badminton Clear/Lob

This is the most basic badminton shot. Every beginner should first master this.

The defensive badminton clear is performed to get you out of trouble.
In many instances, you’ll be under tremendous pressure by your opponent. This happens when your opponent plays at a faster pace and is firing continuous attacks on you.

A clear or lob is a good way to get yourself more organized while you’re under pressure and buys you some time to work yourself back into the rally.

Overhead Defensive Clear

Underarm Defensive Clear

The pictures above show you the flight trajectory of the defensive badminton clear. This shot can be performed using the badminton overhead stroke and the underarm stroke.

In the picture above, you’ll realise that the shuttle travels high up and deep into your opponent’s baseline.

The defensive clear keeps the shuttle in the air for quite a while. This gives you some extra time before your opponent is able to hit it.

Make use of this “extra” time to reorganize your footwork and get back into position.

Click here to see the tutorial for the defensive badminton clear.

2. Badminton Drop Shot

The badminton drop shot is semi-offensive. It’s performed from the back of the court and is usually used to maintain the pace of the game.

The defensive clear (explained above) slows down the pace of the game – because it keeps the shuttle in the air for quite a while.

The drop shot, on the other hand, maintains the pace of the game.

A drop shot performed at a steep angle lands on the ground quicker, compared to the clear or lob. Your opponent has to rush forward to retrieve it.

Hit the drop shot ONLY when you’re comfortable with the pace of the game. In other words, perform a drop shot when you’re playing at a similar pace or a faster pace than your opponent.

If you can’t keep up with your opponent’s pace, clear (or lob) the shuttle instead.

Click here for the tutorial page for badminton drop shot.

3. Badminton Smash

The smash is often known as the ‘winning shot’ in badminton. It’s used with the intention to end a rally.

The smash is one of the most powerful badminton shots (apart from the jump smash) that is fired from a steep angle.

However, when you decide to smash, you’re taking a risk. Smashing causes you to lose a certain degree of balance.

Thus, make sure that your smash will win you a rally point, or at least force a very weak return from your opponent.

In order to minimise your risks and ensure your smash works towards your advantage, you should:

Get behind the shuttle as early as possible so that you are able to hit the shuttle when it is still high up. This allows you to smash the shuttle at a steep angle.
Maintain extremely good body balance before you smash.
Make sure that your opponent is off-guard. This means that your opponent is not ready to retrieve the smash.

If you do not satisfy the conditions above, hit the drop shot instead and wait for another chance.

You’ll be taking unnecessary risks if you fire a smash without satisfying the conditions above.

Without you knowing, you may be giving your opponent the chance to counter your smash!

Click here to see the tutorial for the badminton smash.

4. Badminton Jump Smash

This is a more powerful version of the badminton smash. It is also one of the hardest badminton shots to perform.

To hit this shot, you will simply need to jump and hit the smash in mid air. This will:

Create a steeper angle for your smash
Enable you to inject more power into your smash

The badminton jump smash is the most powerful offensive shot in badminton.

Remember, the conditions for performing a smash (mentioned above in “badminton smash”)?

You’ll need to satisfy those conditions before performing the jump smash.

Click here to see the tutorial for the badminton jump smash.

5. Badminton Net Shot (Tumbling/Spinning Net Shot)

Badminton shots along the net (known as “net shots”) are used to create opportunities and dominate the front of the court.

It is a very important skill to help you win badminton rallies. A good net shot can force your opponent to perform a high lift/clear, so that you can play a winning smash.

A tumbling net shot enables the shuttle to tumble across just slightly above the net.

A tight spinning net shot will force your opponent to lift to the mid court area.

An extremely good net shot (shuttle lands on the top of the net and then drops to the other side) can sometimes be the ‘killer shot’.

Click here to learn the spinning/tumbling badminton net shot.

6. Badminton Net Kill

The net kill is a useful skill to end a rally when if your opponent executes a poor quality net shot (net shot that is too high).

When your opponent plays a net shot that is too high, strike with a net kill!

The picture above shows you the flight trajectory for the badminton net kill.

Click here to learn the badminton net kill.

7. Defensive Badminton Net Lift

In some instances, your opponent might be very good at net play. They may perform extremely good badminton shots along the net.

When you’re finding it difficult to retrieve your opponent’s badminton shots along the net, perform the defensive net lift.

If your opponent is playing extremely well along the net, do not hesitate to perform the high lift. This can prevent your opponent from striking with a net kill.

The net lift sends the shuttle high up to your opponent’s baseline. It is similar to the underarm defensive clear but the net lift is usually performed very closely to the net.

Therefore it is important that you practise to lift the shuttle high enough so that the shuttle won’t hit the net.

Click here to read more on badminton net lift.

8. Badminton Drive

Drives are fast and furious badminton shots exchanged horizontally across the net. One of the main reasons to hit the drive is to increase the pace of the game.