Badminton: Shuttle Tour › Tips
36 badminton tips to play better
36 simple habits that help at any level, from your local club to a quick match on your phone. Each tip comes with a short video of the shot in Shuttle Tour, slowed down at the moment that matters. Videos only load when you tap them.
Play now1. Always recover to the center
The number one beginner habit: after every shot, get back to your base in the middle of the court. From there you can reach every corner, even the smash that was meant to end the rally.
2. Opponent at the net? Go deep
When your opponent rushes to the net, the back of the court is wide open. Lift the shuttle high and deep to the back corner and make them run the whole court.
3. Opponent at the back? Drop it short
The mirror of tip 2: when your opponent is stuck at the back, a soft drop shot just over the net is almost impossible to reach. Change the pace and make them run forward.
4. Hit the shuttle at its highest point
Don't wait for the shuttle to drop. Meet it as high as you can: the higher the contact, the steeper and faster your smash. In the video, the rally ends with a jump smash.
5. Never give up on a shuttle
A shuttle that looks lost is still in play. Go for it: every save gives you a new chance, and the diving save in the video turns into the point.
6. Change direction, go cross-court
If your opponent is waiting on one side, don't feed it. Change direction with a cross-court shot and the other side of the court is wide open.
7. Match point down? Be patient
Match point down and the rally goes on forever? Don't force it. Keep the shuttle in play and wait for the right one to attack. In the video it takes 60 shots, and patience saves the match point.
8. Smash coming? Stay ready
Racket up, knees bent, eyes on the shuttle. If you're ready, even a 234 km/h smash comes back, and the rally turns your way.
9. Smash the sideline
Build the point in three steps: play a short shot, wait for the high lift back, then smash it right along the sideline, away from your opponent.
10. Serve short
A short serve lands just over the net, so your opponent can’t smash it. They have to lift, and the attack is yours.
11. The diagonal run
Send the shuttle to one back corner, then to the opposite front corner. The diagonal is the longest run on the court.
12. Jump for the high ones
Drop it short, wait for the high lift, then jump and hit the shuttle at its highest point to smash it down.
13. Hit where they aren’t
Pull your opponent to one side, then send the shuttle to the side they just left open.
14. Attack, then step in
After an attacking shot, step in toward the net: a weak reply comes back short and you finish it there.
15. The cross-court drop
From the back corner, play a soft drop to the opposite front corner. It travels the longest way your opponent can run.
16. Serve deep
A high serve to the back line pushes your opponent back. If the reply comes short, punish the open corner.
17. The cross-court smash
A high ball on your left? Jump and smash it cross-court, away from where your opponent is waiting.
18. Change the pace
A few fast shots set a rhythm. Break it with a soft one and your opponent is caught going the wrong speed.
19. The straight drop
From the side, a straight drop down the same line is the shortest path to the net and arrives before they do.
20. Attacked? Block it short
When your opponent attacks from the back, don’t hit hard: block it softly over the net while they are still far away.
21. Use all four corners
Back, front, back, front: move your opponent through all four corners until one is left open.
22. Open the court
Drag your opponent to the net first. When the lift comes, smash it deep into the back court they left behind.
23. Disguise your drop
Send a few deep shots with the same swing, then play a soft drop. Same motion, totally different shot.
24. Loose at the net? Kill it
Stay close after a net shot. If the reply floats up loose, hit it down before it drops.
25. Long, short, long
Alternate deep shots and short ones. Every change of length makes your opponent run the full court.
26. Under pressure? Lift it deep
When you are under attack, lift the shuttle high and deep to buy time. Reset, and the next attack can be yours.
27. Attack the backhand corner
The deep backhand corner is the hardest place to return from. Aim there when you need a weak reply.
28. Two drops in a row
After a drop, your opponent expects you to go deep. Play another drop and catch them leaving the net.
29. Middle first, then the angle
Play to the middle to keep it safe, then find the angle when the sideline opens up.
30. Stretched? Clear it high
Out of position? Don’t force a winner. Clear it high, get back to the center and attack the next one.
31. Attack down the line
Pull them forward with a short drop, wait for the lift, then attack straight down the side of the court.
32. Push them back twice
Two deep shots in a row push your opponent to the back. When the reply comes up short, attack.
33. Don’t force it, wait for the high one
A short reply is not a smash chance. Lift it deep and wait: the high ball you can attack will come.
34. Keep it tight at the net
When they drop it short, reply even tighter: a net shot that barely clears the tape is almost impossible to attack.
35. Push it to the back
When both players are at the net, a quick push to the back corner leaves your opponent stranded.
36. Placement beats power
You don’t always need a jump smash. A well-placed attack into the open gap wins the point just as well.
Practice these shots in the game, for free
Every shot in the videos works in Shuttle Tour: recovering to the base, deep clears, drop shots, jump smashes, diving saves and cross-court shots. Practice against the CPU or invite a friend with a link. The controls are in How to play, and the official rules in Badminton rules. To watch the videos back to back, open the Badminton Tips playlist on YouTube.
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