Badminton Singles Tactics #08, Service Low, High or Flick

Singles serving tactics are different from doubles serving tactics. Whereas in doubles the low serve is objectively best, in singles it’s hard to pick anyone serve to use as the default.

Players use high serves and low serves most of the time. Flick serves should be reserved for when the player spot a opponent's weakness, or when the player see that the opponent is rushing to the low serve. Drive serves should normally be avoided.

Find the opponent's weakness

As the server, a player can choose whether to start the rally with forecourt or rearcourt play. Where is the opponent weaker? Where is the server stronger? If the player's net play is better than the opponent’s, then the player can try a low serve. Conversely, if the opponent is good at the net but weak in the rearcourt, then the player can use a high serve. They player have to test the opponent’s responses, compare, choose the low serve or high serves.

Master the art of Badminton Singles Tactics & Movements. Learn when to use high, low, or flick serves to outsmart opponents and gain the upper hand.

When to use the badminton high serve

The player have to test the opponent’s response to high serves. Few players are able to play a powerful smash off a high serve, and many have difficulty making consistent contact with a vertically falling shuttlecock. The player may find that the opponent frequently mishits the shuttlecock when he plays a high serve. If yes, the player can do high serve.

The high serve is probably the best choice for most players, because the opponent is likely to be weak in the extreme rearcourt, and the player have plenty of time after serving to get ready for the next shot.

A high serve may be an unwise choice against a player with a violent smash, or with accurate, deceptive drop shots. At the international level, high serves are the most common serve in women’s singles, but are used only infrequently in men’s singles. Nevertheless, high serves are occasionally used even in world-class men’s singles. High serves should always be played towards the middle, not towards a corner.

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When to use the badminton low serve

This is the most common serve in high-level men’s singles, because it avoids the threat of a powerful smash. The low serve may be played either forehand or backhand; both are used at the highest level of play, although the backhand version is more common. If the player choose the backhand version, however, the player should also play a good backhand flick serve!

The player can play a low serve if he wants to guide the rally towards starting with net play. The player does not play low serve unless he can react quickly after serving! The player must be able immediately to cover both the front and the back of the court.

The low serve should be played straight to the service T, or directly at the receiver. It can be avoided playing this serve wide, because the player offer the opponent better angles of return and will have difficulty covering the straight replies.

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Playing a badminton low serve from a high serve action

The low serve is sometimes played deceptively, by beginning with a high serve action. Attempting this deception often leads to errors on the low serve; even international players tend to become disturbingly inconsistent when attempting this deception. The problem is simple: good high serve technique differs greatly from good low serve technique! The low serve requires a short, precise swing with a flat pushing action while the high serve requires a long, unrestrained swing where the racket comes from underneath the shuttle.

These hitting actions are too different for an effective compromise. As a result, attempting this deception will weaken at least one of the serves: either the low serve will become inconsistent, or the high serves will become too flat .

Furthermore, this deception is not especially useful. When thre player prepare to play a high serve, the opponent need not rush to move backwards and has plenty of time, and can therefore wait until ensuring the type of serve. This deception might catch out a few lazy players, but in the long run it’s not going to fool anyone. Sometimes, this deception is harmful. All it achieves is to make the serves less accurate. Players often opt for this deception because they are worried about their opponent anticipating the low serve. A better solution, however, is to use a flick serve.

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When to use the badminton flick serve

The flick serve is mainly useful as a variation for low serve. The purpose of this variation is to prevent the opponent from gaining an early advantage by anticipating the low serve.

Unlike the high serve deception described above, this service variation does not affect the accuracy of the low serve. Moreover, because flick serves place the opponent under movement pressure, this deception actually has a purpose other than vanity.

At high levels of play, the flick serve is usually aimed wide to the corner, and not towards the middle. This is because playing the flick serve wide creates greater movement pressure.

The flick serve must be played with enough height to prevent the opponent intercepting it in the midcourt; and it must land in the back tramlines. If the player fail to get enough height or length, then the opponent can play a violent smash. Many players will have difficulty achieving this when serving backhand and will need to develop good technique and strength for generating enough racket head speed.

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