Short Serve

Learning Outcomes

Understand the purpose and types of short serves (forehand and backhand).

Demonstrate proper grip and stance.

Perform a consistent short serve with correct trajectory and placement.

Description Of Activity

Explain the purpose: Used to force weak returns or limit opponents attacking opportunities.

Show video or live demo of both forehand and backhand short serves.

Highlight rules: serve must be hit below the waist, shuttle must land in front service box.

Technical Breakdown (15 minutes)
a. Grip
Forehand Serve: Basic forehand grip (handshake grip)

Backhand Serve: Thumb grip (thumb placed on wider bevel)

b. Stance and Position
Stand behind the short service line, feet shoulder-width apart.

Non-racket foot slightly forward.

Racket head pointing down.

c. Swing & Contact
Forehand: Gentle push motion, short backswing, shuttle dropped gently.

Backhand: Push shuttle with slight wrist flick, contact shuttle in front of body.

Shuttle should just clear the net and land close to the front service line.

 Drills & Practice (20 minutes)
a. Shadow Practice (No Shuttle) 3 mins
Practice the motion repeatedly focusing on grip and contact point.

b. Wall Practice 3 mins
Stand near a wall and serve against a target area marked on the wall.

c. Target Serve Drill 7 mins
Place cones or boxes in the front service area.

Students serve 10 shuttles aiming to land inside the target.

Encourage precision over power.

d. Partner Practice 7 mins
One student serves, the partner catches and returns shuttle.

Switch roles after 10 serves.

Encourage feedback and peer coaching.

Game-Based Activity (5 minutes)
Short Serve Challenge:

Divide into teams.

Each player gets 5 serves.

Points awarded for accurate serves into target zones.

Friendly competition to reinforce learning.

Assessment & Feedback (5 minutes)
Observe technique and consistency.

Use checklist:

Correct grip?

Proper stance and contact?

Shuttle lands in correct zone?

Provide individual feedback or video review if possible.

 Cool Down & Review (5 minutes)
Light jogging, deep breathing.

Gentle stretching (shoulders, wrists).

Quick recap: What did you learn today?

Set next goal: practice consistency, serve under pressure.

Equipment/Material Required

Badminton rackets (one per student)

Shuttlecocks (plenty for repeated practice)

Badminton court with net

Cones or markers

Whistle and stopwatch (for timing drills)