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neurologyYou need to know

• The service line in badminton marks the front edge of the service box, and for a serve to be legal the shuttle must land inside the diagonal service box on the opponent's side.
• The service box is the rectangular target area diagonally opposite the server where the shuttle must land for the serve to count.
• In a basic backhand serve, the player grips the racket with the thumb on the flat side of the handle, stands with the racket foot forward, and holds the shuttle by the feathers in front of the body.
• In a backhand serve, the whole shuttle must be below 1.15 metres at contact, the racket must first strike the shuttle's base using a short action controlled by thumb and finger pressure, the shuttle must travel upwards, and the racket movement must continue forwards.
• In a basic forehand serve, the player uses a forehand 'handshake' grip, stands with the non-racket foot forward at a slight angle to the net, and swings the racket from behind the body towards the shuttle.
• In a forehand serve, the whole shuttle must be below 1.15 metres at contact, the racket must first strike the shuttle's base during an underarm action, the shuttle must travel upwards, and the racket movement must continue forwards.
• A short serve should travel low and flat, passing as close as possible over the top of the net and landing near the front of the opponent's service box.
• A deep serve should travel high and long, aiming towards the back boundary line of the opponent's court.
• In singles scoring, the server stands in the right service court when their own score is even and in the left service court when their own score is odd.
• A serve is a fault if the shuttle does not cross the net or lands outside the opponent's correct service court.
• In an overhead forehand action, the player stands side-on to the net with the non-racket shoulder facing forward, weight on the back foot, and the racket arm raised in an 'L' shape behind the head.
• To generate power in an overhead forehand shot, the player keeps the racket arm relaxed, uses body, shoulder, and forearm rotation, transfers weight from the back foot to the front foot, leads with the elbow, tightens the grip at contact, and follows through across the body.
• An overhead clear is an overhead shot (forehand or backhand) played high and deep towards the back of the opponent's court to push them away from the net.
• An overarm drop shot is played from an overhead preparation with a gentle touch at the highest point so the shuttle just clears the net and lands near the front of the opponent's court.
• An underarm drop shot is played from below waist height with a soft, controlled swing in front of the body so the shuttle barely clears the net and falls close to it.
• A smash is a powerful overhead attacking shot in which the shuttle is hit at full reach and driven steeply downwards towards the opponent's court.
• Keeping the elbow too low during overhead shots reduces power and control, leading to weaker and less consistent strokes.

• Execute a legal backhand serve by adopting the correct grip and stance, keeping the whole shuttle below 1.15 metres at contact, using thumb and finger pressure in a short action to strike the shuttle's base first, continuing the racket movement forwards, and sending the shuttle upwards into the diagonal service box.
• Execute a legal forehand serve by using a forehand handshake grip, keeping the whole shuttle below 1.15 metres at contact, swinging the racket underarm from behind the body to strike the shuttle's base first, continuing the racket movement forwards, and sending the shuttle upwards into the correct diagonal service box.
• Apply the service rules in singles by standing in the correct service court for even and odd scores, keeping feet inside the service box, and correctly identifying common service faults.
• Maintain a simple rally using overhead forehand shots by moving into position, contacting the shuttle at its highest point in front of the body, and directing it consistently back over the net.
• Perform an overhead clear by preparing side-on, using weight transfer and body rotation, and striking the shuttle high and deep towards the back of the opponent's court.
• Play an overarm drop shot by beginning with an overhead preparation, then using a gentle, controlled contact at full reach so the shuttle drops just over the net into the front court.
• Play an underarm drop shot by stepping forwards, swinging the racket softly from below waist height, and guiding the shuttle to clear the net by a small margin and land close to it.
• Perform a basic smash by preparing side-on, reaching up to contact the shuttle at full height in front of the body, using shoulder and forearm rotation with a relaxed racket arm, tightening the grip at contact, and driving the shuttle steeply downwards into the opponent's court.
• Recover to a ready position after each overhead or underarm shot by pushing off the front foot, returning to a balanced stance, and staying light on the feet to prepare for the next stroke.