There are a few fun tricks that you can learn with a badminton racket. However, one of the most fun is using the racket to get the shuttlecock off the floor.
So, how do you pick up a shuttlecock with your racket? First, you’ll need to position your racket next to the shuttlecock. It should be at an angle of 45 degrees or less. Then, roll your wrist, scooping the shuttlecock into the racket.
Being able to pick up a shuttlecock with a racket is a fairly common skill amongst badminton players. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be difficult to learn. Let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know to do this flawlessly.
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Why Should You Pick up a Shuttlecock With Your Racket?
First, let’s look at some of the reasons why players use their racket to pick up the shuttlecock. One of the biggest reasons is to avoid placing too much pressure onto their back. This can sometimes lead to back injuries. Another benefit is the ability to save energy, so you won’t feel so fatigued after the match.
While bending over to pick up a shuttlecock can be the default response, many experienced badminton players use their rackets. At the beginner’s level, knowing how to pick up the shuttlecock can even intimidate your opponent. If you can do this trick, and the other person can’t, it can create a strong psychological advantage. The other player will start to question what other things they don’t know how to do.
However, this trick also has a more practical benefit. The average badminton player will pick up the shuttlecock around 50 times per match. Bending over every few minutes can put a lot of pressure onto the spine. In older players, this might cause some back pain after the match. This can limit the amount that they play.
Thankfully, by using the racket, the impact on the spine is reduced. This allows players of all ages to enjoy the game without any back problems. It will also lower the amount of energy they waste bending over to pick up the shuttlecock. This allows them to put more into the contest, and avoid becoming fatigued.
What’s The Best Way to Pick up a Shuttlecock With a Racket?
Now that we know some of the reasons to use the racket to pick up the shuttlecock, rather than your hand, let’s look at how to do it.
The first thing that you need to do is put the racket next to the shuttlecock at less than a 45-degree angle. As you’re doing this, make sure that they are always touching. Then, roll the racket to scoop the shuttlecock off the ground.
While this seems like an easy trick, it can often be difficult to pick up, especially if you are new to the sport of badminton. Thankfully, there are a few tips that you can use to give you the best chance of getting the shuttlecock with your racket.
First, you should check the angle that you are using. While I recommend 45-degrees, the lower the angle the easier it will be to pick up the shuttlecock. You might want to experiment, to find the one that works best for you.
After you scoop up the shuttlecock, turn the racket the other way. This will stop it rolling off and landing on the floor. Once it’s in your racket, you can apply some upward force. This will cause the shuttlecock to come off the racket and land in your hand, ready to play the shot.
Another good tip is to consider the way you are positioning your fingers on the racket. It can help to grip it lightly, using only the tips of your fingers. The looser grip will often make it easier for you to roll the racket. This smooth motion will make it easier for you to scoop the shuttlecock up.
Make sure that you are moving as quickly as possible. It’s also important to make sure that you are gentle. If you put too much force behind the racket roll, you might end up flicking the shuttlecock across the court.
Finally, you’ll need to make sure that you are practicing this trick consistently. The more often you practice it, the better you will become. Most players will be able to pick this skill up in a few hours.
How To Pick Up Multiple Shuttlecocks?
Once you’ve mastered picking up one shuttlecock, you might want to move on to picking up multiple. To do this, you’ll need to line them all up in a row. Then, making sure that the racket is touching each of them, scoop them up.
Trying to pick multiple shuttlecocks up at the same time will often be more difficult than trying to pick up just one. Because of this, it’s recommended that you start slow. If you can pick up one shuttlecock, try to pick up two. Once you’ve mastered this, move on to three.
How many shuttlecocks you can pick up at the same time will depend on the size of the racket. For this technique to work, all the shuttlecocks need to be touching the frame of the racket. If you don’t have enough space for each of the shuttlecocks, you might need to do it in two batches.
What Else Can You Do With A Racket Frame?
There are plenty of other tricks that you can do with your racket. For example, you can try hitting the shuttle with the frame of the racket. You might also want to try bouncing the shuttlecock on the side of the racket.
These two tricks can be a great way of improving your game while having a lot of fun.
Let’s start by looking at how you can hit the shuttlecock with the side of the racket. This is a great move during a match. Hitting it like this near the net will absorb a lot of force, causing it to drop. This can trick your opponents.
The key to this shot is accuracy. The edge of the racket is very thin, so you’ll need to be very precise. To help you with this, visually track the path of the shuttlecock. Take note of the angle and the speed it’s moving. This will help you get your racket into the right place. When you’ve got it positioned properly, raise the frame, and hit the shuttlecock.
You might also want to incorporate the frame into your training routine. Because the frame is thin, bouncing a shuttlecock on this part of the racket can be a great way to improve your accuracy and control. In this type of training, try to see how many times in a row you can get it to bounce on the side of your racket.
Ideally, you should be able to hit it in the same spot each time, to get more control. You might also want to try to maintain a consistent rhythm. It can be fun to try and stick to the beat of a popular song. The faster the beat, the harder the practice will be.
Final Thoughts
And with this, we have arrived at the end of this post. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check “Badminton Drills – 19 Badminton Drills You Need to Learn” & “12 Badminton Footwork Tips That Will Improve Your Speed“.