The most useful badminton tips for beginners are about basics, not tricks: hold the racket with a handshake grip, keep it up and ready between shots, split step as your opponent hits, recover to the middle after every shot, and learn a high, deep clear before anything fancy. Here are 25 practical tips grouped by grip, ready position, footwork, serve, shots, tactics, etiquette, gear and fitness, plus a self-check that saves on your device so you can track what you have nailed.
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25 beginner habits
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Tip to work on today
I use a handshake (forehand) grip, not a frying-pan grip
Shake hands with the racket: Hold the handle like shaking hands, with the V between thumb and index finger on the top edge, not flat like a frying pan.
How to play badminton for beginners: the basics in 60 seconds
Two players (singles) or two pairs (doubles) hit a shuttle over a net about 1.5 m (5 ft) high. You win a rally when the shuttle lands in your opponent’s court or they hit it out or into the net. Every rally scores a point; games go to 21, win by 2, capped at 30, and a match is best of three games. The full version is in our badminton rules guide and scoring guide.
Grip: hold it like a handshake
1. Shake hands with the racket
Hold the handle as if shaking hands, with the V between your thumb and index finger sitting on the top edge of the handle. The flat “frying pan” grip feels natural but blocks the forearm rotation that generates power. Our grip guide has an interactive handle to show exactly where your fingers go.
2. Stay relaxed until contact
A strangled grip tires your forearm and slows your swing. Hold the racket loosely, fingers slightly spread, and squeeze only at the instant of contact. Relaxed muscles move faster.
3. Use your thumb for backhands
For backhand shots, turn the racket slightly and press the pad of your thumb on the wide back bevel of the handle. That thumb push is where backhand power comes from.
Ready position and the split step
4. Racket up, knees soft
Between shots, hold the racket head up in front of your body, knees bent, weight on the balls of your feet. A racket dangling by your knee costs you half a second on every shot.
5. Split step as they hit
Just as your opponent hits, do a small hop and land with your feet a little wider than your shoulders. You land loaded and ready to push off in any direction. It is the single biggest footwork habit good players have.
Footwork: the tips that save the most points
6. Return to base after every shot
After every shot, move back toward the centre of your half (your “base”). Most beginner points are lost by admiring the last shot instead of recovering for the next one.
7. Lunge with the racket leg
When reaching the front of the court, finish with your racket-side leg forward (right leg for right-handers), landing heel first with the knee over the ankle. It extends your reach and lets you push back quickly.
8. Turn sideways to go back
To reach the rear court, turn your body sideways and use chasse steps. Backpedalling facing the net is slow and is how ankles get rolled.
9. Small steps to adjust, a big one to finish
Use quick, small steps to adjust and one long final step (or lunge) into the shot. Practise at home with our footwork drills.
Serving tips for beginners
10. Low backhand serve in doubles
In doubles, serve low with a backhand action so the shuttle skims the tape and drops just past the short service line. A high serve in doubles is an invitation to be smashed.
11. High and deep in singles
In singles, a high serve that drops vertically near the back line is a safe default: it pushes your opponent back and is hard to attack.
12. Know the serve rules
Under the BWF Laws, the whole shuttle must be below 1.15 m from the floor when you hit it, both feet must stay in contact with the floor and stationary until the serve is made, and you serve diagonally into the correct service court. Details in serve rules.
Shots to learn first
13. Get the clear to the back first
A high, deep clear is your safety shot: it buys time to recover. If yours lands mid-court, focus there before learning anything fancy.
14. Hit in front and high
Take the shuttle as early, high and far in front of you as you can. Late, low contact is behind most mishits and every weak smash.
15. Power from rotation, not muscle
Power comes from turning your hips and shoulders and rotating the forearm into contact, like throwing a ball. A stiff arm push is slow. More in how to smash harder.
16. Disguise the drop
Prepare for a drop exactly as you would for a clear, then slow the racket just before contact. Same preparation, different shot: that is badminton deception in a nutshell.
17. Soft hands at the net
At the net, relax the grip, keep the racket face up and nudge the shuttle so it trickles over and falls tight to the tape. See all shot types in every badminton shot, explained.
Badminton tips and tricks for winning points
18. Move your opponent to all four corners
Beginners hit back to the opponent. Aim for the four corners instead: front and back, left and right. Making them run is how you create a short reply to attack.
19. In doubles, aim between them
In doubles, shots down the middle cause hesitation (“yours!”), and smashes at the body are hard to return. Positioning basics are in doubles strategy.
20. When in trouble, go high and deep
When you are stretched or late, don’t try a hero shot. A high, deep lift or clear resets the rally; forcing a winner from a bad position usually ends in an error.
Etiquette on court
21. Call your lines fairly
In social games you call the lines on your side. If you are not sure, give your opponent the benefit of the doubt or agree to replay the point. Remember the line is in (see in or out).
22. Respect the courts around you
Wait for a rally to finish before walking behind or across a court, return stray shuttles promptly, and pass the shuttle to the server rather than whacking it over.
Gear: what actually matters
23. Wear indoor court shoes
Proper non-marking indoor court shoes give grip and side support for lunges. Running shoes are built for forward motion and make ankle rolls more likely.
24. Choose a forgiving racket
A light, even-balance or slightly head-light racket is easiest to learn with, and moderate string tension is more forgiving than pro-level tension. Try the racket finder and the string tension calculator.
Fitness and recovery
25. Warm up, then build up
Do a 10-minute dynamic warm-up before you play (our guided warm-up timer runs on your phone), and increase how often you play gradually so your calves and Achilles can adapt.
Your first month: a simple plan
- Week 1: grip, ready position and clears. Rally high and deep with a partner.
- Week 2: footwork to the four corners and back to base. Add the split step.
- Week 3: serves (low and high) and net shots.
- Week 4: drops and smashes, then play games and try to move your opponent around. Our 12 drills for beginners fill each week.
Frequently asked questions
What should a beginner learn first in badminton?
The forehand (handshake) grip, a ready position with the racket up, and a high, deep overhead clear. Then footwork back to the centre after each shot, the low and high serve, and net shots.
How can I improve my badminton fast?
Fix your grip, split step as your opponent hits, recover to base after every shot, and play regularly with slightly better players. Filming yourself once a week and picking one thing to fix speeds things up a lot.
How do you hold a badminton racket for beginners?
Like shaking hands: the V between your thumb and index finger sits on the top edge of the handle, fingers loosely wrapped and slightly spread. Avoid the flat frying-pan grip. For backhands, rotate slightly and put your thumb pad on the wide back bevel.
Why can’t I hit the shuttle to the back of the court?
Usually because of a frying-pan grip, a stiff arm, or hitting the shuttle late and low. Use a handshake grip, turn sideways, and swing up through the shuttle high and in front of you using forearm rotation.
What shoes should I wear for badminton?
Non-marking indoor court shoes (badminton, squash or volleyball shoes) with good grip and side support. Running shoes are designed for forward motion and offer less lateral support.
Is badminton easy to learn?
It is easy to start rallying socially, but the shuttle drops fast and good technique takes time. A few basics, especially grip and footwork, make the first months far more fun.