SERVING

MODULE 1: SERVING

1. Written Introduction

A serve is a strike used to start a rally. This is your most important skill because it is difficult to score consistently without a quality serve.

Performance Cues:

• Grip: Grab the racquet handle like you are giving it a hand shake
• Court position: stand near the centerline and approximately 2 feet behind the short service line
• Aiming Area: in opposite court over short service line
• Footwork: Feet staggered up and back with your opposite foot pointing towards target (if serving with right hand, left foot towards target)
• Wrist action: firm
• Contact: at knee level
• Follow through: upward in line with birdie’s flight

• Video Demonstration

Use ipad; click on the videos labeled serving. 

• Comprehension Task (self-checked)

From the correct court position in the service area, attempt 20 serves from each service side. Don’t worry about if the birdie is landing in the correct aiming area. Concentrate on performance cues, specifically, contact grip, footwork and contact.  Use the performance cues to help you. 

Learning Tips:

• Hold the feather of the shuttle with your thumb and index finger of your non striking hand.  The tip of the shuttle should point towards the ground. 
• Release the shuttle straight down.
• Maintain a firm wrist
• Follow through all the way to your target.

INITIALS AND DATE FOR COMPREHENSION TASK:__________________________

• Readiness Drill (partner checked)

Place a hula-hoop in each corner of the opposite service court (see diagram below). Starting behind service line in either left or right service court, serve diagonally across the net 10 times, attempting to get the birdie to land within each of the four hula-hoops at least once. If the birdie lands within 6 inches or less from the outside of the hoop it can count.  Continue your trials of 10 until you can meet the criteria.  Your partner should be assessing your serving form.  They should give you feedback using the Performance Cues or Common Error Correction.

• Common Error Correction:
• The serve is short
  • Use more power, maintain a firm wrist
  • Increase lifting to hit more flat 
• Inconsistent serve
  • Continue to practice and work on one cue at a time. Do a personal check of performance cues.
• Serve goes too far
  • Reduce power and wrist action
• The serve does not go straight
  • Check body position and footwork
  • Follow through towards target

INITIALS AND DATE FOR READINESS DRILL:________________________________

• Challenge Task (instructor checked)

Challenge task practice, from the right service side, you will serve 10 serves. To pass the challenge task you must score 7 out of the 10 possible points by getting the birdie to land in the opposite service court.  This task must also be done from the left service side.  You will get 10 serves, 7 of which must land in the opposite service court. Once you have successfully practiced this task, signal me over and I will check you off. 

INITIALS AND DATE FOR CHALLENGE TASK:________________________________

• Badminton Knowledge Check

For your knowledge check you will need to know the following information about scoring.  When you think you are ready, pick up an Ipad and complete your quiz until you reach mastery.  Please show me your mastery attempt and I will initial and provide your next module. 

• Singles: Court dimensions are narrow and long (no side alleys)
• Doubles: Court dimensions for the serve are wide and short.
  • After the serve, all alleys are included.  (Entire court)

Figure 1

Figure 2

INITIALS AND DATE FOR KNOWLEDGE CHECK:______________________________

Congratulations you have completed your first module! You are now a master server! You can obtain module 2 and begin.