TECHNICAL GUIDE - Footwork

  • Lunging
  • Chasse
  • Back and Behind
  • Net Hover


    Lunging :

  • The Lunge is the motion of stepping towards the shuttle where most of the body weight becomes supported by that foot after the step.

    • The last step is always on the racquet foot.

    • The racquet foot toe always points in the direction of the lunge.

    • The body weight is primarily supported by the upper thigh of the racquet foot during the lunge.

    • The longer the stride during the step should result in the opposite arm extending behind the body for counter-balance.

    Frame L-1 : The Lunge

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    Frames L-2,3,4 : The Cross-over Lunge

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    Chasse :

    The Chasse is footwork that involves the shuffling of feet without any cross-overs.

  • Frame C-1 : 

    • The first step is short and is the racquet foot stepping in the direction towards the shuttle.

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    Frame C-2 :

    • The second step is the non-racquet foot sliding up behind the racquet foot.

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    Frame C-3 :

    • The third step is the racquet foot lunging towards the shuttle just after feeling a tap by the non-racquet foot as in Frame C-2. This last step is much larger than the 1st step taken by this foot. 
    • The non-racquet foot will point more towards the opposite direction of the lunge as the lunge by the racquet foot gets greater.

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    Back and Behind :

    Being able to take shuttles arriving to the backhand with a forehand shot is a counter-attack measure to opponents who like to focus on sending shuttles to the backhand.

    Frames 11-a to 11-d:

    The non-racquet foot ankle leads back towards the backhand side with the racquet foot following around behind. Each 2 step (non-racquet and then racquet foot) combination results in the player arriving back to their clearing ready position.

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     Net Hover :

    The net hover referred to in this context is the footwork coming into a net shot, and then hovering for the possible secondary net shot.

    Frame 11-a:

    Ready position

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    Frame 11-b:

    The rear foot moves up behind the racquet foot (as in the chasse), while the racquet arm is up to almost shoulder level. The racquet is forward and almost in front of the face.

    Frame 11-c:

    The racquet foot lunges forward during the first net shot. The knees are bent, and the photo does not show that the non racquet arm should be behind the body as a counter-balance.

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    Frame 11-d:

    The front front does a chasse move back to its' original spot just in front of the rear foot.

    Frame 11-e:

    The front foot almost taps the rear foot to move back to its' original position (chasse style).

    The square indicates that the racquet foot could move over to the ready position (as in 12-a) depending on what is happening on court. If the player(you) moves into the net for a net, and anticipates a net shot return, then the front-back footwork would be used. If the opponent does a lift return on your drop, then you can revert back to the ready position but still consider that a chasse type movement might be required.

    As the feet move up and back during the footwork, the body is still leaning slightly forward. The distance covered during the footwork (lower body) is greater than the upper body (the upper body compensates for the footwork distance by either leaning more forward or upwards.

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    Frame 11-f & 12-g:

    These frames are a repeat of 12-b and 12-c. Ideally the second net shot would be a net kill or cross-court shot.

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