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TECHNICAL GUIDE - Service
Backhand:
The backhand serve is the most commonly used in doubles play; however, high level singles players also use it for variation in their game.
Frame 4-a : (A) Keep some space in between the body and the racquet to allow for the backward swing motion. (B) The foot positioning can be one of three options. This Frame shows the non-racquet foot forward. It is the most popular as it allows the racquet to swing further back during the back swing across the body. The body weight should favour the front foot, with the body leaning forward slightly. Knees should be slightly bent, and not locked.
Frame 4-b : (A) The shuttle cork should be pointed into the sweet spot of the racquet. The wrist pulls away as the racquet contacts the cork. (B) The second possible foot position is with both feet parallel to the service line. Body weight should be slightly favouring the toes for anticipating court movement after the shuttle is served.

Frame 4-c : (A) The elbow is kept high on the serve (B) This is the third foot position option for the serve. It is the least popular as the racquet backward motion is limited due to the right side of the body directily behind it.
Frame 4-d : (A) The grip is relaxed and open with some space in the "V" area. The racquet is pointed down at by the wrist with the backhand grip.

TECHNICAL NOTES
- The most desirable location to stand for the serve is within two feet from the "T". Some athletes prefer to stand right at the white service line.
- The closer the server stands to the service line, the more of an arc the shuttle will have in its' tradjectory over the net. It is desirable to have a lower tradjectory so the opponent has a harder time attacking the serve; howerver, the higher tradjectory serves do have less distance to travel, so the opponent has less time to react to the serve. The balance between distance and trajectory is up to each athlete to find their most effective serve.
- The elbow on the racquet side should be kept almost shoulder level. The dropping of the shoulder naturally lowers the racquet, and therefore the contact point of the shuttle during the serve.
- The shuttle should be contacted as high as possible to flatten the arc of the shuttle tradjectory.
- The legal contact point for the shuttle and the racquet during the serve is from the bottom rib and higher
- The racquet arm should barely move during service, as the wrist controls most of the racquet movement during the serve. Most of the power from the serve comes from the thumb, and wrist muscle groups.
- Shuttle direction during service(ie target area between the two front corners) is controlled by the wrist changing the racquet face during forward movement.
Doubles Forehand:
This serve can be used in doubles play, but is not as common as the backhand serve
Frame 5-a : Start position

Frame 5-b : Contact

Frame 5-c : Follow through

Singles Forehand: coming soon
Page Revision 2
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