Badminton Gripping Technique

What exactly is the right badminton gripping technique? Before you even enter the badminton court, are you holding your racquet correctly?

The correct way of holding a racquet is as simple as a FRIENDLY HANDSHAKE. Imagine the grip of the racquet as a hand approaching to shake your hand. Go ahead and hold the racquet as if you're shaking someone's hand.

Your thumb should be pressing comfortably against one of the wider surface of the racquet grip while the rest of your hand holds the racquet as if you're shaking a person's hand.The thumb lying on that surface enables you to do strong backhands. See badminton backhand basics to see the sources of a backhand strength.

The technique for a badminton grip can affect the flexibility of your wrist.

In order to execute strong badminton strokes with high accuracy, your wrist needs to be flexible.

To a certain extent, every badminton players' wrist is perfect and flexible. However, the way you hold your racquet is what determines the power of your shot.

Therefore:

Do not grip your racquet too tightly. This will make your wrist less flexible in rotating and flicking.
Your thumb, index, and middle finger should be the ONLY 3 fingers that hold the racquet. Your last 2 fingers should rest comfortably on the badminton grip and help you balance the weight of the racquet. By doing this, it enables your wrist to be more flexible and move more freely.

Alright that's just about the basics of holding the racquet.

Forehand Grip and Backhand Grip

Now, I would like to introduce you to the forehand grip and the backhand grip.

The forehand grip is used to perform a forehand stroke and a high serve while a backhand grip is used to perform a backhand stroke and low serve.

Forehand Badminton Gripping Technique

Backhand Badminton Gripping Technique

The forehand and backhand grip looks almost the same as the picture above. There's only one slight difference -- the placement of your fingers. You'll understand this when I explain more about these 2 grips below.

During a badminton game, you should QUICKLY switch from a forehand grip to the backhand grip.

Tip: If you're able to switch quickly from a forehand grip to a backhand grip, you'll hit the shuttle at the optimal time with a backhand stroke, hence performing a powerful backhand shot. In order to switch quickly, DO NOT hold your racquet too tightly.

Forehand Badminton Gripping Technique Explained

Your thumb does not necessarily have to press against the wider surface of the badminton grip for a forehand stroke.

Your index finger should be the one "in control" in a forehand stroke. This simply means using your index finger to push the racquet forward while doing a forehand stroke.

However, rest your thumb comfortably anywhere near the wider surface of the badminton grip to enable you to change to a backhand grip quickly.

Backhand Badminton Gripping Technique Explained

The key to performing strong backhands depends on how you hold your racquet. The true power of a badminton backhand shot comes from the push of your thumb.

A backhand stroke requires you to USE YOUR THUMB. So you should now press your thumb on the wider surface of the badminton grip. Relax your index finger and move it closer to your middle finger.

The backhand grip will look like you're doing a 'thumbs up'.

Just remember, finger action plays an important role in generating strength for a badminton stroke.