Tumbling/Spinning Badminton Net Shot
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Introduction
As the name suggests, a tumbling badminton net shot means returning the shuttle at the net area in a way that it TUMBLES (SPINS) to the other side of the court.
A good quality net shot will have the shuttle tumbling right above the net, so that your opponent will not have the chance to do a badminton net kill.
It also forces your opponent to return a weak shot, giving you a chance to do the net kill.
When the net shot is executed perfectly, your opponent will be left with no choice but to lift the shuttle high up into the air. By doing this, you have just created a chance for yourself to perform an offensive shot.
Sometimes, the tumbling net shot itself can already be a 'killer shot'. If the shuttle tumbles and touches the tip of the net, it is EXTREMELY difficult for any player to retrieve it.
The pictures above shows you the flight trajectory of a tumbling or spinning net shot.
Key to a Quality Tumbling Net Shot
Gentle contact: Badminton net shots are NOT like the overhead and underarm strokes. Use minimum amount of strength, enough to send the shuttle to the other side of the court.
Gripping your racket: In order to make gentle contact, grip your racket loosely. Use only the tips of your thumb, index, and middle finger to control the racket. The last 2 fingers should rest gently on the racket grip to support the weight of the racket.
It's important NOT to grip your racket too tightly because you will subconciously exert too much power into your net shot.
Slicing: To achieve the 'tumbling' effect, SLICE the shuttle (instead of hitting it normally). Slice towards any direction you like, depending on where you want the shuttle to tumble.
The power of the tumbling net shot comes ONLY from slicing. Therefore, the power DOES NOT come from the swinging motion or wrist action. Does it sound odd? I'll demonstrate the proper technique to perform the net shot in the tutorial below.
Note that the tumbling/spinning badminton net shot is not a stroke, it's a delicate skill. This skill is NEVER about power, it's ALL ABOUT CONTROL!
Tutorial
From a ready position, lunge forward to the net. When you're moving to the front, raise your racket arm to the height where you're going to make contact with the shuttle.
Take the shuttle at the highest point possible. The higher you take the net shot, the better.
Relax your muscles and loosen your grip. Do not tense your muscles or you will subconciously exert too much power into your net shot.
There's no need to swing. No wrist action is involved either. Touch the shuttle by slicing your racket against it.
Your racket arm and wrist shouldn't move AT ALL once you've position it to the height where you're going to make contact with the shuttle (loosen the muscles of your racket arm).
Your shoulder muscles are the one controlling the power of your net shot.
TIP: Slightly tilt your head towards your dominant shoulder for better CONTROL of your shoulder muscles.
There are many ways you can slice. For a start, slice your racket forward against the shuttle.
Remember, there's no swing motion or wrist action. Use ONLY your shoulder muscles to control your slice. However, DON'T tense your shoulder muscles too, or else it'll be difficult to control your strength.
In most instances, you'll be moving forward to the net. As you move forward, momentum is generated by your movement and bodyweight.
What you actually want to do is to transfer this momentum into the shuttle. This is the source of power for your net slice.
Sometimes if you're not moving fast enough or you're forced to take the shuttle at a lower point (which requires slightly more power), use your shoulder muscles to gently move your arm a little to generate the extra power.
Move your racket arm sideways or forward; but NOT upwards. Moving your racket upwards is 'hitting' and not slicing.
After you hit a net shot, there's a chance you can perform the badminton net kill if your opponent makes a weak net return. Click here to learn how to perform the badminton net kill.
This skill is very complex and requires a lot of practise.
Important Tips/Advice
Take the shuttle as early as possible and at the highest point possible
In order to achieve the tumbling/spinning effect, slice the shuttle.
This skill DOES NOT require any swing motion or wrist action. The power of slicing comes mainly from the momentum generated by your bodyweight as you move forward to the net.
Use your shoulder muscles to move your racket arm sideways if your momentum is not strong enough to bring the shuttle across.
Therefore, it's the combination of your momentum and your shoulder muscles that generates the power
As you move forward to the net, tilt your head slightly towards your dominant shoulder (racket arm shoulder) for better control of your shoulder muscles.
The tumbling badminton net shot is a very complex technique.
A lot of practice is required to master the tumbling badminton net shot. Spend some time around the net area with a friend or partner to know how much strength is required in your slice to bring the shuttle over RIGHT ABOVE THE NET.
You'll find it a lot easier if you use the correct technique (explained in the tutorial above).
Always relax your muscles. The KEY is to BE GENTLE WITH THE SHUTTLECOCK.
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