Badminton Defence: How to Survive a Smash

How do you defend a smash in badminton? Get into a low, balanced ready position with your racket in front of you, relax your grip, and use a short punch rather than a big swing — a block to the net, a drive back through the middle, or a lift to reset. Good defenders turn a smash into their own attack.

The ready position

Feet a little wider than your shoulders, knees bent, weight forward on the balls of your feet, racket up and in front. From here you can react either side. Standing tall and flat-footed is why smashes feel unreturnable.

Your three replies

• Block — soft hands, absorb the pace, drop it just over the net to drag them forward.
• Drive — punch it back flat and fast through the middle to turn defence into attack.
• Lift — send it high and deep to reset when you are stretched.

Relax to react

A tense, tight grip slows your hands and makes the racket heavy. Stay loose and only firm up at contact — you will reach smashes you thought were winners.

See your defence improve

Surviving the attack wins close games. Track your matches on Badminton 360 and watch those tight three-setters start going your way.