By Justin Ma, 7x US Junior National Badminton Champion.
Last updated May 24, 2023
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4 min read
Becoming a better badminton player is no easy feat. It involves taking many steps — like learning new shots, improving your strategy, and winning more rallies. But one key factor that ties each of these things together is consistency.
Regardless of experience level or background, it’s common for almost all badminton players to struggle with consistency sometimes. But the truth is, it’s a skill that requires physical and mental strength — and there are plenty of ways to boost your consistency on the court, aside from just practicing more.
So, how exactly can you improve your consistency in badminton? Read on for six pro-approved tips that can help, from simple mindset shifts to training advice and more.
Before making any changes to your training routine, it’s important to understand the different types of consistency in badminton.
The first type is known as shot consistency. This is a more general metric by which you can assess your overall badminton game. It refers to how many shots you hit vs. how many actually land over the net and in the court.
The second type is quality consistency. This involves taking an in-depth look at the quality of your shots. As an example, you could measure quality consistency by looking at whether your block shots consistently land in the frontcourt, or whether you’re able to steadily produce a steep, downward angle in your smashes.
In any case, both types of consistency play a crucial role in improving your overall game.
Here are six tried and true techniques that can help you be a stronger, more consistent player on the badminton court:
If you often feel overwhelmed during badminton rallies, it can help to remind yourself of the phrase: Over and in, and you will win.
What does this mean? In short, it simply means to focus on getting the shuttle across the net and within bounds. If nothing else, this can help you keep yourself from giving away easy points, and help you stay calm when games get intense.
Setting tangible consistency goals during training is another step that can make a big difference in your badminton performance.
While you practice different drills, you could set specific goals — like hitting 15 drop shots in a row with no mistakes, or doing ten back-to-back jump smashes with good form. As you get better, you can increase these numbers to match your skill level. Structuring your training like this gives you a practical way to measure and improve your consistency over time.
Along with setting specific consistency goals, choosing the right kind of training is important. Some great options include:
By choosing the right badminton drills, you can learn new shots and strengthen your muscle memory for old ones. And with enough practice, your drop shots, smashes, etc., will start to become second nature — meaning you won’t have to manually think through their techniques every time you use them.
Many players perform better under pressure, but if you’re excessively anxious — or feeling defeated before a match is over — you might find yourself making silly mistakes. And this can really affect your shot and quality consistency on the court.
So, how can you stay more composed in badminton? A good first step is to spend less time thinking and more time playing. In other words, focus on the moment at hand, and try not to get caught up in whether you’re winning or losing the game.
In addition, all badminton players can benefit from practicing mental toughness. This skill can help you overcome mistakes, stay determined in tough situations, and become a more consistent player overall.
On a more technical note, your equipment also plays a crucial role in your consistency. Loose or snapped strings, broken shuttles, or damaged rackets can prevent you from hitting great shots — even with a perfect technique.
In most cases, racket or shuttle damage is easy to notice. But if you’re newer to the sport, it’s important to keep an eye on your string tension as well, as this can affect the power and control behind your shots.
Finally, remember to keep it simple! You don’t always have to use the fanciest trick shots or the sharpest net shots. Stick to the shots you know will pan out well, and consider saving complex or less reliable moves for more casual training days.
Improving your badminton consistency can be a challenge for anyone. But it’s one of the best ways to win more matches and ultimately progress as a player.
To get started, it can help to first define what consistency looks like to you. For example, you can think about your shot consistency — aka how often you get the shuttle over the net and in the court. Or, you can work on more specific quality consistency, focusing on the angle, power, accuracy, etc., behind your offensive and defensive shots.
And if you could use some more tips along the way, we’ve got resources that can help. Explore the Badminton Justin blog or check out the YouTube channel today for in-depth tutorials, training tips, and more to help you level up.
