How to Do Badminton Training At Home?
Back in 2018, I sprained my ankle while running laps. The ankle sprain turned out to be severe and I was told off with two weeks of bed rest. A bed rest meant no video games, no midnight snacking, and worst of all, no badminton.
I was banging my head (metaphorically of course!) to come up with ideas to get through my boredom. I have been a reader but with the attention span of a butterfly, my capabilities of book reading could only take me through an hour. Then an epiphany struck me.
Do you know how sometimes your friends can help you in ways they don’t even know? Well, Dhruv, my doubles partner in school and good friend helped me kill this two weeks’ worth of immense boredom.
Dhruv’s life was badminton. Coming from a long line of athletes (or so he used to say), Dhruv was good at any sport you mention. However, his first love was badminton and he loved the game so much, he had tied shuttlecocks hanging over his dining room table. The shuttlecocks were tied to the ceiling fan, and extended with a string, which during meals would be wound up. And when there were no meals, they would hang down for Dhruv to continuously hit them with his racket.
Such an indigenous but powerful way to practice badminton. Well lo and behold! I called Dhruv to help me with a similar setup. Since I wasn’t allowed to leave the bed (or my room for that matter), I gave Dhruv a call to set me up with my badminton practice aid at home.
Long story short, Dhruv came over, set up this insane home training aid and I could get through two weeks of bed rest. Cut to 2024, I came across an Instagram reel where a badminton player like me is suffering from a fracture in their leg, yet practicing badminton the same way I did back in high school!
Since this trend has been getting some traction on the Internet, I would like to help my readers how to use badminton training aids and equipment for at-home practice! So, here we go!
Training Aids
Using training aids strategically is one of the finest ways to advance your badminton skills at home. You can practice particular tactics, footwork, precision, and other skills using these tools. For your home badminton set up, take into consideration these best training aids:
Shuttlecocks
Of course, having a supply of shuttlecocks, or birdies, is necessary for practice. Plastic shuttlecocks are more resilient for individual training, but feathered shuttlecocks remain the norm for matches. With weighted shuttlecocks, you may practice your swing technique because they move more slowly.
Target Cones
You can increase your accuracy by setting up target cones or boxes at various locations on your court as aiming points. To improve your accuracy, hit shuttlecocks toward the targets by practicing. To keep things from becoming repetitive, move the cones around.
Footwork Patterns
Using chalk or tape to mark out various footwork patterns on your floor will help you instill correct movement into your muscle memory. To improve your footwork before adding shuttlecock strikes, ghost through the patterns. (If you are someone who cannot use their legs for the time being, you must not avoid this).
Resistance Bands
Your badminton game will improve if you do resistance band exercises to strengthen your arm, wrist, and shoulder. Increased strength enables more precise and effective strikes.
Wall Rebounder
By using a wall rebounder strap, you can practice hits by yourself. The shuttlecock bounces back toward you off the wall strap. It mimics the volley's speed.
Over time, training aids yield quantifiable outcomes. To monitor your progress, keep a record of your practice sessions. These tools will help you advance your badminton skills with time and consistent practice.
Getting the Most Out of At-Home Training
Use these pointers in your practice sessions to get the most out of your at-home badminton training:
Training Videos and Apps
Learn the correct skills by adding educational information to your independent practice. Expert teaching and drills can be accessed through video tutorials and badminton apps. Watching old badminton matches is another great way to train at home. Additionally, you can go through Instagram reels of various badminton influencers to learn new techniques.
Record Your Sessions
Make sure to record yourself during your at-home training sessions. A phone camera works too. Later, review your footwork, technique, swings, and forms using the footage on your phone.
Mix Up Drills
To keep your drills fresh, switch up the drills periodically to focus on different talents. Alternate between full-court play, net volleys, footwork patterns, and target practice.
Find a Partner
Training at home becomes a lot more fun with a partner. With the right partner, training becomes a lot like playing a game with a friend or family member who is enthusiastic about badminton. You can organize scrimmages and drills with them as well!
Establish Objectives and Monitor Progress
Set measurable objectives, like as increasing your serve velocity or backhand accuracy. Take note of your development throughout time.
Cross-Train
To improve your general agility, add jumping rope, sprints, lunges, and planks to your badminton training.
Your at-home workouts will continue to strengthen you as a player with strategic goal-setting, film analysis, targeted drills, and a training partner. Maintaining a consistent training program is essential.
Signing Off
You can improve as a player by setting up a dedicated badminton practice area at home and making use of training tools and supplies. Regular training sessions can help you improve your footwork, shot accuracy, swing technique, and more using the right equipment suited to your skill level.
Your badminton skills will improve over time if you set aside time at home several times a week to practice concentrated shot placement, footwork, reflexes, and court coverage. Additionally, you may learn from the pros using training videos and applications. You may succeed at badminton in your backyard with determination and strategic practice. Well, that’s what I did and still do!
