Hey I just started playing Badminton for my team at High School Leland. I'm JV doubles and i'm unsure if the reason my partner and I are losing our games is from bad teamwork. Or if it's one of us doing mistakes. So far out of 5 games we've won only 1 and it's really frustrating. The way we usually play is front and back when we serve and side to side when the opponents serve. Most of my shots are smashes, most of his are clears. I'm wondering if we're not suited to play with each other or if one of us or both are not suited for doubles. Please help!

Originally posted by Lukehan
Hey I just started playing Badminton for my team at High School Leland. I'm JV doubles and i'm unsure if the reason my partner and I are losing our games is from bad teamwork. Or if it's one of us doing mistakes. So far out of 5 games we've won only 1 and it's really frustrating. The way we usually play is front and back when we serve and side to side when the opponents serve. Most of my shots are smashes, most of his are clears. I'm wondering if we're not suited to play with each other or if one of us or both are not suited for doubles. Please help!

I usually do front and back for both serve and recieve, but i guess it's up to you.

Does both you and your partner "know" when to switch to the attack (front/back) or defence (sides) position as approriate? I had a partner who would stand in one spot (defensive sides position) and never move, even when we clearly should be rotating around the court. make sure neither of you do that!

I dont see any problem with one partner prefering smashes while another prefering clears... unless he is clearing from the mid court all the time or you are smashing from the tramlines all the time... even then, that's hardly fatal.

Originally posted by Lukehan
Hey I just started playing Badminton for my team at High School Leland. I'm JV doubles and i'm unsure if the reason my partner and I are losing our games is from bad teamwork. Or if it's one of us doing mistakes. So far out of 5 games we've won only 1 and it's really frustrating. The way we usually play is front and back when we serve and side to side when the opponents serve. Most of my shots are smashes, most of his are clears. I'm wondering if we're not suited to play with each other or if one of us or both are not suited for doubles. Please help!

it sounds to me that you guys are still learning the game? perhaps some description on what level you are at will help us helping you.

do you understand the most basic formations in badminton? the offensive (front/back) and the defensive (side/side)? and that the formation is not static and changes all the time during a rally?

sorry if you do, but from your description, it sounded like that you are always standing one way or another.

you mentioned you are playing JV, do you have a coach?

Originally posted by Lukehan
Most of my shots are smashes, most of his are clears.

So, seems like u r the offensive guy in the game, and he focus on defense. Nothing wrong with this. However, what I want to ask is how about the opposite way? Say, how's ur defense and his offense?

If both of u only good on one thing, but really weak at the other, it might be ur opponents figure out ur weak spot and try to force u 2 doing the opposite stuff and taking ur team out of ur comfortable zone right there.

If u can provide a little bit more detailed information on both of ur skill level, playing style, and how / how often u switch, that will be more helpful.

Yeh, I think kwun is right that you guys are rather new to the game (Nothing wrong with that) and asking each other to play side by side or front and back is not how you stand during the whole game. As mentioned above, front is back is offensive. If the other team pops it up and you're about to smash it from the far T then your partner's job is to run to the front T and cover you and put away any bad returns to the net. If he can't drive the shot back then it's your responsibility to be there and get it. When your team pops the bird up you get into a defensive position (Side by side). If you were front and back in this situation, the guy infront would get NAILED in the face (Seriously, in gym I really did nail someone luckily he had glasses)! He would also be useless. The guy in the back can't possibly cover the whole court.

So you and your partner have to work on that. If you serve short, you cover front. If you serve high, you go sides (Popping up the bird).

I'm sure this has been discussed and you can pickup more stuff by running a search.

Also, do u discover a consistent "strategy" between 2 of u?

For example, say u have a very good smash. Maybe it's good to let ur partner (most time, seems he stays front) try to set up for u (use drop to pull opponent off position, and force them to do high but weak returns), and let u finish them off. Or, the other way is, u can use ur smash to get them off balance, when they provide weak returns / lifts, ur partner can use net shots (either drop or kill, depend on positions) to finish.

Either way is fine, and it's always better that both ppl are comfortable with more than 1 trick. This way, a "partnership" can be developed, and each one can "predict" what his partner will do for the next shot, instead of guessing around.

I think pairs definitely play better when they get to know each others game so give it a bit of time and see how you are doing after a few more games.

Originally posted by Lukehan
Hey I just started playing Badminton for my team at High School Leland. I'm JV doubles and i'm unsure if the reason my partner and I are losing our games is from bad teamwork. Or if it's one of us doing mistakes. So far out of 5 games we've won only 1 and it's really frustrating. The way we usually play is front and back when we serve and side to side when the opponents serve. Most of my shots are smashes, most of his are clears. I'm wondering if we're not suited to play with each other or if one of us or both are not suited for doubles. Please help!

as many have said, i think you should be getting your formations down, learn to play both, try to get to know your partner's style of play.

also, clearing is not a very good idea in doubles, unless you are absolutely forced to (even though you probably wouldnt), simply because it causes you to lose your attack and let the other team play on the offensive.

K thanks yah we have a coach but she concentrates on varisty a lot and only on JV if we have a open gym. Oh and yep i'm a begginer =P. In terms of our offense and defense i can only return a backhand smash ok. He can return most smashes well but his smash is not really strong and he can only do it in the front of the middle and the very front of the net. We've never really moved our positions around so i guess we should try that out. Thanks for your help ^_^

Originally posted by Lukehan
Oh and yep i'm a begginer =P. In terms of our offense and defense i can only return a backhand smash ok. He can return most smashes well but his smash is not really strong and he can only do it in the front of the middle and the very front of the net. We've never really moved our positions around so i guess we should try that out. Thanks for your help ^_^

Back to my point. Seems both of u have obvious weak spots. For u, seems defense, and for him, the offense (at least smash). What about his net play, such as net kill and net drops? If he can drop and make ppl run, maybe u can consider to help him set up.

Seems there's a lot that u 2 need to work on. Maybe consider some drills. Let him try smash and let u practice receiving. This way, u 2 can work on the weak spots at the same time. If possible, get some hint and also do drills with better players, I am sure u 2 can do way better in the future.

Also, since u 2 are just beginners now, don't give too much pressure on urself. Of course, it's nice to win, but everyone here were beginners back then. I am sure everyone has to come through the "being blew out" period. There's nothing wrong for losing at the beginning. Just keep trying, and efforts will be paid off later on.