Frontcourt Footwork: From Basic Patterns to Advanced Techniques

In this video I want to show you the most important techniques and footwork patterns that will help you to retrieve even difficult shots in the front court and how to save energy at the same time!
How to practice these patterns and techniques?
I created several home workout videos where you can follow along and where I also included a lot of the techniques I talked about. Here are some suggestions:
You want to practice the basic patterns, split steps, and lunges: • 15 Min Basic Footwork ...
You want to get more flow and efficiency into your footwork: • 10 Min Smooth Badminto...
You want to dive into more advanced patterns with more variation: • 20 Min Four Corners Fo...
You want to work on quick feet and faster correction steps in defense: • 15 Min Fast Footwork S...
My Equipment:
Racket 🏸: Yonex ArcSaber 11 (amzn.to/3PjkQr8)*
Shoe 👟: Yonex SHB62 Z2 (amzn.to/3AM3aAA)*
Get in touch with me:
My Website 🌐: www.tobiaswadenka.com
Instagram 📸: / tobiwadenka
Facebook 📖: / tobiwadenka
*This is a affiliate link. If you purchase through it I will get a small comission but you still pay the same price, so you can support my channel and help me to produce even more videos in the future 😊
References:
Front Court Slow Mos (Lee Zii Jia, Tai Tzu Ying, Viktor Axelsen): German Open KZbin Channel / @germanopenofficial2064
BWF World Championships 2022 | Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) [1] vs. Chen Yu Fei (CHN) [4] | F: • BWF World Championship...
YONEX All England Open 2021 | Day 5: Lee Zii Jia (MAS) [6] vs Viktor Axelsen (DEN) [2]: • YONEX All England Open...

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Many of you asked for a similiar video about the rearcourt. It was a lot of work, as there are so many different options to cover the two corners in the back but I finally finished it today and hope it will help you guys:kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJCrhoGvdtGZn7s ;)

[@Kami_26]

Thank you lovely

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

There was a brilliant comment with many further information and details about the footwork that I wanted to pin on top, but instead I clicked on the wrong button and deleted it =( So sorry, if the author reads this I would be very greatful if he could write a comment again, maybe just with a short version of it, so I can really pin it. Promised that this time I will not hit the wrong button!

[@user-hz8sw8qt1z]

❤

[@santanusarkar2550]

Sir can you make these types of videos at all corners I'm going to tournament next week please

[@ManishKumar-vh5bd]

Please do a video related to back corners similar to this… i love the way you explain things❤❤

[@Fedibow]

Thanks Tobias for this high quality video and those perfect advices ! I'll do my best to apply all this in my training session tomorrow ! Keep up the good work ! Cheers !

[@vikramindukuri]

As always . Perfectly presented 👌 Thanks Coach .

[@user-gk1ls8wi8f]

Great video, I haven't seen one covered so much strategically! On every aspect you added things that I have missed!

[@autumnatic6507]

I couldn't have found this information if you didn't post this, the different variations of the footwork really helped!! Thanks and good video as always Tobias👍👍

[@ReiAyasuka]

Your footwork vids are nothing but gold 💗

[@justin_t]

Really excellent explanation. Well done Tobias

[@badrinarayanan6227]

Explained in simple terms great work.Never knew there are so much details in footwork.Super video Tobias.

[@IrshadAhamed]

most of your content are very useful. Thanks a lot

[@srivarsha5296]

Hi coach, love your videos:) please do more often 😀

[@diannayau5975]

Great video on footwork, found it really useful to break down various steps to practice into muscle memory.

[@paulcarpenter6470]

Great video. Thanks

[@boitevocale1mv820]

Nice footsteps I've tried hard to reproduce...At the moment it looks like a folk dance with a strange pattern...I do not give up! This video is very useful to understand why badminton players move so fast on the court! Thank you for your video! Cristal clear!

[@LivethewayYouLike]

Love it. Thanks

[@alcus0478]

great video, thanks!

[@elijamwangi1338]

Thanks coach

[@jaylagmusic]

Sehr gutes Video! Danke👍

[@tejassinghbajwa4810]

amazing video!!!

[@shikhaparekh2273]

Amazing

[@vinaypunia492]

Very nicely explained with all possible footwork in front... Eagerly waiting for the video of rear corners.

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJCrhoGvdtGZn7s ;)

[@aravinds6406]

well explained

[@steffenfpv5579]

Wirklich super content, hat mir sehr geholfen besser zu werden.

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Cool, das freut mich!

[@DrJohnPollard]

I like the Queen reference.

[@kopchicken2474]

Thanks ad. I'm Vietnamese

[@Virgoblr]

Great Video as always Tobi! Please start a video clip review and virtual coaching Service! when you do, I will be the first one!

[@xxWidex]

6:09 This is why badminton shoes with grip reaching the sides are better in my opinion.

[@JacobsBadminton]

Great video Tobias and very well explained touching on all aspects. Would you use a skip back recovery after a lift as well?

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Thank you! =) Depends a lot on the lift and how deep the lunge is but many times a recovery step is very useful and especially when you play flatter lifts it is nescessary

[@bharanidharanm2653]

Really nice video, thank you. During doubles match my opponents often push shuttle down to my forehand deep court to my right (i am a right-handed player).. often I am caught standing front to the net after service after taking a drop, since the shuttle comes down slanting to my right slightly behind me but not full deep.. how do we tackle such cases.. pls help

[@muhammadal-ghifaribiduk4830]

Semangat bro

[@abhishekthapliyal17]

Can you make video on best shoes for beginners.

[@rekhachamoli1117]

Please send a short selection video

[@romeojunior412]

Please make a similar video for rear court 🎉🎉

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJCrhoGvdtGZn7s ;)

[@laurentvincent7651]

Great Video ! You describe the split step from a defensive position (after a lift or a clear). But it should be different from an offensive position (after a drop, net shot, short defense,...) ?

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Yes in those situations you should you use a directional one like the ones i showed in the beginning

[@laurentvincent7651]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 Thanks but it's confused for me. In the beginning you show a directional split step with right foot in the back to go in the backhand side of the net. But most of the time after an offensive shot (smash, drop or net spin), the player have to stay with the racket leg in the front for the split step. And second, you seem to be saying that the player makes a split step depending on the shot played by the opponent. But when the split step is made, the player does not know where he will have to play the next shot.

[@alpha6478]

Hey!great stuff Can you tell me what do you use to shoot your videos?I'm thinking of starting out

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Thank you! I use the Sony a6400 with a zoom lense (16-50mm) and for the sound i use the dji mic

[@user-iy6gx4lj1r]

Hi Tobias. I noticed that many players are standing sideways. So right-handers put their right foot slightly forward. Whether this gives an advantage when moving forward to the net? Thanks for the great video. We are waiting for the video about backward movement.

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Yes a directional split always help to gets faster to the net and the back. Right foot or left foot depends on many different things and the situation you are in but normaly you have the dominant foot in front more often

[@ManishKumar-vh5bd]

Your excellent ❤ please do video related to back corners waiting from months😢

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Just came back from filming the video for the rear court, I hope it will be ready in 2-3 weeks =)

[@ManishKumar-vh5bd]

Thank you so much❤

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJCrhoGvdtGZn7s ;)

[@muhammadal-ghifaribiduk4830]

Luar biasa

[@Impulsage]

Thank you, loved the examples from German open! Since I'm not advanced, what happens when I go directly from parallel to backhand corner?

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

You mean without the correction of the foot? For a shorter distance that might work but if you have to go deeper into the corner you will not be able to push and support with the foot if you do not turn it and reposition it a little.

[@Impulsage]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 Thank you! I will try it out next time on courrt and hopefully really see the difference

[@kisankumaryadav1131]

Pls upload shot selection video☺

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Shot selection from what situations?

[@dontclickthis9179]

Nice video. Could you also do a video like this, but with backcourt instead of front court?

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Yes i will 👌

[@dontclickthis9179]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 thank you so much.

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJCrhoGvdtGZn7s ;)

[@shreyasbhandari6630]

Hoping for similar rearcourt video

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

There will be a rearcourt video for sure ;)

[@shreyasbhandari6630]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 thank you sir

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJCrhoGvdtGZn7s ;)

[@shreyasbhandari6630]

Thank you very much sir. It is really helpful. Appreciate your effort! 🙏🏻

[@brendanlowry5755]

Thanks Tobias. Will you be doing a similar video on rearcourt footwork?

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Yes there will be one in the near future 😊 any specific questions about it?

[@brendanlowry5755]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 forehand corner. Which footwork to use in which situations and some drills to practise them. China jump vs lunge for instance

[@Impulsage]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 I would love to know, how to go from backcourt left to right as the backcourt player in Doubles. I think people often do a sideways move both directions, which seems to be faster, but with less power, because of the missing hip rotation.

[@anuragkulkarni2929]

One more small tip. Stretch your non racket hand straight back when lunging forward. This helps you keep your balance. Some people keep the non racket hand down which will make you lose balance.

[@aliraza3936]

Hello Tobias! Great video! I have a question. How far back to the middle do we have to go during a short high lift because it becomes impossible to defend deceptive fast drops in singles if you go way back to defend the smashes. Also, do you recommend staying a little at the front if the opponent keeps playing drop shots.

[@JacobsBadminton]

From what you’ve said it might not be a positional mistake but a body positional mistake. If your getting court by deceptive drop it could be your centre of gravity is going backwards to far and therefore can’t move forward, I’d suggest getting your self lower with body weight further forward in preparation.

[@aliraza3936]

@@JacobsBadminton Thanks alot for the reply! Appreciate your help ❤️ Will make sure to try that in the next session.

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

@@aliraza3936 Yes good point by @Jacobs Badminton. I would also add that this problem often occurs because people are too late for the next split if the play a flatter lift. You have to be fast in those situations and spend more energy for the recovery to be ready in time with good balance

[@aliraza3936]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 Yes! I've noticed that my balance is not good and my upper body is moving in wrong direction because of slower recovery even though I take the split step. Thanks for the information!!! ❤

[@davidlalbiakzuala9111]

I'm a subscriber too but how come I didn't get any notifications at all, I was learning from you(your videos) mannn....

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Not sure, have you activated the notifications (bell symbol)?

[@davidlalbiakzuala9111]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 yes, it's good now

[@gamelifer234]

Awesome video. Any updated one for backcourt? As a newish player I always have trouble dealing with backward movement. So many points lost because of that.

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

I finished filming for it yesterday, I think I can upload it in 2-3 weeks 👍

[@gamelifer234]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 Much appreciated. I saw your older backcourt videos but an updated one with the kind of details this frontcourt ones have is amazing. Thank you!

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJCrhoGvdtGZn7s ;)

[@gamelifer234]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 Thanks for the reminder. I already watched it. Your videos have always been helpful, especially your recent ones. Thanks on behalf of other badminton lovers!

[@user-hz8sw8qt1z]

Hi Tobias, I am intermediate and reaches the front corner but unable to make a drop and always hit hard to the back corners which is very much guessed by the opponents 😞. My attempts to make drop fails often as it hits the frame .Also my steps backwards are sometimes gets locked and unable to move beyond one step back.Any suggestions to get rid of them .

[@widowmakergaming415]

Nanum almost intermediate tha bro. Enakum front court la neraya lift vaika tha kai varum. But drop redrop vaikrathuku romba control & confidence varanum bro. Starting la konjam cross court drop vachu palagalaam. Enaku starting la straight drop vida cross court drop tha easy ah irunchu. Konjam konjam ah control panniralaam. Mistakes avoid panlaam. But return varapa free ya vara mudilana rendu problem irukalam. First body fitness. Rendavathu lift vachutome udane back varanum apdingra pathatam. At last intermediate level la ye neraya frame la pada kudathu. Try to focus on accuracy than speed & power for some time.

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Maybe you are also standing a little bit too close to the net? It is easier and faster to move forward with big steps, so you can also leave a bit more space there. I will also make a tutorial about rear court footwork, maybe that will help you also with a few basic tips for the movement

[@user-hz8sw8qt1z]

@@widowmakergaming415 correct pa, trying to cover the court at center is also creating pressure and loosen accuracy.

[@user-hz8sw8qt1z]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 Thanks Tobias, you videos makes me more enthusiastic and I Try making mistakes since no time to practise due to work load . I stand always with my left foot in the front even during rally .Will that be also a cause for mistakes are lack of speed to the front? I am expecting that video where moving back from center of court or front trying to make myself equal to Cock rather than behind . Your videos are like a dictionary to me ,a big thank for your team 🙏.

[@tonihuynh181]

Hi Tobias, I have a question here. I saw Asia professional players do a split step on their toes. So what is correct one? split step on toes or full foot.

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Great question. On the front foot you will rely on your calf muscles for the start, that is better for quicker splits and shorter distances but it makes it also harder to correct sometimes. For maximum power in the push during the split use the full foot, then you will also feel that you can generate force from the quadriceps and will be fast for longer distances. So both things work and also some individual aspects of the player play a role but to make it easy: front foot = quickness, full foot = speed

[@user-gk1ls8wi8f]

Hi just additional personal observation here. It would also highly relying on your personal strength and weight. A lot of Asian professional players are on the light side so their foot arch can generate enough power and vedios show they spend time on those kind of exercise. For taller and heavier players that may be less efficient or add to much pressure to their foot, overuse may even cause plantar fasciitis in their career. In a video of a whole day of Chow Tien Chen, he spend 10+ min warm up the foot arch using massage balls before the training.

[@tonihuynh181]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 thanks for your information. It helps a lot.

[@tonihuynh181]

@@user-gk1ls8wi8f Thanks a lot. Great information

[@markleong4042]

can you do 1 video for back court too? thanksss

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Yes i will =)

[@shanayadash5313]

I m always trapped when opponet hit a drop..which drill is suitable for me ..ty from India 🇮🇳

[@bbsolpico1]

When you go back to the center, do you still do the We Will Rock you beat?

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

I try to be back in time to keep the rhythm for the exercise but in a match the timing is always different, depending on your lift

[@rekhachamoli1117]

Please send a deception video

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

What kind of deceptions?

[@_WorldPeace]

. 👍 👍

[@benedictpayot9527]

I found out that I kinda cross my legs a little too much when doing my footwork. No wonder I feel off balanced when chasing for shots especially at the net. Any tips on how to correct that?

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Focus on having a lot of distance between your feet. That will also result in a better split step and more explosive push and then you can maybe also avoid too much crossing

[@benedictpayot9527]

@@tobiaswadenka8435 thanks for the response. Will try it!

[@srivarsha5296]

Can u please make a detailed video about backhand drop and smash?love from india❤️

[@nivedm6716]

Sikeeeeee🥵

[@VinhCong-kz1ps]

9:48

[@teenthattalks]

5:25

[@KY-xz9yb]

4:26

[@samriddhibhatt5865]

First'? Deserve a pin!?😭🐷

[@femeena]

Nothing advanced could c

[@johnnylie]

What do you think the pros and cons of Victor’s recovery on the net shot? I get caught times due to the standard short chasse movement.😢

[@lidiarainero-badmintoncoac3704]

Great video as always 👍🏻 perfect for beginners but not only 🏸

[@tobiaswadenka8435]

Thank you Lidia! Kind regards to Italy! =)