The 4 Main Components of Smooth Footwork | Lin Dan Analysis

Ever wonder what makes footwork smooth? Here's my thoughts after my research of some of Lin Dan's clips.

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Thanks Din and Ho-yin for the badminton footage!

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[ililcookie_]

Here's me commenting on a really old video again. But I feel like this comment section could use a little nudge in the right direction.

A lot of people are scratching the surface and almost hitting the key points but barely missing or not going deep enough or maybe even going too deep and reading too much into things.

1. You need to find yourself a proper footwork that works for you.

No one has the same physical properties as the next guy. May it be height, strength, flexibility etc. Some can be improved, some are biological and can't be altered.

So if you have different physical properties as a pro, there's no real reason to mimic them perfectly. Because you won't be able to. You're not the same, so why move the same.

That being said, you can't just run around in any way you seem fit. You'll have to learn multiple different movement techniques and take the things that works for you and mix them up into your own style. Different opponents, soreness, injuries, playstyles, shuttle speeds and your daily form are some of the many things that may affect how well you can move. You have to be able to move in different ways and adapt to the situation.

2. How to not get decieved or tricked into going towards the wrong direction.

Many people think that you just have to be fast, to react fast and just learn to move as soon as possible. But, that's actually quite the opposite. To not get tricked you need to dare to stay put that extra millisecond before moving. This way you will see where the shuttle is going and not already be on your way to a different corner.

And that's how you start to seem super smooth and stable in your movement. And yes, you will get tricked and sometimes get to the shuttle a little later than if you guessed correctly. But that millisecond you reach the shuttle later is worth not getting there at all because of deceptions.

And yes, I know it seems like the pros don't do this. But they've been using this technique countless many times and each time they use it they keep reducing that extra time they have to wait in the middle.

And, no. You shouldn't ALWAYS do this. There are scenarios where you somewhat HAVE to guess. A super short lift or a bad net shot will leave you with no other choice than to guess a little and just react.

3. Getting into your base position AFTER the shot has been made is actually more important that reaching the shuttle early. Im the two clips where you barely moved towards the shuttle. You were very slow back into court and your split-step is finished after they've made their shot. This leaves you stranded and you get the feeling of you being stuck on your heels.

4. Split step.

Split step is SO important. You need it to activate your muscles and prepare to move. But don't make a jump. You should barely even make a step. It's just for adjusting your feet, your center of gravity and preparing to move. Not an actual step/jump.

5. On your last point. You hit it dead-on.

Sometimes, taking the shot later is much better than going all in to reach the shuttle super early and losing your balance, flow, stability aswell as being much more tiring.

//Thanks and hope you've learned something.

[ForReaI]

Other aspects to keep in mind are:
1) timing - doing the footwork when the opponent hits the shot, not whenever you return to middle of court. This is hard to practice if you’re just doing shadow footwork at the same pace.
2) Anticipation and recovery footwork - you can’t cover all corners with the same percentage - you choose some corners to cover more actively, and if the opponent hits to other corners, you must use recovery footwork. In this video Lin Dan used a lot of recovery footwork to reach his forehand backcourt corner.

[HamzaBadminton]

I strongly feel that the reason you might be reacting so is because you are not looking at your opponents racket and body language as he hits the shuttle. By simply looking at his racket exactly when he strikes the shuttle, you can usually subconsciously narrow the number of shots he can play to usually 1 or 2. An easy way to try what i am saying is to watch a nice camera angle video and try to read the opponents shot by looking at his racket and body language. You might find yourself reacting a lot faster if you do this. At least personally this tip helps me a lot.

[AwonDanag]

This has been discussed before, but having experience is key. LD has been exposed to all kinds of playing styles, so he pretty much has an idea on different game plans, i.e., what shot(s) are coming. That's why he is known to sort of 'bias' his base position a little bit.

And like you said, not just 'good' shots but with disguise too. LD has 'natural' disguise in almost ALL shots, not just the revered forehand. This is one thing that's a little difficult to fathom when watching film and recordings, but can be relished the best when watching him live.

Seen him once; especially on his high forehand, whose action I'd say is unique to everyone else I've seen yet. Wherever he places the shuttle, the preparation from arm swing and racket face has enough deception, but then there's almost a split-second, split-frame where the wrist will come to play and direct the shot. This is tricky as hell, I've even having trouble describing it. But once executed, opponents will have lost a 'little' bit of footing before moving to the correct direction which is already an advantage to LD movement wise. IMO this is just the result of countless hours of training.

Great video, I hope you could help us with a feature on this forehand!

[sowadhossain]

This is soo perfectly timed upload .. 😅 I just came back from badminton and was really struggling with my footwork and was nearly always stranded and caught off guard by my opponent .. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for this video 😁😁

[raviputrevu]

Hi Jeffrey, your video of the pebbles moving on water is exactly how I feel when some of the advanced players are moving on the court. It's a great video 👍

[icedlatt]

I typed all of this upon watching your video up to 2:55 where you showed your gameplay clips. Upon watching the entire video, I can see that you've realized these points as well, but I'll leave the comment in anyways, in case it may be of help. What I don't quite agree with is number 2 at 3:34. "Being able to see where the shuttle is going as soon as it leaves the opponent's racket" is too passive, and subjects you to only react to the opponent, making it more difficult to take back tempo. I think it's better to say "Being able to read the flow of the rally, what shot the opponent is likely to play, and act shrewdly."

One thing that I believe may help you with your "not moving" problem is the apparent lack of "reading" or anticipating your opponent's intentions.
When I hit the shuttle, I know where it is going. Because of this, and factoring in the current tempo of the rally and my opponent's more favored shots to play at those instances, I can guesstimate where the shuttle is likely to be played next. Always keep in mind that your opponent is also a thinking person, so we can't afford to be passive in our shots and hope the opponent will commit unforced errors. More often than not, if we don't take initiative, the opponent will, and reading your opponent is a great way to take initiative and turn the rally's tempo in your favor.
Just like when you play a semi-high clear shot to the back and you see your opponent already near the back of the court (like in the rally with the girl at 2:27), you can expect a steep return to be played, either in smash or a fast drop. Of course, I don't have any knowledge of the prior shots that lead to the clip in 2:27, but it seems as though your initial shot wasn't aimed at achieving anything. If anything, it simply gave your opponent control of the next shot in the rally, and therefore, gave her the right to dictate the next few shots.
While badminton tests one's reflexes and physical ability to exercise agility and mechanical precision and consistency of shots, I've learned throughout my years of playing that mental preparedness is a huge and deciding factor in controlling and eventually winning rallies. Tempo control is largely a mind game between you and your opponent, and sound decision making and calculated risk-taking will influence the course of the rally.

Going back to my case, when I place a shot, since I guesstimate the return shot that my opponent would be playing, I mentally commit myself to my next shot (I should mention that physically, you should try your best to not give any tells of your intentions, and mask your intentions as much as possible). I give myself a 70:30 or a 60:40 if I'm not completely confident on my read of my opponent's next shot, the higher number being my prediction of my opponent's next shot (this is what I mentally commit to), and the smaller number being plan B, where I guessed wrongly and therefore lose some tempo. To illustrate this, imagine the rally at 2:27 with the girl opponent. You hit a clear shot to the backhand side of the opponent but your opponent wasn't under any pressure and was in good position to hit the shuttle early. In my opinion, it was unreasonable for you to anticipate a fast shot (either drive or smash?), since your opponent's body language (always watch your opponent's movement to read their intentions) didn't suggest she was going for a powerful shot. And the reason I'm saying that you're anticipating a fast shot is because at around the same time she struck the shuttle, you "braced" yourself by simultaneously planting both feet, a defensive stance indicating anticipation of a fast shot near your immediate location. You weren't able to react to the cross drop even though you should have had enough time to get to the shuttle (it landed beyond the service line even), and seem to have resigned the point when you got caught stranded in place (you also didn't return to the center of the court after your previous shot). Had you anticipated even the small possibility of a cross drop return (this is the 30 of the 70:30 that I'm referring to. The 70 is the obvious return that we normally anticipate. In your case it was the fast return that you seemed to be anticipating), then I know you would have been able to return that cross drop.

That being said, and you didn't commit this mistake in the video, it's also important to not move before the opponent has taken his/her shot, as you'll be prone to putting yourself in undesirable positions.

Think of it this way. Returning shots that are predictable isn't difficult, let's be honest here. It's the shots that we don't expect that really catch us off-guard and make us vulnerable to slipping up in footwork, momentum, and shot execution. Assuming similar physical abilities, it's in managing our expectations and manipulating/deceiving our opponents that we get ahead of them in the rallies.

I do not mean to sound harsh or berating you, as I am admittedly very prone to committing these mistakes as well. Easier said than done, as all things are. Hope this helps you in some way, I'm always glad to see someone striving to improve.

[viveknamikaze]

Great analysis Jeffrey. The side angle looks as amazing as always!

[jasonlin]

Great video as a doubles player in highschool right now i really needed this to improve my foot work. Im gonna implement this next time i play. Thank you.

[Chris-fgyd]

Damn brilliant video, man! Subscribed 😁👍🏼 Also a lot of good input from everybody’s comments below. I love the badminton community

[friedricebdsm]

Oh yeah Jeffrey that's so smooth. ;)

[yashj]

quality content right here. Glad i stumbled upon your channel

[sendohx]

This game can be played by many, but not an easy thing to master.

[sairamtejaakkiraju]

Exactly, what is needed!! 😊😊🏸🏸🏸Please Make some videos on proper footwork.. Step Thankyou, 😊😊

[jessechoi]

Lol hitting good shots doesn't mean better footwork. A young coach trolled me so hard by hitting not so good quality shots. But he still managed to save every shot eventhough i managed to move him around the court due to his good footwork.
I think good footwork requires concentration of relaxed balancing, minimal # of steps, static body, consecutive movement of left right foot which require feet staying as close to the ground as possible.

[stormfang]

Can someone tell me who the person shown at the starting of the video is?

[auaugaming]

The biggest secret is their higher center point that they recover to + super skill to move back to 2 deep corners behind.
we average players dont have as good physical condition to lob back in that situation => be late to the net => narrower range of strokes + slower in rhythm

[akcreators]

Sir will you make video on 1 month traning to improve game

[writingmaster]

I used to try and get to the back court and backhand or forehand when the shuttle is high. Lin Dan is hitting forehand and nearly horizontal from the back court to the opponent's forecourt

[jessechoi]

2:24 You are standing too tall and you didn't anticipate for the front court even though he is hitting with his back hand at such a low position
2:27 You did a punch clear but you returned to position like you hit a really high clear
2:47 You have kind of the right timing for split step but that split step is just for show since you aren't prepared for the footwork after that step. You didn't really turn your body after he cleared.
Basically its just practice practice and practice.