一位羽毛球爱好者的博客

Blocking smashes is among the most important defensive skills in badminton. If you can’t return your opponent’s smashes, then your chances of winning the game is slim.

In the NBA, there is a famous saying: Good defense equals good offense. This also applies to badminton. Everybody knows that the smash is an important offensive move in badminton. Smashes, especially jump smashes, are extremely fast and powerful and it is the main attraction for audiences watching a competition. Players and coaches spent years trying to perfect smashes and also smash blocking techniques. In the 80s, there was a famous match where Han Jian from China stopped around a dozen continuous attacks from Liem Swie King of Indonesia, one of the best offensive players in the world at the time, and went on the win the match. There are many other examples of great defense in high level competitions, and all of us recreational players wish that we had that level of defensive skill, so that winning a game becomes easier.

The goal of smash blocking is to prevent the opponents from scoring points from their smashes, and also try to turn the tide of battle. There are many specific smash blocking techniques, but all of them fit into three general categories.

Category 1: Power smash blocking. The defender swings the racket when blocking the smash, hitting the bird to the back of the opponent’s side of the court. The faster the smash is, the faster the return will be. This kind of blocking can also be split into upper body blocking and lower body blocking. If the birdie flies above the waist level, then try to hold the racket with the head pointing up and drive the bird back to the opponent and force the opponent to defend. If the birdie flies below waist level, then there’s no choice but to use an underhand swing to clear the bird to backcourt. In the first case where the bird is above waist level, sometimes it’s more advantageous to use the backhand grip even if the bird is in the forehand part of the coverage. The backhand grip allows you to have a quicker swing and also you wouldn’t have to change grips from backhand to forehand and vice versa. In the second case when you have to lift the bird, be ready for more smashes or other attacking shots, since your opponent is still in the position to attack.

Category 2: Deflective smash blocking. The defender doesn’t swing the racket and uses only the original force of the smash and the angle of the racket face to deflect the shuttlecock back into the opponent’s court. This technique is most effective when the bird is deflected to an empty part of the opponent’s court. If used well, this type of blocking is more effective than category 1, but it depends on the trajectory and target of the bird. This technique may not be very effective if the opponent follows the returns and gets closer and closer to the net. Because no swinging is involved, this blocking technique can cover a larger area than other techniques since the arm can be fully outstretched. It is commonly used in singles competition.

Category 3: Drop return smash blocking. The goal of this technique is not to hit or deflect the bird, but rather using a flick of the wrist, to turn an oncoming smash into a drop shot that just passes the net and lands in the front corners. This makes sure that the opponent won’t be able to continue the attack. This, of course, is the hardest block to execute but probably also the most effective. Note that in order to slow the momentum of an oncoming smash, the racket will sometimes sort of “carry” the bird. Carrying is a violation, so make sure the bird and racket don’t make contact for too long.

No matter which technique you use, all smash blocking require having quick reactions, racket control, muscular control and a clear head. Also try to lower your centre of gravity as smashes almost always fly towards the ground and stand in the spot that will give you the best position to defend.

The above article is based on my personal experiences. If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to voice them by emailing me.

文章中文版

在羽毛球这项运动中，没有什么比拉高远球更基本的基本功了。相信每位初学者都是从学击高远球开始。而衡量一位高手的水平也多半可以从他（她）拉高远球的功力如何就得到结果了。

从我们平时自身打球到观看世界一流的羽毛球比赛，有没有人注意到或体会到在击高远球时的两种不同的挥拍方式？有没有人觉察到它们之间的细微的差别？

举个实例，将国手大姐大张宁、谢杏芳击高远球的动作与国手大哥大林丹、陈宏的动作技术比较，能看出什么不同之处吗？

拉高远球有两种挥拍方式，也就是两种引拍动作。第一种是大动作（长距离）挥拍，而第二种是小动作（短距离）挥拍。它们的技术特点存在着不同。

作为大动作挥拍，当运动员移动到自己的最佳击球位置后，他（她）会将持拍手的大臂抬得很高，肘子向上，手腕后翻，拍框几乎碰到自己的腰背部。然后最大最长距离地挥动球拍，再通过转体和手臂内旋以及闪腕，将球击出。这里有鞭击的动作。这种回挥拍的技术特点是拉引动作大。

作为小动作挥拍，当运动员移动到自己的最佳击球位置后，他（她）不会将持拍的大臂抬得很高，大臂与地面大约是平行的，而手腕后翻，手背与地面几乎平行，手心朝上，然后利用小手臂的力量、手腕的力量极速挥拍，再结合转体、小手臂内旋和闪腕产生瞬间的爆发力，将球高速击出。所以，小动作挥拍的技术特点是拉引动作小。

在实际运用中，女选手和小手臂力量不足的男选手大多数采用长距离挥拍的技术动作。如果在时间充分的话，这种击球方式是可以发挥作用。但在实际比赛中，你能做到迅速移位到自己的最佳击球点已经很了不起，不会有什么时间让你做完整个长距离挥拍动作。这样一来，就会自己感到慢了半拍，整个动作完成不了，击球的力度和准确性就变差了。所以说，在实际比赛中，采用短距离挥拍的击球动作是较可取。

English version of this article

In the sport of badminton, there isn’t a skill as basic as hitting clears. Most novice badminton players usually start learning the sport by learning how to clear. One can often evaluate the skill level of another player by looking at how well he/she hit clears.

From playing recreationally ourselves to watching high level badminton competitions, did anyone notice that there are two different swings for hitting the clear? Can anyone detect the minute differences between the two?

For example, is the swings of the world’s best female players the same or different than the swings of the best male players?

There are two ways of hitting clear, which means they involve different swings. The first type involves a big swing, while the second type uses a smaller swing. Both have their unique characteristics.

When hitting with the big swing, after the player has reached the best hitting position on the court, he/she will lift the upper part of his/her racket arm very high, with the elbow pointing upwards, wrist bent backwards and the head of the racket almost touching the lower back. Then the swing happens as the body, arm and wrist rotate, giving the swing a large arch. The distinguishing characteristic of this swing is the long preparation.

When hitting with the smaller swing, the player won’t lift his/her upper arm as high. The arm is about parallel to the ground, while the wrist is bent so that the palm is pointing straight up. When hitting, this type of swing uses mainly the power of the forearm and wrist in addition to the body rotation. Therefore, its distinguishing characteristic is the short preparation.

In reality, female players and male players who lack the strength usually use the big swing to compensate. The big swing can be very effective when there is enough time for preparing the swing. In a real game, however, you usually don’t have the luxury of time so therefore using a big swing would be ineffective, since you don’t have enough time to complete the whole action. In these situations, it’s usually better to use the smaller swing to hit clears.

文章中文版

题目：提高发网前小球的稳定性、精确性和隐蔽性

最近，与我的良师益友苏先生配对打了一局双打比赛。对手是两位球龄在20年以上的中港业余好手。应该说对手的实力在我们组合之上，因为本人还属短球龄新手。可没料到比赛的结果出人预料，我们以一个完整的15比0战胜了对手，有点不可思议。比赛是先由我方发球开始，每分都是经过你来我往的激烈争夺，但发球权始终在我方的手上。到了我们的组合拿下最后的一分。我连发了15个高质量的网前小球，没让对方得到一次接发球抢攻的机会。而苏先生的超强攻击力让对方只有招架之功，没有反击之力。这局双打胜得有些难以置信，但让自己深深体会到了发球在双打中的重要性和掌握了发球技术对提高比赛水平的意义。

在羽毛球这项运动中，发球受到规则的限定，只能从下向上击球，而且击球点不能高于发球人的腰部，击球时拍框不得高于手腕。所以发球方总是被动的，不具攻击性。但是，现行的羽毛球规则又规定，只有发球方才有得分的权力。这样使得发球权倍受重视。无论是单打还是双打，相信每位球员都想练好发球和真正的掌握各项发球技术。

在众多的羽毛球教学DVD，VCD和录像带中，许多名将都已把发球进行专项的讲解和演示，让我们受益匪浅。首先，根据发球的方式，可分为发正手球和发反手球。再者，根据羽毛球的飞行轨迹、曲线和落点，又可分为发网前小球、发平快球和发高远球。在现代的羽毛球运动发展趋势，发网前小球越来越多，不但在双打，而且在世界级的单打比赛中，发网前小球都有举足轻重的地位。如果球发得好，就避免处于被动挨打的局面，就能为进攻和得分创造条件。

对发好网前小球，每位球手都有自己的经验。在此，本人愿将自己的一些心得和体会与广大的球友们交流。期望引起共鸣，得到大家的讨论和批评指正。

顾名思义，发网前小球就是发球球员站在靠近己方的发球线，将羽毛球发到接球方的发球线之上（压线）或之后几厘米的不同位置。分析网前小球的运动轨迹，如果能控制到球的飞行曲线是以球网顶部3厘米处为最高点（既几乎贴网而过），球越过网之后就下坠，利用惯性继续飞行到接球方的前发球线，并且落点在近角区或网前的远角区，这样的发球就最PERFECT。

大家都有体会，一般接发球的球员对网前小球多数采用上网扑杀这一招。如果能发出高质量的小球，多半可以迫使对方扑杀击球下网，或只能从下朝上扑球。这样一来，站在前场的发球者可以有机会封杀，而己方的后场球员更有机会直接进攻，以取得场上对打的主动权。

如何发好网前小球呢？本人的经验是关键在控制好球的飞行曲线和掌握好击球的力度—即球的飞行球速， 还要发球时注意力集中和手放松，并正确判断接球方的意图。如果能做到以下几点，再加上反复练习，以至熟能生巧，就能发出高质量的网前小球。

1）在规则的允许范围内，击球点尽可能高一些；所以左手向前伸直，将球提到在
规则允许的高度；
2）站位在内角处，使球过网飞行的距离越短越好；
3）采用反手发小球的稳定性较高，而且球的飞行距离短；所以，对于右手握拍者，要右脚在前，左脚在后，侧身和身体前倾；
4）以反手握拍法，手心要空。只要食指和大拇指钳住球拍即可，其余三指放松；
5）球拍放到身体前方，球拍与地面成大约60度夹角，而与球网成大约45度夹角；并将球拍的斜面放在左手所持羽毛球的球托下方的3至5厘米处。
6）两眼注视对方的站位和举动，以决定自己发球的落点和力度；
7）当持球左手将球放松后，只靠右手的手指和手腕发力挥动球拍划弧线去切击球托（即削球方式）。小手臂和肘关节不动。这样击出的球是旋转的，稳定性强，精确度好；(提示：手指发力的方式，以中指、无名指和小手指向手心回拉拍柄，而大拇指和食推送拍柄，球拍划弧（运动）小于60度，即不需大动作的引拍)。
8）球离开球拍后，马上下蹲身体，将球拍举过自己的头顶，准备击对方的回球；
9）如果想发远角网前小球，要保持动作的一致性；只是在最后击球的一瞬间将拍面转动一个角度，将球击到对方的远角处；

以上纯属个人的体会。有误之处，请各位球友、高手和大师们多多指教和发表见解。

在世界级的双打比赛中，发球的失误率都在15%左右，有时高达30%。失去发球权，何来得分呢？看了众多的比赛，本人最欣赏前印尼队2000年奥运会双打冠军TONY发网前小球的技术动作。如果说到反手发后场高远球，印尼队的哈林姆是再下的偶像。

English version of this article