Slicing the shuttle in badminton is without doubt one of the simplest and misleading strategies, permitting you to outmanoeuvre opponents with intelligent shot placement and surprising trajectory. When executed correctly, a sliced shot makes the shuttlecock journey at a slower tempo or in an altered route, complicated your opponent and disrupting their rhythm.
On this weblog submit, we’ll discover why slicing the shuttle in badminton is so efficient, the advantages of mastering this method, and a few suggestions for bettering your slice photographs.
What Is a Slice in Badminton?
A slice is a sort of shot the place the racket cuts throughout the shuttle at an angle as a substitute of hitting it squarely. Though in lots of situations we’d assume that that is slicing throughout the shuttles, it could actually additionally imply slicing throughout the cork. The overall impact of slicing the shuttle is to:
- Sluggish the shuttle down, opposite to swing velocity (or perceived swing velocity).
- Change the route of the shuttle, opposite to swing route and relative to the angle of the racket head
- Trigger the shuttle to fall at a steeper angle.
An skilled participant will be capable to produce a slice shot that delivers all three of the attributes above.
Sorts Of Photographs That Use The Slice In Badminton
Usually, we affiliate the slice with a drop shot as that’s its most typical use. Nonetheless, it can be used with:
You wouldn’t usually slice a transparent. Naturally, you need it to journey the complete distance of the court docket and subsequently slicing it might seemingly create a shorter clear which might be punished.
Straight Slice Vs Reverse Slice
Straight Slice
A straight slice is performed from the rear backhand nook. The shuttle travels straight down the tramlines with the slice including to the deception and altering the trajectory of the shot. For the straight slice, the shuttle is minimize in your racket facet. For instance, when you’re right-handed, you slice the right-hand facet of the shuttle.
Curiously, within the palms of a lefty the straight slice is a bit more harmful, which we’ll get to later.
Reverse Slice
A reverse slice could be slicing the shuttle on the alternative or non-racket facet. From the rear backhand nook, this is able to lead to a cross-court shot into the opponent’s court docket as Loh Kean Yew demonstrates under. This shot is barely tougher than the straight slice, at the least in my view. It requires higher racket management to slice the shuttle precisely in addition to the extra deception wanted to point out the opponent the alternative of the place the shuttlecock goes.
The Reverse Straight Slice
The reverse straight slice is without doubt one of the most troublesome photographs to play in badminton. Enjoying it efficiently, although, will depart your opponents unable to react in any respect! Leaving you wanting fairly rattling cool.
In comparison with the 2 slices above, the reverse straight slice is a extra apparent motion. The reverse straight slice will not be performed in the identical method. As a substitute, it’s extra refined, with the slice coming barely off-centre of the cork on the non-racket facet.
That is performed as drop shot from the forehand facet. Every part in regards to the physique and stroke implies a cross-court shot. Nonetheless, the shuttle is performed straight by slicing throughout it on the level of influence. That is extraordinarily misleading and even on the prime degree is pretty uncommon to see. Watch Lee Chong Wei carry out it completely to finish the rally above.
A backhand reverse straight slice can be carried out however is probably the toughest shot to play in badminton. Within the palms of a grasp like Tai Tzu Ying it appears easy and extremely misleading. Slicing the shuttle on this method requires a really excessive degree of ability.
Cross Courtroom Slice
A cross-court slice is performed from the forehand facet within the rear court docket and the slice is on the racket facet of the shuttle, making it the alternative of the reverse slice cross court docket. That is maybe probably the most thought-of shot when gamers consider a sliced shot. This shot is troublesome to be according to and requires excellent management of the shuttle to drag off.
What’s the Impact Of Slicing The Shuttle In Badminton?
The rationale why the slice is efficient in badminton is as a result of it forces the shuttle to behave unnaturally. In a standard shot through which the shuttle will not be sliced, the shuttle should flip to level in the direction of the route it’s travelling. The spin of the shuttle is of course counter-clockwise and it spins at a sure rotation velocity which creates stability within the flight of the shuttle. The shuttle is usually predictable as to the route and velocity in most “regular” photographs. Nonetheless, the slice modifications this by forcing the shuttle to rotate sooner or oppose the route of it’s spin.
Impact Of The Slice On The Shuttle
The pure spin of a shuttle is in an anti-clockwise route as a result of method the feathers overlap one another. A right-handed participant who performs a straight slice or cross-court slice will minimize the shuttle on its right-hand facet. In follow, which means the shuttle is sliced with the pure rotation of the shuttle. This causes the shuttle to spin a lot sooner in an anti-clockwise route, rising drag on the shuttle. The drag is created by the skirt of the shuttle widening creating extra floor space and subsequently larger air resistance. This causes the shuttle to fall sooner and at a steeper angle. This may catch opponents off guard when the shuttle falls a lot shorter than they might have anticipated.
Bonus factors when you’re a lefty! The straight slice is performed towards the pure rotation of the shuttle. This forces the shuttle to spin clockwise as a substitute. Subsequently, the shuttle has to moreover right its rotation, which suggests the shuttle falls a little bit sooner than that performed by a right-hander. However, this doesn’t make a major distinction in actuality.
The other is true when taking part in reverse slices. For right-handers, you slice the left facet of the shuttle, towards the pure rotation of the shuttle. This makes this shot extra tough as it’s important to compensate for the slice by hitting the shuttle more durable to make sure the shuttle travels the gap supposed. Left-handers will play reverse slices with the rotation of the shuttle, much like a right-hander’s straight slice.
For the reverse slice, the tempo is taken out of the shuttle by slicing alongside the face of the cork. The deception ingredient comes from the stroke of the racket head which suggests the shuttle is travelling the alternative method to the place it really finally ends up.
Advantages of Utilizing a Slice Shot
- Deception: The primary benefit of a slice shot is its misleading nature. While you put together for a traditional shot, your opponent could anticipate the shuttle to journey in a sure method. A slice, nevertheless, makes the shuttle decelerate or change route, catching your opponent off guard.
- Management: Slices might help you management rallies, because the unpredictable shuttle path can disrupt opponents’ footwork.
- Slows the tempo: Slicing might help disrupt their rhythm by slowing down the sport and providing you with extra time to recuperate and reposition.
- Variation: Enjoying a quick attacking rally will situation the opponent to anticipate exhausting photographs. Slices will assist keep your velocity of motion however upset the tempo of the shuttle – complicated your opponent.
Some Suggestions When Slicing The Shuttle In Badminton
There’s loads of info on the market on the right way to play the slice itself. It will be too cumbersome to put in writing out the right way to really do it. I’ve included right here some movies from different content material creators on the right way to carry out this shot.
Nonetheless, we will share some further suggestions right here which can assist you get probably the most out of these slices.
Hit The Shuttle More durable Than You Suppose For Sliced Drops
Don’t consider the slice drop falling as near the web as potential. Many gamers situation themselves to suppose a drop ought to fall as near the web as potential. In some situations, that may be the objective. However with a sliced drop, it’s important to compensate for the sharp fall in velocity of the drop.
That is very true for cross-court drops. Bear in mind, the shuttle slows a lot sooner throughout slices so hitting them too flippantly means there’s likelihood it should fall in need of crossing the web. It’s essential to keep up a quick swing velocity. Not solely will this assist with the gap on the shuttle, it should additionally assist with the deception of the stroke.
Hitting Motion
For a straight slice – as a substitute of hitting the shuttle straight on, it’s important to minimize the shuttle on the right-hand facet (when you’re right-handed). I like to think about it as an axe swing however from above your head, if that helps anyone. Attempt to maintain your racket on the similar angle as when it’s simply behind your head and don’t pronate your forearm any additional. This may forestall you from hitting it too flat, which won’t have the slice impact you’re in search of.
For a reverse slice, you don’t need to slice throughout the shuttle as with the straight slice. Primarily as a result of that is fairly troublesome to do contemplating you’re taking the shuttle round your head and making an attempt to slice it to the identical diploma would require an insane quantity of ability. As a substitute, you need to hit the cork off-centre which can drive the shuttle to journey cross-court. It’s the racket motion which creates the deception and angle of the shot.
Additionally don’t overlook to take the shuttle at its highest level! In any other case, you’ll lose some important distance that would imply the distinction between a profitable slice or not.
Use Your Wrist To Slice
Slicing the shuttle in badminton isn’t simply in regards to the forearm motion. The wrist must be used to assist create the correct angle to slice the shuttle. Simply the motion of the forearm received’t be sufficient. This helps to create the slice and likewise create the velocity within the racket head wanted to create energy whereas maintaining the stroke misleading.
Be sure to comply with via as effectively! While you’ve struck the shuttle, the racket head must proceed it’s path downwards, lead by the wrist to drag it within the route you need it to go relying on the slice you play.
Don’t Rely On Your Stroke Solely For Deception
Whereas the stroke itself creates a pure deception, your physique language additionally must comply with swimsuit. It must appear to be each different overhead stroke to maintain your opponent guessing. Don’t suppose the velocity of your swing is sufficient to confuse the opposition. An skilled participant will be capable to learn most strokes if the physique language doesn’t line up.

Picture: Antony Stanley
Don’t Drive The Deception
Many gamers who’re studying this shot focus an excessive amount of on making an attempt to be misleading, reasonably than taking part in the shot constantly. When you’re capable of play this shot successfully, there’s no must drive the deception. It happens naturally via the motions of the shot. It’s not the identical as a cease drop the place there’s an apparent try to be misleading.
Conclusion
Slicing the shuttle in badminton and mastering a wide range of these photographs can provide you a powerful weapon in your arsenal. Slicing permits you to management the tempo of the sport and provides a component of unpredictability to your photographs. Apply usually, focus in your wristwork and timing, and also you’ll be slicing your method to victory very quickly!
If you happen to haven’t already – be sure that to take a look at Alien Execs grips so you possibly can actually add some further flare on court docket when taking part in these slices! They supply a wonderful collection of distinctive racket grips which can assist you stand out from the group.