You can play shadow badminton with a partner to improve your speed and footwork. Have a partner call out various points on the court (eg. “Left backcourt”). Move to that point as if in a real match. Work at this exercise for a few minutes then switch; you’ll see your speed improve. [2] X Research source

Start with your back towards the front of the court, keeping your eyes on the shuttlecock. This allows for a longer, more powerful backhand swing. Keep your arm close to your body until it’s time to swing. Swing your arm around, racquet aimed towards the shuttlecock. Use a flick of your wrist to transfer the power of your swing to the shuttlecock.

The low serve needs to be struck as gently as possible, barely passing over the net and aimed at the front of the opponent’s court. The high serve is sent powerfully upward, so that it come at your opponent almost vertically. This serve is used to drive your opponent back. The flick serve follows a similar upward trajectory as the high serve, but is not nearly as powerful. It’s meant to land behind your opponent’s starting position, forcing them to return the serve while backpedaling. The drive serve is more of a gamble than the other types. It is struck quickly, low over the net. You aim to give your opponent the least amount of time to respond, in order to force them into a mistake. However, it’s possible they’ll return the serve accurately, and just as fast, forcing the same type of reaction out of you. [6] X Research source

If your opponent hits the shuttle straight at you or to the net, hit the shuttle in a different direction instead of hitting it right back at your opponent, where they will expect it to go. You can use long shots to force your opponent to run around the court. Make sure you return to center after hitting your shots, this makes you better prepared to return shots while your opponent’s position is much less stable.

Always return to base after sending or returning a shot. This means returning to the center of the area you’re covering (your half of the court in singles). Whenever you see high shots try to hit a smash or do a fake. [7] X Research source