How to do a split step in badminton (beginner guide)
Introduction
All movements on court start somewhere, and that somewhere is the splitstep. A small movement to create explosiveness and speed on court. But how do you properly use it? This article will explain the basics.
What is a splitstep?
So what actually is a splitstep? A splitstep is a small movement you make to be earlier at the shuttle. They are used in doubles and singles, in both offence and defence. However, for simplicity reasons, we stick to singles and defensive positions in this article. So after a lift or clear. The opponent can hit to all sides, and you need to react as quickly as possible. This is where the splitstep comes in. With your feet around shoulder width apart you make your centre of gravity drop by making a very small jump and landing with your legs bent, ready to push off.
Why do you do a splitstep?
A splitstep might not seem like the most logical thing to do. But it is, and here is why. The splitstep is used to use the energy from lowering your centre of gravity to push off towards where you want to be going in the first instance of the movement. It transfers the energy you put into it to the next step, to generate a lot of power. If the timing is off, this would not benefit you. And also if you do not make a splitstep at all the starting movement will be a lot slower, making you always late to the shuttle. This is why ALL top badminton players make a splitstep.
When do you do a splitstep?
There is a very specific moment when you should make the splitstep. If done correctly, you will feel like you are in rhythm on court. But if done at the wrong moment, the splitstep has no effect, or even a negative effect. The splitstep is done a split second after the opponent hits the shuttle. The moment you can know where to go, that is the moment you want to push off for your splitstep.
Where do you do a splitstep?
A splitstep is something you will do at your defensive base. This base is often around one racket length from the front service line in the middle of the court. You can adapt the position a bit based on what side your opponent is hitting from and how deep into the court they are. But keep in mind you always have one foot close to the middle middle line to reach both sides quickly.
Common beginner mistakes
Mistake 1: Jumping. The splitstep is more like letting yourself fall down into a pushoff position. Not jumping up. If you jump you are in the air and cannot move, and it also costs more energy. Think about dropping down, not jumping up.
Mistake 2: Always make the splitstep on the base. Sometimes, if your shot was not the best, you have no time to move to your base to make a splitstep. The most important thing is to make one at the right time, not to be at your base first. If needed, make it wherever you are when the opponent hits.
Mistake 3: Running too fast. There is a flow to the splitstep. Make sure you move to your base at a pace where the moment you arrive at the base you make the splitstep. Do not wait on court at your base, it is about flow. Not about speed only.
Mistake 4: Doing double splitsteps. A lot of people try to get the timing right by jumping multiple times in the hopes of making one of them at the right moment. Calm down, concentrate on the opponent and work on getting the timing on the right moment. This saves energy and makes you not slower.
How to practice the splitstep
Video: Watch a singles match on YouTube and slow down the speed to 0.5. Watch carefully every time the player nearest to you plays a lift or clear. Where does he go, at what pace and how does his or her splitstep look? For the world class players their splitstep is so smooth it is difficult to follow at normal speed.
Footwork: Practice without an opponent and without a shuttle on court or somewhere spacious. Every time you pretend you just played a lift, and how do you move back to your base and how do you perform the splitstep.
Exercise: Try to incorporate the splitstep in an exercise with a shuttle. Let the opponent hit from the back simple dropshots, and you play lifts to the back. Focus on the timing of the splitstep only. Make sure you play high shots at the beginning and make your lifts more flat if you are getting the hang of it.
Match: Play a practice match and see if you can do the splitstep in a match like situation. Once this can be done, you can expect it to work in your normal matches. Do not focus on this while playing an official match. A splitstep is something that should be natural and not be a focus point during a game.
What we have learned
That a splitstep is used to generate speed from the start position
That you lower your position in a push-off position
That you use the flow in the game to move around the court
What now?
Now you are able to practice on your splitstep with all the tips from this article. This is something that will take many hours and is never perfect. Check out the other articles for the next steps to become a better badminton player!
