A wood shot (also called a “frame shot”) occurs in badminton when the shuttle makes contact with the racket’s frame rather than the strings. Since 1963, BWF regulations permit the wood shot when players complete it in a single stroke. While most wood shots happen by accident, some players actually use them on purpose as a tactical move to throw off their opponent’s timing or catch them off guard.
Is the Wood Shot Legal in Badminton?
In 1963, badminton got a major update when the IBF made a decision to permit “wood shots”. This meant that if the shuttle touched the racket’s frame or handle, it wouldn’t count as a fault anymore. In modern badminton, the BWF has rules that allow this as long as it happens in a single smooth motion without any double hits or carries. While wood shots might occasionally confuse your opponent, they’re usually just a sign that you didn’t time your swing quite right.
How to Perform a Wood Shot in Badminton
- Position yourself correctly using good footwork, making sure you’re standing behind where the shuttle is.
- Swing your racket like you normally would but point the frame of your racket at the bottom of the shuttle.
- Hit the shuttle with the frame instead of the strings which makes a loud clicking noise.
- The shuttle won’t go very far and usually falls down slowly with weird spinning motion.
- Your opponent might get confused because they’re expecting you to hit a smash or a drive instead.
