A hairpin shot is a badminton move where you hit the shuttle really close to the net so it barely clears and falls down quickly which makes it hard for your opponent to hit back. You need to use a gentle wrist movement and fast feet to pull it off and it usually forces your opponent to hit a weak return that you can then smash for a winner. This shot is super useful in both singles and doubles games because it gives you the advantage.
How to perform Hairpin Shot in Badminton
- Get down low at the net by bending your knees, keeping your racket raised and staying on the balls of your feet so you can move fast.
- Pick the right grip: use a loose forehand grip when you’re on the forehand side and a loose backhand grip with your thumb underneath for support on the backhand side.
- Hit the shuttle early while it’s in front of you, right below the net line and keep your racket face a little bit open.
- Gently absorb the shuttle’s energy by using your fingers and wrist, softly pushing it over the net without swinging all the way through.
To explain the hairpin shot, here are two examples:
Forehand Hairpin Shot – You use smooth wrist control on your racket side to keep the shuttle really close to the net.
Backhand Hairpin Shot – You use a tight grip on your non-racket side to make the shuttle flip over when your opponent puts pressure on you.
