Shots & strokes · Serve · Advanced · ~3 min
Drive serve
A fast, flat serve aimed at the receiver's body or backhand, mainly in doubles, to surprise the receiver.
▶ Badminton doubles serve - DRIVE serve technique — Badminton Famly (YouTube)
More videos: Drive Serve - The Popular New Serve in Badminton! (Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo Flat Serve) (Badminton Insight) · KEVIN SANJAYA SUKAMULJO, FLAT SERVE, step by step - Badminton Technique #65 (Shuttle Life)
Tactical use & trade-offs
An occasional surprise against a receiver standing far forward. A ready receiver can intercept it easily, so it is high-risk and rarely used at higher levels. Legality: the shuttle must be struck below the legal service height (BWF international play uses a fixed height of 1.15 m above the court; some local competitions still use the older waist-height rule). Serve in one continuous forward movement with both feet stationary and in contact with the floor. Check the rules used in your competition.
Technique
| Grip | Forehand grip: shake hands with the handle, the V between thumb and index finger on the top-left bevel, fingers relaxed and slightly spread. or backhand grip: from the forehand grip, turn slightly and place the pad of the thumb flat on the wide back bevel (thumb grip). relaxed until contact. |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Standard serving stance, shuttle held low. |
| Contact point | Below the legal service height, in front. |
| Racket face | Flat. |
| Swing | Short, fast flat push or drive within the legal height. |
| Body & footwork | Feet stationary; no step. |
| Follow-through | Racket up; prepare for a fast return. |
Coaching cues
- Flat at the body
- Surprise, not a habit
Common errors
- Contact above the legal height (fault)
- Using it too often
Practice
On your own: Serve flat at a target on a wall at chest height.
With a partner: Receiver practises reacting; server mixes low, flick and drive serves.
Volume: 2 × 10 serves.
Safety
- Stop if you feel sharp pain, dizziness, chest pain or unusual breathlessness.