By Justin Ma, 7x US Junior National Badminton Champion.
Last updated April 15, 2021
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3 min read
Doubles is a game that requires teamwork and cooperation between you and your doubles partner. Aside from how this cooperation affects your direct skill and technique on the court, there is a large mental aspect to teamwork as well. In this short post, I will explore why it is important to exhibit your teamwork on the court and different ways that you can do so.
Teamwork can be exhibited in many different ways and produces various different results. Here are a list of a few different positive outcomes that come from cooperation with your partner.
With better teamwork, you and your partner can start to develop synergy. This means that you know what type of shots your partner may hit before they hit it, or which shots you might need to help cover. Your partner will also know the same and will be able to help you finish off rallies or cover for you when you can’t reach a shot. Synergy is important as it helps the two of you perform better on the court.
The more you work together with your partner, the more trust you will develop. You can start to feel that your partner will hold the ground and that you will not have to do extra to win the point. Trust means that you will play your part, and they will do theirs in a doubles match. Trust also means that win or lose, the two of you are still partners and that there is no one to blame. Play as a team, regardless of the outcome.
Fear can be instilled on your opponents if you show that the two of you are a cohesive unit. Rather than allowing your opponents to find a weak link between the two players, they can only see that you are one doubles pair. They could be scared of how well the two of you set each other up, or the fact that they aren’t able to single out one player. Utilize teamwork to intimidate your opponents and win more points and more games.
On the court, there are many ways to show that you and your partner are on the same page – here are just a few.
This is the easiest way to show your opponents that you are on the same page and to boost each other up. When you win or lose a point, you can high five each other to pump yourselves up after a good smash, or use your racket to give a pat on the back when the two of you lose a rally. This shows your opponents that you are still willing to fight and that you are both working together.
If you or your partner keep making simple mistakes in a game, don’t call them out on it or start a discussion on the court – you can save that for after the game to analyze what went wrong. Instead, encourage your partner and find ways to get them back into the game. If your opponents see you fighting on the court, they will feel more confident and keep doing what they are doing. Keep your discussions short and make sure to encourage each other.
Don’t forget to have fun! Remember the reason that you are playing badminton together and don’t forget to show it. Leave a smile on your face to your partner, cheer them up, and find other ways to show your enjoyment on the court. Two players that are having fun together will have less opportunities to show signs of weakness. Use this fun to keep both partners happy and ready to tackle any challenge on the court.
Teamwork is an undervalued aspect of doubles. Try to see how implementing any of these different strategies will help you and your partner win more points on the court. Check to see the different flows of the game while you are playing and how these different techniques will help you play differently. Don’t forget to have fun with your partner and remember why we are playing this amazing sport!
