There are 4 ways to hit a badminton shot into an open space—90% of players only know the first one.

Anyone who plays knows you should always aim to exploit your opponent’s "open spaces." Yet, many people narrowly define "open spaces" as simply areas of the court where no one is standing. In reality, though, any weakness in the defense—whether visible or hidden—can be considered an "open space." In other words, there are both obvious and subtle gaps waiting to be capitalized on.

Today, the editor will share with you how to exploit your opponent's openings—and also reveal strategies for defending against being caught off guard.

The most obvious type of space is the area farthest from your opponent—essentially, the "empty gap." This is the kind of open space most people immediately think of. When you disrupt your opponent’s formation during a match, hitting the ball into this vacant zone forces them to either fail to get into position—or makes it significantly harder for them to do so—giving you either an immediate chance to score or putting you in a stronger, more proactive position.

Response method:

After every rally, make sure you have the awareness to move back into position. If you don’t already have this mindset, you can practice it at home—perhaps even by preparing your footwork and stance for the return while still on your approach before hitting the ball. That way, you’ll minimize the gaps left in your defensive positioning.

A "gap in awareness" refers to an area where the opposing player hasn’t anticipated or prepared for an attack. Exploiting this gap with a surprise move can be a highly effective offensive strategy. For instance, many deceptive feints are designed precisely to target your opponent’s lack of awareness. Similarly, when you’ve been consistently serving short backhand shots, suddenly switching to a flat or high-trajectory backhand shot can catch your opponent off guard and exploit that very same gap in their anticipation.

Response method:

First, ensure you have good positioning and maintain focused attention. Additionally, pay close attention to your opponent’s serving habits. With more experience, you’ll naturally become better at recognizing open spaces.

A "technical gap" refers to an area where an opponent player has noticeable weaknesses in their technical skills. Exploiting these gaps is also a highly effective offensive strategy. Unfortunately, many amateur players tend to have such vulnerabilities—some, for instance, are particularly wary of backhand shots from the backcourt, while others struggle with drop shots, and so on.

Response method:

It’s best to develop a more well-rounded skill set—because if you have truly exceptional technique, you’ll be able to dominate your opponents effortlessly. However, beginners inevitably have certain technical weaknesses, so it’s crucial to focus more intently on your weaker areas, both in terms of positioning and concentration, to compensate and improve.

For example, if you’re afraid of the backhand, you’ll need to find ways to avoid your opponent hitting the ball in a position that forces you to play a backhand. So, how should you do it? You can choose a good stance—position yourself slightly more to the left (if you’re right-handed).

If you're afraid of the net, position yourself slightly closer to it and focus your attention more on the front area.

A dynamic gap refers to the space directly opposite the direction in which an opposing player is moving quickly—a zone where the player must rapidly brake, come to an abrupt stop, and then instantly reverse direction to cover it. Though this position may feel dangerously close to the opponent, it often catches them off guard.

What you often see is that when both sides are constantly controlling each other with long rallies and drop shots, they don’t necessarily succeed in disrupting their opponent’s rhythm. However, if a sudden "repeated point" is played during these rallies and drop shots, it can actually prove to be highly effective.

Response method:

Retreat promptly—don’t keep sprinting as your opponent makes contact with the ball. Instead, pause briefly or slow down at that moment. Only then, as your opponent’s shot is just leaving their racket, should you smoothly shift into position. Also, note that the "center of the court" isn’t a single pinpoint—it’s actually a broader area.

If you're retreating to the backcourt, your positioning can be slightly further back—while if you're moving up to the net, your stance can be positioned slightly more forward. This approach helps minimize the chances of creating dynamic gaps.

If, in the dynamic interplay of mutual control during combat, you can skillfully exploit your opponent's various openings, your chances of winning will increase significantly.Similarly, reducing your own gaps during the game can create favorable opportunities and set up scoring chances—allowing you to respond effectively.