What is the best way to get back to base from the net i.e the corners, large steps back or chaises? What is the benefit of both? Or is it down to preference?

Hi Dobbie,

If I understand correctly, you have just come into the net, and, having played your shot, are now looking to move back to base.

The short answer is its entirely down to preference and your ability to cover the correct areas of the court easily. The longer answer is a bit more involved 🙂

The reality of the situation is that it is likely to depend on what shot you played, where your opponent is, and what shots you are expecting in reply. Roughly speaking, having played a shot at the front of the court, you will want to either:

1) move back to the midcourt

2) hover around the front court

Why would you do either? Well, you would want to move back to the midcourt if you played more or less anything other than a tightish net shot. If you played a push, you would move more to the midcourt to intercept the next shot. If you played a lift, you would come back to the centre of the court to defend (probably). If you played a poor net shot of any sort, then you need to be ready to run away/scramble to the next shuttle. You would look to hover around the front court if you got the the net early to play a tight net shot that you knew your opponent would have a hard time returning, or a cross net shot that they had to take late.

If you are hovering around the net, you will probably be using a medium sized chasse (think fencing), because you want to keep your balance low, your legs charged, and your racket out and ready. The distance you are travelling is not small. You will probably retreat to a base around 6 inches to a foot behind the service line.

If you are going back to the midcourt, your movement pattern is determined by the need to be back in the court quickly or not. If you have played a push or a loose net shot or shallow lift then you need to retreat quickly, and be stopped and ready when your opponent takes the shuttle. One or two quick chasses is good for this, as, again you retain your balance more easily. However, if you played a high lift, or otherwise have plenty of time (maybe your opponent will reach your shot late), then there is no need to rush and taking a single large step back towards the centre of the court is fine. You will be less balanced during transition, but will cover a larger distance without expending so much energy.

Most of the time, players just get used to moving a certain way. My preference is to practice a large step, rather than chasse, but I know that in games I use them both (and probably use the chasse more often than not, as I tend to do a “quick” midcourt recovery during games). The larger step is better for timing, and less stressful of joints if you are doing a long session of shadowing! Whatever way you move is fine, as long as you can cover the court effectively and efficiently!

On the whole with recovery movements (back to the middle), limit it to 1/max 2 steps. Then you will conserve your energy.

Good luck!