Flick serve in badminton: how to play it from the short-serve motion, which rules apply and how to land it deep in the rear court while staying within the laws.
The flick serve is a serve that you start from the motion of the short serve and flick with a fast wrist snap upward behind the opponent at the last moment. It is a surprise serve, especially in doubles, when the opponent moves forward to the net expecting the short serve.
The honest answer first: the flick serve is also the serve on which you most easily make a fault. In a study of 22 players, experienced players were better than beginners at recognising whether a flick serve was going out of bounds, even without looking [2] – so good opponents read it. There is no study on the technique itself; it is teaching consensus. What is fixed are the rules: on the serve the shuttle must be hit below 1.15 m, the racket must first hit the base, and the racket movement must continue forward from the start of the service [1].
Expect four to six sessions until you land it securely in the rear court – an experience value.
The shuttle must fly upward, pass over the net and land in the opponent's service court. It must be hit below 1.15 m, released without spin, and the racket must first hit the base [1]. The racket movement must continue forward from the start [1]. You may not stop or hesitate in the serve.
Hold the racket in the same position as for the short serve. The first centimetres of the forward movement look the same to the opponent. That is the idea: they recognise the flick late.
At the last moment you accelerate forearm and wrist upward and hit the shuttle steeply and high into the rear court. The movement stays continuous and short; a visible stop would be a fault [1]. That is teaching consensus.
The target is the rear area of the service court, preferably the corner. Too short lets the opponent in to attack; too long is a fault. Check which rear line applies in your format (singles or doubles).
Play 10 flick serves. Move on when at least 6 land in and none breaks a rule. Have someone check the height or film yourself from the side.
Plan 15 minutes: 3 minutes of short serves to warm up, 7 minutes of flicks at a target (a towel in the rear court), 5 minutes alternating between short and flick in random order. Have a partner call "height ok" or "too high" after every serve. This is an experience routine, not a study recommendation.
In doubles the receiver often stands far forward expecting the short serve. There the flick has the biggest effect. When they adjust, you return to the short serve: the switch is the real trick. That is teaching consensus, not evidence.
Practise the flick with a "rubber band feeling". Imagine the racket is attached to your wrist by a rubber band and snaps upward just before contact. That helps keep the movement short. In a study of 8 elite players, they stabilised the racket face on the short serve through the interplay of joints [3] – precision comes from repetition. The rubber-band image is a practice trick without study evidence.
A serve that starts from the motion of the short serve and flies high into the opponent's rear court with a fast wrist snap. It is a surprise serve, especially in doubles.
The shuttle must be hit below 1.15 m, the racket must first hit the base, the racket movement must continue forward from the start, and both feet must touch the floor [1]. Hesitating or stopping is a fault.
When the opponent moves forward expecting the short serve. Experienced players often recognise it early, however [2]. So use it sparingly.
Keep the shuttle low, movement continuous, aim for the rear middle instead of the corner. Have someone watch you or film yourself.
Yes, as long as it meets the service rules [1]. It is a regular serve.
The Net Kill in Badminton: Finishing a High Shuttle at the Net Steeply