It’s been years since my husband has been going for his weekly badminton game with friends but something happened during last week’s game. As soon as the badminton game was over, he bent down stretching only one side of his body and tried to reach for a shuttlecock on the floor. He immediately felt a surge of pain on his lower back.

He was in more pain the next few days and he finally gave up and went to consult a chiropractor. According to the doctor, my husband suffered spinal disc injury while picking shuttlecock, one of main causes which has brought many injured badminton players with similar symptoms to her clinic.

Many of these patients have taken this simple action for granted and tend to forget to practice safe ways picking up shuttlecocks especially when they are tired towards the end of a badminton game.

It is estimated that a badminton player would pick up a shuttlecock for an average of 50 times in a single game (this number applies for single players). It maybe more during practice sessions. Let us know and leave your comment below if you have tried keeping track of this number.

Imagine the same bending action of picking up shuttlecocks the wrong way is used that many times for an hour or maybe more, which would actually cause the player’s muscles and nerves around the spinal disc inflamed due to same twisting motion and stretch.

Here are 3 simple ways on how you can pick up a badminton shuttlecocks easily yet safely.

The Ballerina way

Small objects like shuttlecocks tend to contribute to back injury because they are hard to reach when resting on the floor. Use the Ballerina way, where you slowly support your body by balancing on one leg. Then lift and extend another leg horizontally behind like a ballerina balancing. Extend your arm (the one on the same side as the standing leg) to reach the shuttlecock. If you think this pose is too feminine, think about golfers who use the same way when picking golf balls.

    
Picture source : Experiencelife.com

   The ‘Stick your butt out’ way
This method uses your leg muscles more than your back muscle, thus preventing back injury. First lower your body by bending both legs. Slowly bend your body forward and reach for the shuttlecock. No body twisting involved here which is good.

 

The BADMINTON way

This is the most ideal and ‘stylish’ method because most top badminton players can do it effortlessly. I have been eyeing on them and wishing I could do that too. I’m hopeful with this blog, readers who try the steps below will soon be good at it too.

Here’s how. First position the shuttlecock on the floor so that the cork’s tip is facing you.

Hold your racket loosely by touching the racket handle only with your fingers. You should have a gap in between your palm and racket handle.

Align racket with the shuttlecock’s body.  If you are holding the racket with your right hand, the shuttlecock should be on the left of racket and vice-versa. Racket’s angle against the floor should be about 45 degrees or less (almost horizontal) to the floor for easy pick up. Racket and shuttlecock should constantly touch each other.

Lastly simply twist the racket by moving your fingers slightly, in a swift motion, scoop up the shuttlecocks. Ideally, the shuttlecock should be able to roll and land onto your racket head.

View the video (Courtesy of Victor) below for clearer instructions.

Comment below and let me know which method is the most effective and easy! Have a safe badminton game!