Defense (lift) in Badminton

Moderator Fully dedicated to the lift, forehand and backhand both - covers disguising it as a net shot, the finger-squeeze ('pitik') action, aiming with the racket face, and how much swing separates a flatter offensive lift from a full defensive one, plus its use in doubles defense.

Reviewer Real depth here: the finger-squeeze mechanic, disguising it off a fake net shot, and the different lift variations are all explained well.

Reviewer Detailed and patient -- a genuinely good first lesson on the lift.

Moderator A thorough, explicitly beginner-focused lift tutorial covering grip for both forehand and backhand corners and the finger/wrist-driven short motion that generates the lift. Squarely on-skill and well-targeted.

Moderator Squarely about the net lift and specifically what separates a lift that reaches the backcourt from one that dies short - comparing an amateur's single-piece arm swing to a pro's whip-like action.

Reviewer The whip-not-board cue on timing the grip squeeze is a sharp, simple fix for lifts that fall short of the back line.

Reviewer Concrete cues for telling the three lifts apart -- genuinely useful.

Moderator A direct, structured tutorial on three forehand lift variants (defensive, standard, flat) with specific grip and swing-length differences for each. This is exactly the sub-skill.

Reviewer Excellent, technique plus tactics plus drills.

Moderator Flat lifts and high lifts, exactly the defensive lift, plus when and why to use each and the tactics after. Bang on.

Reviewer Calls out a genuinely common mistake - using the forehand grip on the backhand lift - with a clear, simple correction.

Moderator Entirely focused on the backhand lift - corrects the common habit of using a forehand grip on it, plus stance and leg positioning and the follow-through with the off hand.

Reviewer Good, specific fix here - take the shuttle earlier near the tape and let your fingers do the work instead of a long swing.

Moderator This is entirely about the forehand lift, specifically fixing inconsistency by changing where you take the shuttle and how much you rely on the fingers versus a big swing.

Reviewer Short but the wrist-flick cue is exactly right and easy to apply.

Moderator Squarely about the backhand lift technique -- a specific wrist-flick mechanic (not a full arm swing) with thumb positioning, contrasted clearly against the wrong way to move the wrist.

Reviewer Sharp, specific coaching — you can take this straight onto the court.

Moderator Directly about how your court and racket positioning should change based on the quality of your lift — flatter/more accurate lift lets you step up, a short/steep lift means you need to be deeper and lower. That's core defensive-lift decision-making.

Moderator This is a forehand lift lesson framed generically as a 'long shot from the front,' but the shot described (loose grip near the net generating a shot that reaches the back) is the forehand lift, and the whole clip is about generating power for it through grip mechanics rather than swing size.

Reviewer Good, specific cue: the power comes from pushing the grip into the wrist with your fingers, not from muscling the swing.

Reviewer Simple, correct cues - loose grip through the swing, squeeze at contact - though it's brief and could go deeper.

Moderator Straightforward, focused lesson on the forehand defensive lift - grip pressure, swing size for height, and tightening the grip at contact. The entire clip stays on this one shot.

Reviewer Sharp, non-obvious tips -- the counterintuitive ones are the best part.

Moderator Leads with 'improve your lift quality' as tip #1 and returns to lift quality/height repeatedly, but the video broadens into stance, distance management, and shot-flattening strategy too -- the lift is central but not the only focus.

Reviewer Solid tactical explanation, light on technical how-to.

Moderator Directly about lift quality and placement in doubles defense -- hitting the lift toward the sideline (not centered) so partners can cover the court properly, tied to positioning and footwork activity. Squarely on-skill.

Reviewer Detailed, pro-level breakdown of cross defense including the lift.

Moderator Cross-court defense off a doubles smash. Lifting cross is one of three replies they cover alongside block and drive, so the lift is squarely in scope even if not the only subject.

Reviewer Rich, well-coached detail on disguising the lift.

Moderator Three deceptive lifts - cross, straight hold, topspin slice. All are lifts, taught in detail, so very much about the lift even though the angle is deception rather than pure smash defense.

Reviewer Detailed topspin-lift coaching with a useful deception bonus.

Moderator Topspin lift, forehand and backhand, with forearm rotation and finger power, squarely the lift, plus a deception variation.

Reviewer This is the tactics layer — soft block vs fade vs flat lift and WHEN to use each. Watch their fundamentals video first, then this.

Moderator Sub-skill is Defense (lift). This advanced doubles defence video covers blocks (soft block, fade), the drive, AND lifts. The final third is dedicated specifically to the three defensive lift varieties — high open lifts, regular-height lifts, flat lifts — with the tactics for each and shuttle-speed considerations. So the defensive lift is genuinely and substantially covered, but among the other defensive shots, not exclusively.

Reviewer The defence video to start with — stance, grip, court position and why side-on forehand defence kills you. Learn this before the advanced stuff.

Moderator Sub-skill is Defense (lift). Fundamentals of doubles defence — stance, grip, then the drive, block AND lift. The lift gets a proper dedicated section: bodyweight forward on the balls of the feet, coming underneath the shuttle, bigger follow-through, and a high-serve-plus-half-smash practice to drill it. So the defensive lift is genuinely taught, but as one of three fundamental shots, not the whole video.

Reviewer Solid lifting fundamentals - footwork, the three checkpoints, and a great thumb-and-index drill for the weak backhand lift.

Moderator Whole video is the lift - why, footwork, grip, technique, follow-through, plus practices. Explicitly includes lifting from the defensive position in doubles, which is exactly the defensive lift. Broad basics rather than defence-only, but the lift is the entire subject.

Moderator This one's about the grip work behind backhand defensive lifts — switching your finger position between backhand and forehand to go from a straight lift to a cross-court one, plus using your wrist and shoulder to drive it. It stays right on the backhand lift itself, just focused narrowly on hand mechanics rather than footwork or court positioning.

Reviewer Good hand mechanics tip, but you'll need to already know your backhand defense to get much out of it.

Moderator Part 1 of the same basics series, on the lift itself as 'the backbone of your defence' - squarely on topic.

Reviewer Clear foundational framing - good starting point for this shot.

Moderator Part 2 of a dedicated 'Badminton Basics' series on the defensive lift - the shot itself, taught as a standalone fundamental.

Reviewer Structured basics content - good sign, part of a proper series on this shot.

Reviewer Properly deep mixed-doubles defence - four scenarios with who-takes-what plus real attacking patterns. Coach-level stuff, not a quick tip.

Moderator Mixed doubles defence, broad. The defensive lift is genuinely in here - man lifts straight, woman lifts cross, lift with height to buy your partner recovery time, who takes the clear - so the lift sub-skill is covered. But the bulk is positioning across four scenarios, blocks, fades, half turns, moving as a pair, turning defence into attack. Defense (lift) is one thread of a wide tactical video, not the spine of it.

Reviewer Four solid, progressive defence drills with clear technical points.

Moderator Skill is Defense (lift). Re-lifts are practice one and the whole video is about lift quality under attack: depth, accuracy to the corners, body weight forward, racket speed. Two-shuttle re-lift drill at the end. Right on the sub-skill.

Reviewer Solid drill to groove the high defensive lift, light on technical detail.

Moderator Classic 2v1 half-court drill where the single player works high defensive lifts to the backcourt while two feeders pile on smashes and drops. The whole point is lifting high out of defense, so it sits right on this sub-skill.

Reviewer Outstanding, practical smash-defence system, six steps with drills.

Moderator Skill is Defense (lift). Six-step smash defence, and step five is entirely lift quality: hit the back corners, vary placement, add deception, and do not lift when you do not have to. Lift is the load-bearing part of the defence here, alongside positioning, short swing and shot choice.

Reviewer Clear, well-structured five-point defense breakdown.

Moderator Doubles smash defense, five elements. It is defense, but the block and drive return mechanics rather than the lift specifically. Still squarely in the defense bucket.

Reviewer Thorough singles defence breakdown with good drills, minus a VPN ad.

Moderator Skill is Defense (lift). Singles defence tutorial covering ready position, where to stand after lifting, split step, footwork, and defensive shot quality. Lift quality and lift-then-position are woven through it. Solidly on the defence/lift sub-skill though it is broader than the lift alone.

Reviewer One good cue, but there's barely enough here to call it a lesson.

Moderator Short but squarely on-topic -- forehand cross-court lift from the front of the court, with lunge position and follow-through emphasized as the safety/consistency factor.

Reviewer Good idea but thin, lots of music, little instruction.

Moderator Deceptive backhand lift: hit the shuttle on the side with finger power so it goes straight while your body moves the other way. Squarely the lift.

Reviewer Data-driven return guide - lift is the bread-and-butter off a low serve, straight drop off the flick. Tiered by level, well reasoned.

Moderator Return-of-serve video covering six returns across low and high serves: lift, net, deceptive backhand net, clear, drop/clip, slice. The lift is their number one return and gets real coaching — vary the corner, vary the height, take it early, do not watch your own lift. But it is one of six returns, and the framing is return of serve, not the defensive lift you play off an opponent attack. So it touches the sub-skill meaningfully but partially. Lift defense off a smash is not really what this is.

Reviewer Clear coaching on a tricky advanced defense.

Moderator Defending a smash to the forehand side while still hitting backhand: elbow out, forearm rotation, finger power, drop the right leg for time. Defense, on topic.

Reviewer Useful lift and footwork tips, but the Spraino ad breaks pull it down.

Moderator Forehand-corner defense footwork plus the high lift to the baseline, explicitly the defensive lift. On topic, but with a Spraino ad baked in.

Reviewer Detailed, well-explained defensive footwork.

Moderator Footwork to the rear corners under defensive pressure: directional split, side-shuffle or cross-step, big lunge. Defense footwork, not the lift stroke, but it sets up the defensive shot.

Reviewer Nice three-level lift progression, but light on cues and practice.

Moderator Sub-skill Defense (lift). Entirely about the backhand lift from the net at three levels (relaxed high lift, finger-power flat lift, deceptive late lift). Lift technique is the whole video. Slight caveat: framed as a net/attacking lift rather than specifically a smash-defence lift, but it is squarely the lift shot.

Reviewer Useful tips for the high smash, a touch disjointed.

Moderator Defending high smashes at chest and head, returning high or with a flat drive. It is the lift and return when the smash comes high. On topic for defense.

Reviewer Three legit quick tips - the best one is just lift deeper so they cant smash you. Handy reminder, but dont expect depth.

Moderator Three tips to defend a powerful smash. Sub-skill is Defense (lift) specifically. The lift is named as one of the three options (block, drive, lift) and tip three is really about improving your lift before they smash so you do not have to defend at all. So the lift is in there and even gets the closing emphasis, but the video is general smash defence, not a lift-specific tutorial. Partial.

Reviewer The mechanics explained here will make your lift crisper, even if it's not the focus.

Moderator General finger/thumb power-generation principle applied across shots, with the backhand lift/drive explicitly used as an example. Relevant to executing a better lift, but it's not a lift-specific tutorial.

Reviewer Right idea on the deception but too thin to really learn from.

Moderator A deceptive forehand lift from the net - shows a net shot then pulls back and lifts with forearm and fingers. It is a lift, just the deceptive net-lift rather than a smash-defense lift, so on topic but a narrow slice.

Reviewer Detailed, hands-on cross defence technique, forehand and backhand.

Moderator Skill is Defense (lift). This is singles defence but the shot taught is the cross block from a stretched position, forehand and backhand, with forearm rotation and finger push. It is defensive, but it is the cross flat shot, not the lift. Shares the split-step and lunge setup with lifting.