The first five key areas of playing beginner badminton are crucial to becoming an intermediate player, beginning with the difference between a good shot choice over a poor shot choice that actually lands well. Beginners tend to stay nearer the net because they have not yet built up arm strength to whack the shuttle from the back of the court. From the middle area they can perhaps return 50% of the shots coming their way. A more advanced player will stay back nearer the base line and will be able to return many more of the shots because they can see them coming better; they have the space to angle their arm and racket more effectively and can ensure they place their feet in best position to take off for their next shot and they can hit the shuttle harder to get it back over the next.
Reading the game means you know where the shuttle is likely to land before it has even been hit. Watching your opponent means you can see if an upward shot is coming, which gives you time to position yourself to meet that with strength. When you look at your opponent, are they in a position to play a back hand shot or are they fixed to hit across court – this gives you the opportunity to manoever yourself to hit back a shot they won’t be able to reach. Watching other players in a match – especially very experienced ones. See their technque. Footwork speed, accuracy and efficiency. A left handed player for example benefits from leading with their left leg for most shots as it gives them speed and freedom of movement to return shots accurately and with devastating speed.