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Ankle-proofing your season: the ten-minute pre-court routine

30 June 2026 · 7 min read

Badminton's most common injury is entirely trainable. Ten minutes before court, three times a week.

Lateral ankle sprains account for the majority of the missed weeks we see. The landing mechanics after a jump smash are the usual culprit, but the underlying issue is single-leg control.

The routine: calf raises to failure, single-leg balance with eyes closed, lateral hops with a two-second stick landing, and banded eversion work.

Progress the hop distance only when you can stick the landing silently. Noise on landing means the ankle is absorbing force the hip should be taking.

Athletes who complete this consistently through a season report noticeably fewer rolls and far more confidence pushing hard into the corners.