Mixed Doubles

^Zheng Siwei (R)/Huang Yaqiong of China pose during the awarding ceremony after winning the mixed doubles final match against Watanabe Yuta/Higashino Arisa of Japan at 2023 Indonesia Open badminton tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 18, 2023. ( Image courtesy of Xinhua)

One of the biggest misunderstandings I often come across about Mixed Doubles is that people think it always means one male and one female player, with the female standing at the front. I don’t blame them, that’s often how it’s shown on TV or YouTube. But that’s not really what Mixed Doubles is about. In reality, Mixed Doubles is about pairing a stronger player with a relatively weaker player. 

At the professional level, both players are elite athletes representing their country, but men are generally more physically powerful, so the playing style and tactics differ greatly from Women’s Doubles or Men’s Doubles. Each discipline has its own strategies, formations, and roles on court.

In social or casual games, you can absolutely create your own version of “mixed doubles.” For example, two female players can form a team where one is stronger and takes on more of the backcourt (covering about two-thirds of the court), while the other rotates to the front and focuses on the remaining one-third. Depending on the skill gap, the ratio of coverage can adjust, for example, 1/4 and 3/4, or 1/3 and 2/3, just like how real mixed doubles teams balance their positioning based on each player’s strengths. The key idea is teamwork, learning to play to each other’s strengths, rotating effectively, and making the most of your combined skills.

^ China Open 2023 Quarter-Finals, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (Image courtesy of Malaymail)