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Badminton is a fun and engaging sport that requires a lot of skill and practice to perfect. One of the most challenging techniques to master is the backhand, which, if perfected, can be used to play a variety of shots and get you out of tricky situations. The backhand technique involves footwork, positioning, and the use of different grips and body mechanics to generate power and accuracy. It is important to have a relaxed hand until the point of contact with the shuttle, and then squeeze the grip tight to generate power from your thumb and fingers. In this article, we will explore the steps to performing a backhand shot, common mistakes to avoid, and drills to improve your backhand technique.
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What You'll Learn
Footwork and positioning: perform a split step, chassee, and pivot
Footwork is a crucial aspect of badminton, and the split step, chassé, and pivot are essential steps to master.
The split step is an important, yet often overlooked, technique in badminton. It involves a quick, small jump, mostly executed with your ankles, to get yourself in the perfect position before taking a shot. You can practice this by doing standing agility exercises, and there are also some great tutorials on YouTube. The split step can help you get into position to take a shot, and it can also be used to quickly get back to the rear corner of the court after turning away from the net.
The chassé is a type of footwork that is useful when you have a short distance to cover and little time to react. It is a backwards jump that keeps your feet pointing towards the centre of the court, allowing for easier recovery. For right-handed players, the chasse involves pivoting on your right foot so it's behind the left, then stepping with your left foot to the right to hit the shuttle.
Combining the split step and chasse can be an effective way to move quickly around the court. For example, after a high lift from your opponent, you can turn away from the net, perform a split step, then chasse and cross over to your rear corner.
The pivot is a key part of footwork in badminton and is often used in conjunction with the split step and chasse. It allows you to quickly change direction and position your body to where you want to go. For example, after a split step, you can pivot on your left foot to bring your right foot back, so your body is side-on to the net and ready to clear.
Mastering these three footwork techniques will greatly improve your movement around the court and help you reach shots more efficiently.
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Grips: keep elbow low, use a bevel grip, and relax hand until contact
Grips are an important aspect of badminton, and getting a good grip on your racket can reduce injuries, increase the range of shots, and produce more efficient hits.
To execute a backhand stroke, it is important to keep your elbow low. Holding the racquet with a short grip, or at the middle part of the shaft, can result in less power when smashing from the back of the court. A long grip, or gripping at the lower part of the racquet shaft, can help you hit with more power.
For the bevel grip, start in a backhand grip and move your racket head so that the strings are facing diagonally, and your thumb is on the ridge or bevel. This grip is useful for applying defensive and deceptive shots, and it also helps you to do your high backhand clear effectively. The racket, when held using the bevel grip, will prepare a perfect angle for you to execute the backhand clear.
The hammer grip is useful when executing jumping smashes. It starts with a forehand grip and then rotates swiftly to a hammer grip while you are swinging your arm during the jump. The panhandle grip is used when the shuttlecock is returned very close to the net. It is the grip that comes most naturally to beginners as it is easy to hit overhead shots with.
It is important to keep your grip loose and only tighten when the hit is executed. This can be useful for many kinds of strokes. Hold the racket in your fingers, not your palm, and keep your thumb relaxed until contact.
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Body movement: engage hips, torso, elbow, forearm, and wrist
To perform a backhand in badminton, you must engage your hips, torso, elbow, forearm, and wrist. This movement starts with your feet, then travels up through your hips, torso, shoulder, elbow, forearm, hand, and finally, the racket.
First, there should be a simultaneous rotation of your legs and hips. This rotation is important for generating power. You should also track the shuttle with your eyes and arm.
Next, focus on the action of moving your elbow back and then forward, which will give you a nice "whip" in your forearm. As you prepare for your backhand, keep your elbow low, roughly in line with your bottom rib. This will enable you to 'wind-up' your arm and body more, generating more power.
Then, bring your arm through, using your wrist and forearm rotation to create power and control. Cock your wrist slightly during the preparation of the backhand to help guide the shuttle into the court. Just before you make contact with the shuttle, release the wrist action, whipping it with some force and a good arm rotation.
Finally, extend your torso and arm to reach the shuttle, then flick your wrist to smash.
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Power: generate with wrist and forearm rotation
The wrist and forearm play a crucial role in generating power and control in a backhand stroke. This is especially true for more advanced players who have mastered the basic technique and are looking to add more power and spin to their shots. The wrist action in the backhand stroke provides the snap and acceleration needed to hit powerful shots. Here's a breakdown of how to generate power through wrist and forearm rotation:
As you prepare to hit the shuttlecock, your forearm should be rotated so that your palm is facing slightly inward, towards your body. This is often referred to as having a "closed" forearm position. The exact angle of your forearm will depend on the specific backhand variation you are using (e.g., a slice or a flat hit), but the general principle remains the same. Starting from this closed position allows you to snap your wrist forward as you make contact with the shuttle, adding power and speed to your shot.
Just before you make contact with the shuttlecock, your wrist should be cocked backward, creating tension and potential energy in your arm. This cocking action is similar to pulling back a slingshot and provides the basis for generating power. As your racquet swings forward, this cocked wrist position will enable you to snap your wrist forward, unleashing that stored energy and transferring it into the shuttlecock.
As your racquet swings forward, your forearm should begin to rotate outward, supinating as your wrist snaps forward. This forearm rotation, combined with the wrist snap, creates a whipping action that accelerates the racquet head through the hitting zone. It is this rapid acceleration that generates power in your backhand stroke. The key is to time this rotation and snap so that they occur just as the racquet makes contact with the shuttlecock, maximizing the transfer of power.
To get a feel for this wrist and forearm action, you can practice without a racquet. Simply stand in your playing stance and mimic the forearm rotation and wrist snap, focusing on the whipping sensation created by these actions. Once you've developed a sense of this movement, you can incorporate it into your backhand stroke, experimenting with different variations like slices and drives to see how this wrist and forearm action can add power and spin to your shots.
It's important to note that while the wrist and forearm provide the snap and power, a proper backhand stroke also requires good body mechanics, including a stable base, shoulder turn, and follow-through. The wrist and forearm rotation should be synchronized with the rest of your body movement to ensure an efficient and powerful stroke. As always, practice and repetition are key to mastering this technique and developing a powerful and consistent backhand in badminton.
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Practice: drills to improve backhand technique
To improve your backhand technique in badminton, there are several drills you can practice. Before you begin, make sure you have the right technique, including footwork, grip, and swing. For the grip, hold the racket like a thumbs-up with your thumb on the flat side of the grip. For the swing, all backhand swings start with a lunge toward the backhand side, with power generated from the flick of your wrist and forearm.
One drill to practice is the multi-feed drill, which improves your speed. In this drill, the feeder will hit shots anywhere on the court, and the player must hit them back. This gives the player an understanding of when to use a forehand and when to use a backhand. Another drill is the left-right service drill, which can improve the precision of your backhand serves. Start with a few dozen shuttles by your side, and serve them to one side of the service box, then aim for the opposite side with the next shuttle. As you practice, you will get a feel for how your forearm and wrist pronation change the direction of the shot.
You can also try the high lift with recovery backhand/forehand drill, which is crucial to master as a defensive option. This drill is similar to the net shot drill, but you must move back towards the middle of the court instead of playing a net shot. Your grip should be relaxed, and you must place enough power to lift the shuttle correctly. Additionally, the driving step in backhand/forehand drill is essential to practice, especially if you want to play doubles. This drill helps you to apply pressure to your opponents and put them off-balance. Start in the mid-court area with a split step, then step forward to hit the shuttle and recover by stepping back and repeating the split step.
Remember, all these drills can be done in sets of time or quantities, depending on your preference. For basic drills, time may work better, while quantities may be more suitable for feeding drills. For example, you can do 2-3 sets of 3 minutes each, with 16 to 25 shuttles per set.
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Frequently asked questions
The correct grip depends on the shot you are playing. For a standard rear-court backhand shot, you will need to use a bevel grip. To learn the bevel grip, start in a backhand grip and move your racket head so that the strings are facing diagonally, and your thumb is on the ridge (or bevel). The grip for the backhand clear is not the same as the grip used for drives, pushes and netplay. For the backhand clear, your thumb should be on the diagonal bevel.
First, perform a split step, then chassé towards the corner. Pivot so that you are facing backwards, keeping your elbow low in preparation. Lunge just before you hit the shuttle, making sure there is enough room between you and the shuttle to rotate. Keep your shoulders relaxed, and bring your arm through, using your wrist and forearm rotation to create power and control in the shot.
If you are right-handed, move your racket anti-clockwise from your backhand grip. If you are left-handed, move your racket clockwise.
The clear shot is one of the most common strokes in badminton. It is used to hit the birdie high and deep, preferably to the end line. It is used to force your opponent to the rear court and can be used both offensively and defensively.
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