Kristian Ferrell
The overhead clear is a fundamental defensive shot in badminton that allows a player to reset a rally and gain time to recover by forcing their opponent to move backwards and increasing the amount of time the birdie is in the air. It is a common shot that beginners should learn first before attempting other, more complex shots. The shot involves making high contact with the birdie above the head, using the proper amount of force to send the birdie to the back third of the court. The correct technique involves the use of bodyweight transfer and a classic 'throwing action' with arm rotation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Defensive shot to allow player time to recover |
| Contact point | Above the head |
| Force | Use the proper amount of force to send the bird to the back 1/3 of the court |
| Grip | Relaxed forehand grip, aka the handshake grip |
| Elbow position | Bent at about a 90-degree angle |
| Wrist | Bend your wrist back more to hit 'underneath' the shuttle and create more height |
| Footwork | Make your way behind the shuttle using proper footwork |
| Drills | Lift-clear-drop drill, multishuttle drill |
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What You'll Learn
The overhead clear is a defensive shot
To perform an overhead clear, start with a relaxed forehand grip, also known as the handshake grip, with a 'V' shape formed between the index and middle fingers. The hand should be further down the grip handle to create a longer lever, which improves power. As you load up to hit the shuttle, point your non-racket arm towards it and pull your racket arm back, bending your elbow at a 90-degree angle. If the shuttle is high, you can jump or use a scissor kick to reach it. Push off with your legs, rotate your hips, torso, and shoulders, and swing your racket in a throwing motion. This sequence of movements generates power and helps you get the shuttle to the rear court.
When hitting the shuttle, ensure you make high contact with it, above your head, and use the proper amount of force to send it to the back third of the court. Listen to the hitting sound, as you can hear when you slice the shuttle. Focus on hitting the shuttle with a clean contact point, also known as the sweet spot, with your racket face straight. Once you have the technique down, you can increase the power.
Beginners often attempt the overhead clear standing square to the net, trying to generate power with a bent arm. However, the correct technique involves using bodyweight transfer and the classic 'throwing action' with arm rotation. A common mistake is using a panhandle grip, which limits the ability to rotate properly through the shot, reducing power and control.
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Use a relaxed forehand grip
To perform an overhead clear in badminton, you must start with a relaxed forehand grip, also known as the handshake grip. This grip is achieved by holding the racket handle with a ''V' shape formed by your index finger and thumb, with a little space between your index finger and middle finger. Your hand should be placed slightly lower on the grip handle, creating a longer lever that improves power. This grip is essential as it provides the foundation for the shot and allows for proper rotation and acceleration of the racket.
It is important to avoid a panhandle grip, which may feel more comfortable when hitting the shuttle but limits your ability to rotate properly, reducing both power and control. With the correct grip, you will be able to generate more power and have better control over the shot, making it easier to clear the shuttle to the back of your opponent's court.
As you prepare to hit the shuttle, point your non-racket arm towards it while pulling your racket arm back, forming a 90-degree angle with your elbow. If the shuttle is high, you can use a jump or scissor kick to reach it. The power for the shot comes from your legs, so push up with your legs, rotate your hips, and then your torso and shoulders, swinging your racket in a throwing motion.
As you swing, lead with your elbow, and tighten your grip just before impact for better control. Aim to make contact with the shuttle when it is high in the air and slightly in front of you. This will allow you to hit with more power and send the shuttle deeper into your opponent's court, giving you an advantage in the game.
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Make high contact with the birdie
To make high contact with the birdie, you need to make sure you are reaching the birdie above your head. If the birdie is high above you, you can use a simple jump or scissor kick to reach it. Push up with your legs, rotate your hips, and then your torso and shoulders as you swing your racket in a throwing motion. This will help generate power that gets the birdie to the rear court. As you swing, be sure to lead with your elbow and tighten your grip.
To get the birdie to the back of the court, you need to use the proper amount of force. If you are struggling to get length, you might be hitting the birdie too early in your swing or slicing it at the point of impact. You can try reducing the force with which you hit the birdie and concentrate on hitting it with a clean contact point. Once you have this down, you can try to increase the power using the proper technique.
You can also try the lift-clear-drop drill to simulate using the overhead clear in a real rally. Stand across from a partner in your midcourt. Have your partner lift the birdie into the forehand side of your backcourt. Use proper footwork to make your way behind the birdie and clear it back to your partner. Then, your partner will use a drop shot to send the birdie back to your frontcourt. Move to the frontcourt and repeat the process.
It is important to note that you don't want to hit the birdie too high, as this gives your opponent time to get behind it and play their shot. You also don't want to hit it too flat, as your opponent can easily intercept it.
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Use body weight transfer and the classic 'throwing action'
The overhead clear is a fundamental shot in badminton. It is a defensive shot used to push your opponent back to their rear court, exposing court space near the net to follow up with a drop shot or net shot. It is also used to buy time and recover during a rally.
To perform an overhead clear, start with a relaxed forehand grip, also known as the handshake grip. Point your non-racket arm up toward the shuttle and pull your racket arm back, bending your elbow at a 90-degree angle. If the shuttle is high, use a jump or scissor kick to reach it. Push up with your legs, rotate your hips, and then your torso and shoulders as you swing your racket in a throwing motion. This chain of energy will help generate power. As you swing, lead with your elbow and tighten your grip. Aim to make contact with the shuttle when it is high in the air and slightly in front of you.
The correct technique involves the use of body weight transfer and the classic 'throwing action' with arm rotation. This is in contrast to the common beginner technique of standing square to the net and trying to generate power with a bent arm.
To practice the overhead clear, you can try the lift-clear-drop drill with a partner. Stand across from your partner in your midcourt. Have your partner lift the shuttle into the forehand side of your backcourt. Use proper footwork to make your way behind the shuttle, and clear it back to your partner. Then, your partner will use a drop shot to send the shuttle back to your frontcourt. Move to the frontcourt, and lift the shuttle to your partner's backcourt. It will then be your partner's turn to clear the shuttle.
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Practice with the lift-clear-drop drill
The lift-clear-drop drill is an advanced badminton drill that requires multiple shuttles and a partner to feed them to you. This drill is excellent for practising your clear with full-court movement. The feeder holds a row of shuttles in their arm, typically 12-20, and hits them one by one to the desired location in the court. This means that during the exercise, there is one shuttle for each shot, and if a mistake is made, the routine can continue without interruption.
The drill can be practised using both a normal clear and a punch clear. It is also similar to the Clear-Smash-Block-Lift drill, with the difference being that the better your clear, the weaker your opponent's smash will be.
To begin the drill, Player 1 plays a high lift. Player 2 then plays a clear. Player 1 then plays a smash from the clear. Player 2 blocks the shuttle back to Player 1, who then plays a lift for Player 2 to clear. The routine repeats like this.
This drill can be performed at different levels of complexity. For beginners, it is recommended to work through the levels, while more experienced players can start at any level. It can also be performed with or without a racket, focusing on footwork and clear movement.
Additionally, this drill can be combined with other movements to increase complexity. For example, you can first move to your forehand front corner and then to the forehand side, mimicking catching a drop shot, lifting it, and then reacting to a smash.
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Frequently asked questions
An overhead clear is a defensive shot in badminton that allows a player to reset a rally or move their opponent by forcing them to move and increasing the amount of time the birdie is in the air.
To start, use a relaxed forehand grip, also known as the handshake grip, with a 'V' shape and a little space between your index finger and middle finger. As you load up to hit your clear, point your non-racket arm towards the shuttle and pull your racket arm back, bending your elbow at a 90-degree angle. If the shuttle is high, you can jump or scissor kick to reach it. Push up with your legs, rotate your hips, torso, and shoulders, and swing your racket in a throwing motion. Tighten your grip as you swing and aim to make contact with the shuttle when it is high in the air and slightly in front of you.
One way to practice is to do the lift-clear-drop drill with a partner. Stand across from your partner in your midcourt. Have them lift the shuttle into the forehand side of your backcourt. Use proper footwork to get behind the shuttle and clear it back to your partner. Then, your partner will use a drop shot to send the shuttle back to your frontcourt. Move to the frontcourt and repeat the process, continuing for 5-10 minutes.
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