Andrew Pace
The clear is one of the most basic and important shots in badminton. It is an overhead shot that is hit high and deep from the back of your court to the back of your opponent's court. There are several types of clears, including the standard clear, defensive clear, and offensive punch clear. The technique for a clear involves facing sideways with your non-racket arm up, rotating your torso, and bringing your wrist through to hit the shuttle. A key part of the clear is following through with the full motion of the swing to ensure control and precision. To practice, you can set up a target area and have a partner feed you shuttles to hit into the target. Mastering the clear is essential for any badminton player and can greatly improve your game.
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What You'll Learn
- Footwork and positioning: Face sideways, with your non-racket arm up and non-racket foot forward
- Grip: Hold your racket with a loose grip, bending your knees to spring forward
- Timing: Hit the shuttle when it's at 12 to 1 o'clock
- Power: Generate power by transferring your weight to the non-racket foot
- Practice drills: Try feeder and footwork drills to improve accuracy and movement
Footwork and positioning: Face sideways, with your non-racket arm up and non-racket foot forward
Footwork and positioning are crucial in badminton. The sport is characterised by lightning-fast rallies, requiring impeccable technique, precise shot placement, and exceptional footwork.
For the forehand clear, the most basic type of clear, you should stand with your body facing sideways, and your non-racket arm up. This non-dominant arm should be extended to help with your timing, balance, and rotation, and to create stability. Your racket arm should form roughly two 90-degree angles. This positioning will help you generate the power needed to get the shuttlecock to the back of the court.
As you rotate your torso, keep your elbow back, delaying the forward movement of your racket arm. This delay stretches your chest out, so when you pull the elbow forward, it comes through faster and with more power. As your elbow comes through, bring your wrist through to rotate the forearm and hit the shuttlecock.
The footwork for the forehand clear is similar to that of other types of shots. You should always return to a neutral position in the middle of the court after hitting the shuttlecock. This gives you the best position to react to your opponent's next move. For the side part of the court, one step should be enough to react to your opponent's shots. Use up to three steps to get to the front court for a quick reaction and a decisive smash. These movements should be done while maintaining balance, with your non-racket hand open and wide to prevent falls and injuries.
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Grip: Hold your racket with a loose grip, bending your knees to spring forward
To make a clear in badminton, you need to master the grip, rotation, and acceleration of your racket while also trying to get good length and height on your clears. The forehand clear is one of the most basic shots in badminton, and a loose grip is essential to executing it effectively. Here's how you can improve your grip for a clear:
Grip Technique
Start by holding the racket handle using a "handshake" grip. Place your thumb on the racket handle where the front of the racket frame is. Your thumb should be the main driver when pushing the racket for all backhand shots. For a forehand clear, have a loose grip on the racket handle, with your thumb positioned correctly. This will allow you to generate more power and control in your shots.
Body Positioning
Face sideways with your body and non-racket arm up. This position helps with your timing, balance, and rotation. As you rotate your torso, keep your elbow back, delaying the forward movement of your racket arm. This setup will enable you to generate power for your clear shot.
Knee Bending
Bending your knees is crucial for springing forward and generating power. It allows you to transfer your body weight and momentum into the shot. As you prepare to swing, bend your knees slightly, and then spring forward as you make contact with the shuttlecock. This will help you achieve the desired height and length for your clear.
Follow-Through
After making contact with the shuttlecock, don't stop your swing. Follow through with the full motion of the swing to maintain control and precision. This technique will help you repeat the same movement consistently.
Practice and Variation
Practice your grip and body positioning until they become natural to you. Mix up the speed and height of your clears to explore different scenarios. Try both defensive and attacking clears to understand when to use each type effectively. With time, you'll develop a feel for the right grip pressure and body positioning to make powerful and accurate clears.
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Timing: Hit the shuttle when it's at 12 to 1 o'clock
To make a clear in badminton, timing is crucial. The shuttle's position is key, and you should aim to hit it when it is at the 12 to 1 o'clock position. This timing ensures you make contact with the shuttle at the right point, allowing you to hit it with height and forward momentum, sending it to your opponent's baseline.
To achieve this, you should start by adopting the correct stance and body position. Face sideways, with your non-racket foot forward, and your racket arm forming a 90-degree angle. Your non-racket arm should be up to aid with timing, balance, and rotation. As the shuttle approaches, draw your racket hand back, preparing to make the shot.
As the shuttle enters the desired position, it's time to strike. Turn your body and transfer your weight to the non-racket foot, bringing your elbow and wrist through to rotate the forearm and make contact with the shuttle. Follow through with the full motion of the swing to maintain control and precision.
Perfecting the timing of this shot takes practice. The goal is to find the right balance, ensuring you don't hit too early or too late. With repetition and refinement, you'll be able to master the timing of the clear and execute it effectively during gameplay.
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Power: Generate power by transferring your weight to the non-racket foot
To make a clear in badminton, you need to master the basic technique. The forehand clear is one of the most fundamental shots in the game. It involves hitting the shuttle from the rear court on one side to the rear court on the other side of the court. There are different types of clears, such as the standard clear, defensive clear, and offensive punch clear, each used depending on the situation.
To generate power, it is crucial to transfer your weight to your non-racket foot. This means that as you prepare to hit the shuttle, your weight shifts to your rear leg, which is your non-racket leg. This weight transfer allows you to put your weight behind the shot, adding power to your swing. Imagine your body being virtually side-on to the shuttle before you make contact. This side-on position enables you to transfer your weight more effectively during the shot.
Additionally, the position of your racket in relation to your non-racket foot can impact the power of your shot. When your racket is near your non-racket foot, you may find that you can generate more power for cross-court shots. This is due to the corkscrew action that occurs when you swing from this position.
The weight of your racket also plays a significant role in power generation. Generally, heavier rackets can produce more power because they can store and transfer energy more effectively during swings, resulting in more momentum. However, lighter rackets are often preferred by beginners and faster players, as they provide better manoeuvrability and faster swing speeds, which can be advantageous when playing against stronger opponents.
To improve your power, it is essential to focus on your body positioning, weight transfer, racket weight, and understanding the relationship between your racket position and non-racket foot. These factors will help you generate more power and improve your clears in badminton.
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Practice drills: Try feeder and footwork drills to improve accuracy and movement
To improve accuracy and movement in badminton, feeder and footwork drills are essential. Here are some practice drills that can help:
Feeder Drill: Mid-Court and Rear-Court Shots
In this drill, a feeder is positioned around the service line on one half of the court. They will hit shots to the mid-court and rear-court for the worker to return with control rather than power. This allows the worker to focus on their technique, footwork, and movement timing. For singles players, it's beneficial to focus on hitting technique and footwork, while doubles players can replicate the work of the 'rear court' player in a front-and-back attacking formation.
Feeder Drill: Push Downs
This drill involves a feeder taking shots above the net to ensure the shuttle travels downward, putting the worker under pressure. The worker moves laterally, playing controlled defensive shots. If the worker moves too far forward, the feeder can lift the shuttle over their head to remind them to stay in a deeper base position.
Footwork Drill: Fast Rally
This drill focuses on movement patterns from the rear court to mid-court and vice versa. Two players create a fast rally from the T of the service line, focusing on quick footwork and grip changes to react to shot speeds. Light and quick foot movements are essential for constant adjustments based on the partner's shots.
Footwork Drill: Pointing Footwork
In this basic drill, one player moves to wherever their partner points. It helps improve stamina and refine technique.
Footwork Drill: Straight Front and Back
The player starts in the middle of a half-court and shuffles to the back before running up to the front to make a net kill motion. They then alternate between the back and front at full speed. This drill improves speed and agility, essential for reacting quickly to shots.
Footwork Drill: Diagonal Smash and Net Kill
Similar to the previous drill, but this time the player moves diagonally, smashing at the back and then net-killing at the front. They switch sides to practice both backhand and forehand movements.
Footwork Internal Clock Development
While feeder drills are important, players should also focus on their internal clock or body rhythm. This involves training to play at different speeds, as errors often occur when players are pushed beyond their comfortable pace. Singles players, in particular, need to cover greater distances on the court.
These feeder and footwork drills will help improve accuracy and movement in badminton, contributing to a more effective game.
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Frequently asked questions
A clear is an overhead shot that is hit high and deep from the back of your court to the back of your opponent’s court. It is one of the most basic and important shots in badminton.
There are two main types of clears: a standard clear and a punch clear. Clears can also be further categorised as defensive or attacking clears. Defensive clears are used when you're in a difficult spot and need to buy time, while attacking clears are used to drive your opponent to the rear court.
For a forehand clear, you should start by facing sideways with your non-racket arm up and your racket arm forming two 90-degree angles. As you rotate your torso, keep your elbow back and then bring your wrist through to rotate the forearm and hit the shuttle. Follow through with the full motion of the swing to maintain control.
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