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The forehand clear is a fundamental stroke in badminton that is used to force an opponent back to the rear court. It can be used as an offensive or defensive shot. To execute a forehand clear, a player should start by adopting a sideways stance with their non-racket foot forward and their racket hand up. The racket is then drawn back behind the shoulder, and the player rotates their shoulders and hips as they make contact with the shuttlecock, aiming for a point above their shoulder. A good forehand clear requires a loose grip and a powerful wrist action, which can be improved with practice and proper technique.
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What You'll Learn
The forehand clear is a basic shot and an essential skill for beginners
The forehand clear is one of the most basic shots in badminton and is an essential skill for beginners to learn first. It is used to force your opponent to the rear court and can be used as an attacking or defensive shot.
When playing a forehand clear, generating power in your shot is essential to obtaining a good shot. However, this is not just about muscle strength; mastering the proper technique is key. The difference between clears and smashes is the point of contact: clears are hit with the shuttle directly above the shoulder, whereas smashes are hit when the contact point is slightly in front of the body.
To play a forehand clear, start with a loose forehand grip, with a 'V' shape and a little space between your index finger and middle finger. Your hand should be further down the grip handle to create a longer lever, which helps improve power. Face your body sideways with your non-racket foot forward and your racket hand up. Draw the racket back high and early behind your shoulder. When the shuttle is at around 12 to 1 o'clock, hit the shuttle by turning your body and transferring your weight to the non-racket foot.
As you rotate your torso, keep your elbow back to delay the forward movement of your racket arm. Then, bring your wrist through to rotate your forearm and hit the shuttle. Similar to the smash, the optimal contact point is to strike the shuttle around half a meter in front of you.
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It can be used as an offensive or defensive shot
The forehand clear is a fundamental stroke in badminton that can be used both offensively and defensively. As an offensive shot, the shuttle is hit with speed and force, travelling in a flat, straight line parallel to the ground, towards the opponent's rear court. This attacking style of play aims to drive the opponent back and limit their reaction time, potentially resulting in a weak return shot.
When used defensively, the forehand clear is employed to gain time and reposition yourself advantageously. This is achieved by hitting the shuttle with a high and deep trajectory, causing it to take longer to reach the opponent. While this provides your opponent with more time to position themselves, it also allows you to return to a favourable base position, preparing for the next shot.
The technique for executing a forehand clear involves adopting a sideways stance with the non-racket foot forward. The racket is drawn back early behind the shoulder, and the shuttle is contacted at the highest point, above the shoulder. A loose, relaxed grip is recommended, with the hand positioned slightly lower on the grip handle to create a longer lever for improved power.
As you rotate your torso, keep your elbow back, delaying the forward movement of the racket arm. This delay stretches the chest, resulting in a more powerful and faster movement as the elbow pulls through. The wrist is then brought through to rotate the forearm and make contact with the shuttle.
Mastering the forehand clear is essential for beginners in badminton. It is a versatile shot that can be used strategically to attack or defend, depending on the situation. With practice, players can perfect their timing and technique, generating power and speed in their shots while conserving energy.
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It is used to force your opponent to the rear court
The forehand clear is a fundamental stroke in badminton and is often the first skill that beginners learn. It is used to force your opponent to the rear court. This shot can be used as an offensive or defensive strategy.
When using the forehand clear as an offensive shot, the shuttle is hit fast and flat, running almost parallel to the ground towards your opponent's rear court. This gives your opponent less time to react, and they will likely return a weak shuttle, which you can use to your advantage. To perform an attacking clear, you should use a forehand grip, turn sideways with your non-racket foot forward, and draw the racket back high and early behind your shoulder. Contact the shuttle at the highest point, using your non-racket arm for counterbalance. Rotate your shoulders and hips, following through to the opposite side of the body.
On the other hand, the defensive clear is used when you are in a difficult spot and need to buy some time. This type of clear has a high and deep trajectory, causing the shuttle to take longer to reach your opponent. While this gives your opponent more time to position themselves, it also allows you to return to your base position and prepare for your next shot. To execute a defensive clear, you can use the same initial setup as the attacking clear but focus on hitting the shuttle at its highest point, ideally directly above or slightly in front of your hitting shoulder.
The forehand clear is a basic shot, but mastering it requires proper technique and practice. It is important to generate power in your shot, and this comes from mastering the proper technique rather than just muscle strength. A key aspect of the technique is the "whip" action, where you flex your wrist and elbow backward until the racket is parallel to the floor, and then quickly extend your racket elbow towards the shuttlecock, creating a fast and powerful movement.
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How to play a forehand clear: grip, stance, and movement
The forehand clear is a fundamental skill in badminton, used to force your opponent to the rear court. It can be used as an attacking or defensive shot. Here is a guide to the grip, stance, and movement required to play a forehand clear:
Grip
The grip is crucial to executing a forehand clear effectively. You should use a loose forehand grip, forming a ''V' shape with a little space between your index finger and middle finger. Place your hand further down the grip handle to create a longer lever, which improves power. Avoid a panhandle grip, as this will limit your ability to rotate through the shot, reducing power and control. Adopt a relaxed grip, somewhere between an eastern grip and a semi-western grip, which most professional players use.
Stance
The stance for a forehand clear involves turning sideways with your non-racket foot forward. Your body should be facing sideways, and your non-racket arm should be up, used for counterbalance. You can also slide into the shuttle if you're on a clay court.
Movement
Start by drawing your racket back high and early behind your shoulder. When the shuttle is at around 12 to 1 o'clock, hit it by turning your body and transferring your weight to the non-racket foot. As you rotate your torso, keep your elbow back to delay the forward movement of your racket arm, then bring your wrist through to rotate the forearm and hit the shuttle. The optimal contact point is around half a meter in front of you.
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Different types of clears: standard, defensive, offensive punch
The clear shot is one of the most common strokes in badminton, used to hit the shuttlecock high and deep, preferably to the end line. It is an essential skill for beginners to learn, as it is one of the most basic shots in the game. The purpose of the forehand clear is to force your opponent to the rear court and can be used as both an offensive and defensive shot.
There are three broad categories of clears: standard, defensive, and attacking (also known as an offensive punch clear). A standard clear is the most basic type of clear and is a good building shot. It occupies the middle ground in terms of height—high enough to be safe but shallow enough to place some pressure on the opponent's movement.
Defensive clears are used when you are put in a difficult spot and need to buy time for yourself. They have a high and deep trajectory, causing the shuttle to take longer to reach your opponent. This gives you more time to return to your base position. The defensive clear is usually performed with the four common badminton strokes: overhead forehand clear, overhead backhand clear, and underarm clear using forehand and backhand. The backhand clear is considered the most challenging stroke.
Attacking clears, or offensive punch clears, travel lower than standard clears. The purpose is to deprive your opponent of time and place the shuttle behind them. The danger of attacking clears is that your opponent may jump up and intercept them. Good judgement is needed to spot when to play an attacking clear.
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Frequently asked questions
The forehand clear is a fundamental stroke used in badminton to hit the shuttlecock high and deep, preferably to the end line, forcing your opponent to move towards the rear court. It can be used both offensively and defensively.
To perform a forehand clear, start by adopting a loose forehand grip with a 'V' shape and a slight space between your index and middle fingers. Turn sideways with your non-racket foot forward and your racket arm up. Draw the racket back behind your shoulder, and as you rotate your torso, keep your elbow back. Then bring your wrist through to hit the shuttlecock.
There are three main types of forehand clears: the standard clear, the defensive clear, and the offensive punch clear. The defensive clear has a high and deep trajectory, giving you more time to return to your base position. The offensive clear is hit faster and flatter into the rear corners.
To generate power in your forehand clear, focus on the technique rather than muscle strength. Keep your elbow back to delay the forward movement of your racket arm, allowing for a more powerful and faster shot. Additionally, the flick of the wrist at the last moment adds significant power to the shot.
