Kristian Ferrell
Clearing is an essential skill and technique in badminton that involves hitting the shuttle from the rear of the court to the rear of the opponent’s court. It is usually performed at the start of a badminton rally in singles matches when players are testing the waters and trying to find a way to gain the initiative without exposing themselves too much. The defensive clear is a type of clearing shot that has a high and deep trajectory, causing the shuttle to take longer to reach the opponent. Clears are also used to move an opponent away from their central base, establishing pressure in the rearcourt, and opening up the forecourt and opposite side for potential attacking shots.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of shot | Defensive, attacking, standard |
| Use | To create time for yourself, to move your opponent away from their central base, to establish pressure in the rearcourt, to open up the forecourt and opposite side for potential attacking shots |
| Technique | Bend knees, inhale as you raise your racket arm, exhale as you swing your racket forward, contract your abs to inject power, push your body weight forward with your racket foot |
| Trajectory | Raising trajectory until it loses speed and starts falling down |
| Grip | Forehand grip, backhand grip |
| When to use | When you're not able to keep up with the pace of the rally, when you're put in a difficult spot, when you're under pressure from your opponent, when you're trying to move your opponent around to find a weakness and gain the initiative |
| When not to use | When your opponent is likely to make a successful interception |
| Direction | Hit with the shuttle directly above the right shoulder |
| Rally | Beginners practice by continuously hitting the shuttlecock high up in the air back and forth |
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What You'll Learn
The defensive clear
The height of a clear is a balance between attack and defence. If the clear is too shallow, your opponent can jump and intercept with a smash. If the clear is very high, your opponent has plenty of time to get back and is not under any movement pressure. Therefore, the ideal defensive clear should be high and deep, but not so high that it gives your opponent ample time to recover.
To execute a forehand overhead clear, adopt a forehand grip and turn sideways with your non-racket foot forward. Prepare for the incoming shuttle by raising your racket hand and drawing your hand back behind your shoulder. When the shuttle is around 12 to 1 o'clock, hit it by turning your body and transferring your weight to the non-racket foot, finishing with a follow-through.
It is important to master the defensive clear, as it is one of the most basic and important shots in badminton. It can be used strategically to create time and regain control in a rally, especially in singles matches where the game often favours consistency over all-out attack.
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The forehand clear
To perform a forehand clear, start by adopting a loose forehand grip, with a 'V' shape and a little space between your index finger and middle finger. Face sideways with your non-racket foot forward and your racket hand up. Draw the racket back high and early, behind your shoulder. 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.
When playing a forehand clear, it is essential to generate power in your shot. This is achieved through proper technique, including a relaxed grip and a full rotation of the body. The difference between a clear and a smash is the point of contact: a clear is hit with the shuttle directly above the shoulder, while a smash is hit slightly in front of the body.
There are different types of forehand clears depending on the situation. A standard clear is used to reset the rally or move your opponent. An attacking clear is hit faster and flatter into the rear corners, giving your opponent less time to react. A defensive clear is hit higher and deeper, giving your opponent more time but also allowing you to return to your base position.
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The backhand clear
The preparation for a backhand clear is the same as for other backhand shots. This ensures that your opponent cannot predict which shot you will play. The racket leg should make contact with the ground just before you strike the shuttle, allowing you to alter your position until the last moment. As you prepare, your legs and hips should rotate simultaneously, while also tracking the shuttle.
Footwork is crucial in the backhand clear. You want to get behind the shuttle to give yourself space and time to play a powerful shot. The split step gives you the initial momentum, and the chasse moves you towards the shuttle. As the shuttle is struck behind the body, you should use a bevel grip, not a thumb grip. Keep your elbow low, and lunge just before you hit the shuttle. Ensure there is enough room between you and the shuttle to rotate.
When striking the shuttle, keep your shoulders relaxed. Bring your arm through, using your wrist and forearm rotation to generate power and control. The flick of the wrist is important, as there is not much follow-through on this shot. Finish the swing with the racket head at its highest point, then switch your feet to face the net. Move back to the mid-court, ready for the next shot.
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The attacking clear
To perform an attacking clear, it is essential to be in a good position and have the same preparation technique as your smash or drop shot. You need to be behind the shuttlecock, produce a fast racket speed, and keep your strings flat as you strike it. A key difference between a clear and a smash is the point of contact: clears are hit with the shuttlecock directly above the right shoulder, whereas smashes are hit when the contact point is slightly in front of the body. As you practice more, you will be able to perfect your timing and exert less energy with each clear.
When performing an attacking clear, it is important to vary the height to increase pressure on your opponent. Attacking clears travel lower than standard clears, but they can be adjusted to be slightly higher or lower depending on the situation. If your opponent is unable to intercept the shuttlecock, you can safely decrease the height of your clears, increasing the pressure. However, if your opponent is able to intercept, they may be able to turn the rally against you.
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The difference between clears and smashes
The clear and the smash are both essential skills for beginners to learn in badminton. The clear is a defensive shot used to create time for yourself when you're unable to keep up with the pace of the game. It is performed with a forehand grip and is hit with the shuttle directly above the right shoulder. The smash, on the other hand, is a powerful and speedy shot demonstrating the player's ultimate power and control. It is also performed with a forehand grip, but the contact point is in front of the body, allowing for a natural downward hitting motion.
The clear is often used as a defensive strategy to get players out of trouble. It is hit from the player's baseline to their opponent's baseline. When performing a clear, the shuttle is hit upwards, resulting in a high and deep trajectory. This causes the shuttle to take longer to reach the opponent, creating time for the player who performed the clear to return to their base position. The clear is typically performed using one of four common badminton strokes: the overhead forehand clear, overhead backhand clear, or underarm clear using either the forehand or backhand. The backhand clear is considered the most challenging stroke.
The smash, in contrast, is a shot that showcases the player's power and speed. It is hit downward towards the opponent's court, similar to a tennis serve. The speed of a smash is a key factor, as higher speed requires higher deceleration, resulting in a greater force applied to the shuttle. The length of the racket can also play a minor role in the power of a smash, with longer rackets providing slightly more power. Additionally, the centre of gravity of the racket impacts the smash, and it is preferable to choose a racket with a centre of gravity close to the head for better smashes.
The clear and smash can be differentiated by their contact points. Clears are hit with the shuttle above the right shoulder, while smashes occur when the contact point is in front of the body. This difference in contact point is due to the direction of the shot, with smashes being hit downward and clears hit upward. The timing of the contact point also differs, with the clear having an earlier contact point during the swing than the smash. As a result, it is nearly impossible to hit a proper smash if the shuttle is above your head, but this is still suitable for a good clear.
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Frequently asked questions
A clear is a type of shot in badminton where the shuttle is hit from the rear of the player's court to the rear of the opponent's court.
There are three main types of clears: standard, defensive, and attacking. Defensive clears are used to create time for yourself when you're under pressure, while attacking clears aim to put pressure on the opponent by depriving them of time.
The basic technique for a clear shot involves bending your knees, inhaling as you raise your racket arm, and exhaling while swinging the racket forward. The shuttle should be hit with a relaxed grip, directly above the right shoulder.
Clears are commonly used in singles matches, especially during neutral play when neither player has the advantage. They are useful for moving your opponent away from their central position and creating opportunities for attacking shots.
Clears and smashes differ in their direction and point of contact. Clears are hit upwards, with the shuttle directly above the right shoulder, while smashes are hit downwards with the contact point slightly in front of the body.
