Backhand.

Hi everyone, welcome back to my blog. This blog is written based on the badminton instruction book that is called Badminton: Steps to Success by Tony Grice.  Today, I'm going to give you the instruction of backhand plays in badminton. Like forehand, there are 2 types of backhand clear: overhead and underhand. The techniques are pretty much the same but the difficulty of overhead backhand clear is the hardest on out of 4 basic clears (both backhand and forehand). Let's go to the instruction.
I. Underhand backhand clear: this clear's difficulty is basically as easy as forehand one's. The techniques are similar but the only difference is your footstep. You will need to use three- step- return sequence for this clear.
- Preparation (Grice 54).
      1. Apply basic grip
      2. Reach forward with your dominant hand and foot
      3. Hold you racket arm up, and palm down. 
      4. Place your weight slightly on your front foot.
   

Visual Example of Preparation

- Execution (54)
        1. Pivot and turn toward the shuttle
        2. Move toward the net.
        3. Step with non-dominant foot.
- Swing (55)
        1. Place your racket down under dropping shuttle.
        2. Put your wrist at laid back position.
        3. Drop your racket down and swing it quickly up to contact the shuttle as high as possible.
        4. Swing up in line with shuttle's flight.
        5. Follow through naturally with forearm rotation,
        6. Push off and propel back toward mid- court.
        7. Return to ready position at center-court.

Beginning of the Swing

Correct Hand Position of the Swing.

* Based on my experiences, I can tell that the shape of the swing will the determine the play. In order to make a good clear, you have to make the swing as closed to the circle pattern as possible.

II. Overhead Backhand Clear: I recommend that you should practice this clear last because this one is the hardest one and when you get used to the remaining three, this clear would be whole lot easier. The footstep in this clear is shuttle.
- Preparation (Grice 53)
         1. Apply basic grip.
         2. Recover into waiting or receiving stance.
         3. Hold your racket arm parallel to the floor.
         4. Point your racket head downward.
         5. Distribute your weight evenly on both feet.
- Execution (53)
         1. Reach with your non- dominant foot.
         2. Pivot and turn with your back to the net.
         3. Move your wrist to laid back position
         4. Lead your elbow to a forward swing.
         5. Trail your racket head up to contact.
         6. Contact as high as possible.
         7. Angle racket face up and outward.
         8. Supinate your forearm.
- Follow- Through (53)
         1. Continue swing upward.
         2. Follow flight of shuttle with racket.
         3. Swing toward the net.
         4. Follow through naturally with racket.
         5. Push rear foot back to mid-court.
         6. Return to center court.

Complete Step-by- step demonstration of Overhead Backhand Clear.

* The key in this clear is keeping the good form for your arm and the racket. Your arm should form a 90 degree angle when you hit the shuttle. The racket should be straight at that time.

90 degree angle

Straight racket.

Badminton is the sport that require lots of skills, reflexes, and flexibility. It took me years in order to play well. If you are not successful at first, don't mind to try again because the key to play well in every sports is practicing. Thank you.

Question: What is your favorite part of badminton?

Citations:
Grice, Tony. Badminton: Steps to Success. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1996. Print.