Badminton Backhand Clear (Backhand High Lob)
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Introduction
If a shot is directed towards your backhand area (especially at the back of the court), most people find it difficult to produce the necessary power in a backhand shot. This is a common weakness.
Even professional players have trouble returning strong overhead backhand clears!
Many people cannot perform good badminton backhand mainly because they're not performing their backhand strokes correctly.
Once you get your badminton backhand stroke right, you'll be able to hit the badminton backhand clear from baseline to baseline.
Smart opponents will always try their best to hit to your backhand area, hence forcing you to make a mistake with your backhand strokes.
Therefore, it's important to learn the badminton backhand clear to get you out of trouble when your opponent tries to force you to play a backhand.
Consider learning the badminton backhand drop first. The backhand drop requires less power and is easier to master.
The Power of the Badminton Backhand Clear
As mentioned above, correct backhand stroke technique is the key to execute a solid baseline to baseline backhand clear. First you must get your backhand swing pattern correct.
Click here to learn the correct technique for a badminton backhand. Over there, you will learn how to generate power in your backhands.
With that said, correct backhand stroke technique is NOT ENOUGH for an overhead backhand clear. A lot of power is needed to be transferred to your racket to execute this skill.
You must be QUICK to switch from the forehand to the backhand grip. This gives you more time to pre-load to generate the sufficient amount of power for the badminton backhand clear.
When Should You Use this Technique?
DO NOT use your backhand unless you're forced to.
When your opponent hits a clear (lob) to your backhand area, ask yourself whether you have time to position yourself to perform a forehand shot. Use your backhand ONLY if you're not fast enough.
Many people are not quick enough in switching from the forehand to backhand grip. If you're slow in switching, you'll lose precious pre-loading time (time to accumulate power for your shot). Therefore you won't be able to hit a solid clear to the back of your opponent's court.
Avoid using your backhand in a game UNLESS you're really forced to.
Tutorial
1. Preparation Phase
From a ready position, turn your body to face the back of the court. While you're doing this, quickly switch from a forehand grip to the backhand grip. (See basic badminton gripping technique)
It's important not to grip your racket too tightly. Once you grip it too tightly, it's less likely you can switch quickly from a forehand to backhand grip.
2. Preloading Phase (Phase to Accumulate Power)
The preloading phase to hit a badminton backhand clear is where you accumulate all the power for your swing. The longer preloading time you have, the more power you can preload and hence inject it in your backhand stroke.
The KEY to generate power is to quickly switch to a backhand grip and enter the preloading phase.
In some instances, perform a backhand drop instead of a backhand clear if you realise that you do not have enough preloading time.
In order to perform a maximum backhand swing, keep your racket arm as close as possible to your body (see picture above).
3. Execution
During this phase, transfer all your pre-loaded power into your backhand swing.
Aim to take the shuttle at the HIGHEST POINT POSSIBLE.
Avoid taking the shuttle at a low point such as the at the side of your body. That would be a tennis backhand instead of a badminton backhand!
Position yourself so that you will make contact with the shuttle when the shuttle is exactly at the side of your body (above your head). By doing this, a natural swing will direct the shuttle to fly high and towards your opponent's baseline.
Commence your swing with the PROPER BACKHAND STROKE.
To kick in some extra power, slightly bend your body before you hit the swing. As you commence your backhand swing, push your bodyweight towards the direction of your swing for extra power. make sure you only bend your body by a bit and avoid pushing too much bodyweight towards your swing direction or else you will lose body balance.
When you're about to make contact with the shuttle, FLICK YOUR WRIST towards the shuttle. The KEY to a strong backhand is to hit the shuttle with your wrist with a quick snapping motion.
The quick snapping motion of your wrist together with the backhand swing is the 2 main source of power for the badminton backhand clear.
After you hit the shuttle, it's necessary to follow through with your swing to complete a full swing. If you're looking to hit a cross court backhand clear or want more accurate shot placement, following through becomes even more important.
Quickly turn your body to face the front of the court and return to your base.
Important Tips/Advice
Master the backhand clear so that your opponent is less likely to take advantage of your backhand area.
Practise to switch QUICKLY to a backhand grip. If you're not fast in switching, consider executing a badminton backhand drop shot instead of a clear.
Perform the CORRECT BACKHAND SWING technique to generate the maximum power.
Upon making contact with the shuttle, hit the shuttle with a quick "snapping" motion of your wrist. Therefore, don't hold your racket too tightly. Otherwise your fingers and wrist movement will be limited for a QUICK FLICK.
For more power, slightly bend your body during the pre-loading phase. As you commence your backhand swing, slightly swing your bodyweight towards the direction of the shuttle. Do not overdo this or you'll lose balance.
Follow through with your swing.
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