In badminton, almost all the players have weak backhand game-play. At least, their backhand game will be weaker than their forehand game. If someone hits a shot to the backhand area at the backside of the court, it is often difficult to clear that shot for most of us.
If you’re playing it all wrong with your backhand and wondering how to improve your backhand, then you’ve come to the right place.
I was also facing the same issue. I was playing a singles game with my friend, and he was constantly sending all the shots to my backhand area. I really struggled to take points in that match, and that’s when I realized that I need to improve my backhand game.
I did some research and learned how to improve my backhand, and in this article, I want to share what I’ve learned with you.
How can you improve your backhand game? Is there any secret formula that you do not know? Well, let’s see.
In most people, the weakness in their backhand game is due to their poor technique and footwork. It is really essential to learn the right technique and footwork to play the backhand shots effectively.
Now, let’s learn some tips to improve your backhand technique and make it as perfect as possible.
How To Do A Backhand Clear In Badminton
The backhand is our weak side, and we use the backhand often when we’re under pressure. The most fundamental shot that we need to learn in this situation is the backhand clear.
Yes, it’s a defensive shot, and you might want to learn the attacking backhand shots such as a backhand smash or the backhand drop. But, a backhand clear is the basic shot that you should master even before learning the attacking shots.
If you know how to hit a backhand clear shot with ease, you can easily adjust your power and speed to make it a smash or a drop.
Before you learn the right technique, you need to forget about the technique that you’ve used to hit the backhand. Let’s have a look at the right technique that you need to have to pull off a backhand shot.
The Grip For A Backhand Shot
First of all, you need to use the right grip for playing backhand shots. Do not hold the racquet so tightly when you’re playing backhand shots. Use a gentle loose grip.
I hope you know the difference between a forehand grip and a backhand grip. If you do not know, watch the following video to learn how to use the forehand grip and backhand grip and change them whenever you want.
But, you shouldn’t use a backhand grip for an overhead backhand shot. We can use the standard backhand grip for an underarm backhand shot. For overhead backhand shots, we need to use a different grip to generate some power.
If you want to play the backhand clear from the backside of the court (overhead backhand shot), you need to turn away from the V-grip to a fraction more towards the panhandle grip (this grip is so-called as it is similar to holding a frying pan).
Rather than having your thumb on the flat side of the racket, you need to rotate it slightly to be on the diagonal bevel.
Timing and Footwork
When we play forehand shots, we hit the shuttle at its highest point. We don’t usually wait for the shuttle to come further down if we want to hit a powerful attacking shot.
But when you’re playing the overhead backhand shots, that’s not the case. You don’t need to hit the shuttle at its highest point. In fact, if you have reached your position early so that you can hit the shuttle at its highest point, then you can use a forehand shot.
Why do we use the backhand shot even when it is weak? It’s because we don’t get the time to reach the backside corner to hit it with the forehand. If we get the time, then hit the shuttle with the strong forehand.
When you’re playing a backhand clear shot, you need to hit the shuttle when it is around the height of your head. You need to keep your eyes on the shuttle and see it through until you hit it with your backhand.
The whole hand and the grip should be relaxed until you hit the shuttle. After the initial acceleration of the hand towards the shuttle, upon the contact point, you need to squeeze the grip.
Use the elbow to generate power. Throw the elbow up in the direction of the shuttle. You can also do the forehand rotation (which is known as supernation movement) to generate power to the shot.
At the contact point, you need to transfer the momentum that you’ve generated through your movements into the shuttle to make the shot as powerful as you can.
You want to hit the shuttle just when you place your non-racket foot on the ground while taking a step to the back. I suggest you watch the following video to understand the right technique and footwork used in hitting overhead backhand shots.
Follow-Through
When you hit a backhand clear, you do not want to complete the follow-through and turn around. None of the professional players do that. If you’ve ever done that, you might have seen the opponent hitting at you even before you become ready for the return.
So, do not rotate 360 degrees to come back to the normal position. That’s an awkward and inefficient movement.
Instead, what you want to do is whipping the racket back down. Once you hit the shuttle with your backhand, you need to take a step back (do the reverse of the footwork that you’ve used to reach the shuttle). Come back to the middle of the court facing the net and be ready for the return from your opponent.
How To Improve Your Backhand Shots In Badminton
Obviously, to improve any shots in badminton, you need to do a lot of practice. Try to practice playing a lot with your backhand with the right technique. Use the proper grip, footwork, and other theoretical concepts that you’ve learned while you’re doing the practice.
When you do it over and over again, the technique will become muscle memory, and you’ll be able to play the shot correctly in the match.
Try to improve your footwork as it is the key component while playing a difficult backhand shot. If you’re pretty good with your footwork, you can quickly move around the court and time the shuttle correctly. And, that’ll also help you use your forehand most of the time rather than using your weaker backhand.
You can ask a friend to constantly hit the shuttle around your backhand area while doing practice. Also, if you’re alone, you can practice by trying to keep hitting the shuttle upwards with the backhand with power (with the proper grip).
Now, if you want to learn some exercises to practice and improve your backhand technique, watch the following video.
Final Thoughts
You’ve learned a lot of basic theoretical concepts. Now, it’s time to go to your badminton court and put what you’ve learned into practice. If you keep practicing with patience and hard work, you’ll eventually become good at backhand shots, and nobody will take advantage of your weak backhand to get points.
If you’ve read this far and walk away without implementing these concepts, then there’s nothing worse than that. So, do practice, and you’ll become a master of the backhand shots.
I hope this article was helpful in improving your knowledge and skills around this beautiful game. If it was helpful to you, do share it so that others will also find it.
Now you know how to improve your backhand shots. We have created a list of the best badminton drills that you can practice to improve your overall game. Click here to check it out.
Thanks for reading.