I picked the wrong one and it caused problems
Every young player needs a backhand from the rear court
Which Backhand do you try to develop first:
clear, drop, long drop, straight or crosscourt?
Initially, I tried to develop 2 strokes : the short drop and the clear
It was a stressful time 🙁
Neither really worked and certainly neither gave the players the confidence and success in matches that they wanted.
Of course, the clear never went deep (long) enough and the drop would go either into the net, be too high, or be killed.
The names of these strokes may differ
Each coach group may have their own terms for these strokes.
Although everyone knows the name of the “clear” – a stroke that is hit towards the opponent’s rear court, often high and struck hard.
The other strokes have different names: Drop / Drag / Pull / Long Drop
Why are you coaching the clear and short drop?
That was the question I was asked by my mentor
I had no other reply than, “Well, it’s in the manual”
Forget the manual! – was the reply
Coach what works best in a match for your player
That was the advice I received
I started coaching the “Long Drop” and it worked!
You may know this stroke by other names (the Drag, the Pull, etc) but whatever its called, the aim is for it to travel flat, quick and land just past the service line.
This is the stroke I recommend should be developed before the backhand clear
Its not a soft (floaty) straight drop that lands before the opponent’s service line
Strike it fast and flat !
- Players loved the larger target area (just before and about 1m past the service line)
- As long as they hit it flat’ish, the speed wasn’t really that critical
- The opponents found it difficult to kill or play a tight net
- Crosscourt pull could be developed very easily (see below)
- Players loved the fact that they could not only return the shuttle but could reduce any opponent advantage
- If it was hit with a little slice (by choice or accident) the stroke was even better and dropped quickly in the forecourt (especially the crosscourt)
- Often the ‘tougher’ (flatter/faster) my feed the better the stroke
Quickly progress to the cross-court version
It’s just a grip change, a slight turn of the shoulder caused by “looking out of the corner of your eye to see where it’s going!” ….. more of that great coaching cue in a later post 😉
One final point: please coach all your strokes and especially this backhand in a positive way
Smile at mistakes, progress the difficulty, overpraise miss-hits that become great shots, and allow for progression 🙂
And do all this before you teach the clear
Send me a question
I’m always grateful if you have read this far.
If there is anything that you have read that has helped or that you disagree with, then please send me an email.
I promise to read all your comments
It would be great to hear from you contact@badmintonandy.com
