Badminton overhead technique the core aspects
What are the critical elements for all overhead striking?
The technical ‘must-haves’ for a badminton overhead
Specific themes that you can use in all your overhead coaching,
saving you ‘coaching’ time
creating more effective learning
A coach contacted me after reading the post about assessing a badminton overhead technique and asked what they should encourage in all overheads.
What are the suggestions to give to players that would not only help develop a great badminton overhead but also maybe prevent some of the most common technique faults?
My list is at the bottom of this post
If you haven’t read the previous post, click here on this image, it will only take you 2 min to read.
Defining the critical elements for overhead striking
What are the elements that you would argue strongly should be present and therefore must be coached (introduced) at some stage in a player’s development?
Aspects that when encouraged, will help to prevent ‘classic’ badminton overhead faults that hinder future development.
Plus, they must be easy for players to understand / copy, easy for coaches to demonstrate/encourage, and they must enhance all overhead hitting actions.
Are there critical aspects in a badminton overhead that if not present, would make the technique less efficient? These are the ones we are after.
My guess is that it will be a short list.
Start writing now and see what you create, or read my list and consider what images pop into your mind.
You could choose to coach each overhead stroke separately, believing that each has its own set of techniques, and that may be true.
However, there certainly are a small number of common elements that apply to all. Why not establish key themes early in the OH development and save yourself time, speed up player development, and reduce the number of instructions you give?
I found that player development and your coaching will become slightly easier and certainly more effective when you try this.
These are separate from tactical aspects and will only help develop an effective overhead hitting action, you’ll need much more to win the rally 🙂
My list
“Get off the ground” – One or both feet will be off the ground when striking and in many cases, it will be both feet. This is not insisting on a vertical jump, but more so just being “off the ground”. Start by “loading the rear leg as you pull the elbow back”
“Prepare early” – Preparing early is essential, how early and the exact position is open for discussion. Be aware that the preparation position can vary from player to player and may change again as they develop and mature.
“Pull the elbow back” – Doing this will encourage a number of techniques/body positions and is essential for the preparation of power. How far and when the elbow is ‘pulled back’ is another discussion.
“Throw” – As a basic, all novice/beginner overheads should be performed with a throw. To do otherwise creates many issues that will hinder development. The size and speed of the throw are another important and complementary discussion.
Do you agree that these are core, essential elements to all overheads?
Checking the validity
Try playing overheads without including one or more of the 4 elements above. As you do, think about the technique you are using and whether it will create an efficient overhead.
Another good test is to use these words in your coaching as cues for the players. What differences, if any, do they create in the action?
“Get off the ground”
“Load (push into the court) the rear leg as you pull the elbow back”
“Prepare early”
“Pull the elbow back”
“Throw”
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As always, I’m very grateful if you have read this far 🙂
I wonder what you would include as a core element of the badminton overhead.
It would be great to hear what conversations you have with your coaching friends.
Why not send me an email contact@badmintonandy.com
This is part of a series of conversation starters.
Although not in detail, the posts are written to get you thinking and talking with others.
