Backhand - how to start of

Posted by Badminton Interactive on June 03, 1999 at 11:44:51:

 
Many players find that backhand is the most difficult to learn and master well. When learning how to play backhand it is important to start as easy as possible and build it up very gradually. Here is a start-off exercise:
 
Start with one person standing just in front of the player throwing shuttles up into the backhand side. The player is facing the feeder and when a shuttle is thrown he steps out using two steps (left foot first) and tries to hit the shuttle. Don't focus on power, just on getting the footwork and hitting action into one "movement". The right foot should hit the ground at the same time as the shuttle is hit. If you need to you can practice the movement without shuttle (shadow) to start with. To start with the shuttles should be thrown close to the player and then when it is improving putting a little bit more pressure on by throwing deeper into the backhand corner.
 
Sometimes it helps doing this exercise in front of a wall and the player then tries to hit a marked area on the wall.

Next step can be that the feeder is lifting straight to the backhand corner and the player moving from the centre and playing slow drop shots. Then you can do the same but playing clears instead of drop shots.
 
Remember that it takes a lot of good practice to learn backhand well and the same exercises most be done over and over again, and then you will see improvement.
 
Good luck!