The backhand drive is a flat, extremely fast stroke played from the mid-court area. In a badminton rally, you encounter it most frequently in neutral situations when the shuttle is traveling too low for you to decisively kill it downwards, but at the same time high enough that you do not need to simply play a defensive lift upwards. This stroke is absolutely crucial because it is played not only on the backhand side but very often also when the opponent aims rapidly straight at the center of your body.
Why the Backhand Drive is So Important
The shuttle flies just over the net and is directed into the mid or rear court of the opponent. A correctly mastered backhand drive allows you to:
- Stop the opponent's attacking pressure: The fast and flat flight path does not give the opponent time to prepare a full-fledged attacking stroke.
- Turn the rally in your favor: If you direct the drive into open space or straight at the opponent's body, you often force a weak reply that you can already finish at the net.
Basic Stance and Preparation
Drive exchanges are a matter of fractions of a second, so correct pre-stroke preparation is critical.
- Racket Grip: If you intercept the shuttle beside your body, keep the racket in the basic grip. If, however, you must react to a shuttle flying straight in front of your body, immediately switch to the thumb grip.
- Guard Preparation: Have the racket ready in front of your body at all times. At the moment of the opponent's stroke, perform a split-step. If the shuttle flies far from the body, it is necessary to support the movement with a quick step across or a lunge onto the racket foot.
Execution Technique Step-by-Step
1. Backswing
Raise the elbow up and forward, while the arm remains bent. Rotate the arm and forearm inwards (forearm pronation). You must maintain a clear angle between the racket and the forearm.
2. Hitting Swing
With a lightning-fast movement, straighten the elbow and sharply rotate the forearm with the arm outwards (forearm supination). Hit the shuttle hard and flat. If you are under time pressure, you will not be able to execute forearm rotation in its full range and the angle between the arm and the racket will naturally increase.
3. Follow-through and Immediate Guard
When the stroke is drawn through to the extreme position, the racket automatically snaps back due to the natural physiology of the hand. Take advantage of this rebound and immediately return the racket in front of your body into the ready position.
Common Mistakes
- Playing with the entire shoulder: The power and speed of the stroke must come from a quick extension of the elbow and sharp forearm supination, not from a swing from the shoulder.
- Turning your back to the net: Turning too much away from the net robs you of visual tracking of the court situation and slows down your recovery.
- "Dropping" the racket after the hit: In a fast exchange, you must have the racket up in front of your chest into the ready position at all times.
Coach's Tip
You do not always have to play the backhand drive with full power. If you intentionally relax your finger grip and gently break the racket movement at the moment of impact, you will change the drive into a deceptive defensive block. The shuttle will then fall just behind the net, completely catching off guard the opponent who is already pulling back.
Summary
- The backhand drive is played flat from the mid-court area.
- Use the thumb grip when hitting in front of the body, and the basic grip when hitting beside the body.
- The key to power is quick elbow straightening and forearm supination.
- After the stroke, the racket head must immediately return to the guard position in front of the body.
Master the backhand drive technique and gain absolute control over mid-court play.
