Common Mistakes When Playing A Backhand Clear

In a previous article, I talked about the technique to play the backhand clear. While this was just a guide, I feel like it’s important to follow it up with common mistakes when playing a backhand clear.

So if you want to improve power in your clear, the first step is to refocus on the correct technique and how you’re approaching the shot.

Common Mistakes With The Backhand Clear

A big frustration of the backhand is being able to generate power. It’s usually the result of using an incorrect technique. While even an amateur player without much training can generate significant power on their forehand, it’s definitely not as easy to do this on the backhand. This is because it is a very technical shot. Here are some common errors when trying to play the backhand clear!

Forcing The Shot

Trying to generate power through sheer force on the backhand just won’t work. If you’re forcing the shot, it’s likely that you’ve compromised on the technique. If this is the case you need to stop what you’re doing and reevaluate your technique. Remember, all shots take time to develop, and there are no real short cuts! Forcing the shot may result in injury to your wrist, elbow and shoulder. In addition, this will actually reduce the power you’re able to generate!

This is often born out of frustration. You can’t expect to be able to hit a full-length backhand clear if you’re still early on in your training of this shot. There’s nothing wrong with learning the correct technique and only hitting the shuttle half-court initially. The focus should not be on the length of the shot in the early stages but the technique. This is a steep learning curve shot. But the more you practice and repeat, the more effortless it will become. It just takes consistency in training.

Shuttle Position

When generating power in your backhand sometimes it’s not how you’re hitting the shuttle but where you’re hitting it.  Remember it’s not the same as a forehand shot where the shuttle is a little in front of your body but pretty much above you.  Because of the anatomy of the shoulder, trying to hit a shuttle which is directly above your body in a similar way restricts the use of the elbow. Therefore the supination of the forearm is similarly restricted. This robs you of the power required to play a good clear.

The shuttle should be high in the air and to the side of your body. This is the optimal position to use your elbow to point at the shuttle and use the forearm to generate the power required to clear the shuttle. Even if the shuttle has fallen lower than optimal, the clear can still be played. As long as the shuttle is above head height and you maintain that space between your body and the shuttle, it’s doable!

The shuttle should also be in line with your body, not behind you or in front of you. If the shuttle is closer to the net than in line with your body, you risk over-rotating your shoulder, particularly if this is a repetitive approach to your backhand clears. However, with the shuttle behind you, i.e. further to the backcourt than inline with your body, you lose the space to supinate your forearm fully to create that power.

Too Much Wrist

You might have been previously told through bro-science that the backhand clear is all in the wrist. There are some players I know who are able to use their wrist effectively to play a backhand clear. However, using the supination of the forearm is much more effective at generating power. The wrist actually plays very little part as an individual but contributes as the link between the supination and last-second tight gripping of the racket handle as you strike the shuttle.

Not Focusing The Energy Correctly

This can almost be linked to the preceding point. When some players use the wrist action, they tend to keep the wrist loose and use it to create the whipping action. However, the wrist should be cocked and not loose. In order to cock your wrist, hold (or pretend) to hold a racket in front of you and then bend your wrist so that you’re looking at your thumb. Don’t force it – it should feel comfortable.

The only loose thing should be your grip. Think of it like an elastic band:

1. As your elbow points to the shuttle and the forearm supinates, this is like stretching the band, storing the energy. The wrist is cocked in position and the grip is loose.
2. Then as you hit the shuttle you suddenly tighten your grip – the equivalent of letting the elastic band go, releasing the stored energy. This causes a rebound effect of the racket, similar to a whip.

So make sure you release the energy when you hit the shuttle by following the correct technique and relaxing the muscles until the last second. The more relaxed your muscles during the shot, the more speed you can generate in rotation of the forearm and therefore more power can be applied to the shuttle.

Over Extending The Elbow

Have you ever had pain in your elbow as a result of playing anything on the backhand? It’s likely that you’re overextending your elbow – forcing it into full extension when you play the backhand. This is incorrect and can cause pain and injury if done repeatedly. The elbow should always have a slight bend to protect it when playing the backhand and to help create a better rotation of the forearm.

Not Using The Correct Grip

I guess you saw this one coming! But not using the correct grip really plays havoc with your high backhand clear. It can put your wrist in all sorts of funny positions and can result in injury if not addressed properly.

On a high backhand clear, you might get several people telling you different grips. The one I advocate is the bevel grip as your finger power can be best utilised in this grip.

You need to get used to this grip by practising switching grips off the court. Even something such as between games while you’re sitting out or in front of the TV – as Paul Stewart refers to it – armchair exercises! It might be a case you’re not able to efficiently switch grips, rather than failing to use the correct one – Paul Stewart has you covered with a lot of good information about this particular skill!

Failing To Have Dedicated Practise

I know many of you are guilty of this, including myself at one point! As mentioned the backhand is a very technical shot. So many people seem to practise this shot when playing games or matches rather than purposefully training for it. Of course, it’s up to you how you want to approach it, but I guarantee, being in a stable environment and practising is much easier than trying to practise it under pressure!

Take your time to really develop the shot with friends or with a coach. By dedicating this time you’ll really be able to develop the technique effectively and you’ll find your ability to use it effectively in a real game will improve much faster!

Were you making any of these common mistakes with the backhand clear and if so, did this article help? Please let be know in the comments!

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