Backhand Overhead Smash

Learn the backhand overhead smash from badminton players.

Intro:

Badminton players are especially good at this. We will be learning from them.

They use the same grip, they just call it the bevel grip:https://badminton-insight.com/how-to-play-a-backhand-clear-drop-and-smash/

article also goes into footwork and positioning as well

Badminton pro explains:

• Relax arm, don’t tense your arm. His arm is really really relaxed.

• Also short quick flick rather than a huge long slow follow through.

• He actually has his thumb on side of bevel like backhand grip, rather than all the way on the paddle face side of the bevel. This is so it has more flexibility and looseness rather than rigidity.
  • My note:
    • disadvantages: side of the bevel grip is that sacrifices some power when hitting ball parallel, but when hitting overheads, it’s same power if not more power.
      • Can reduce this by bending lower at the kitchen to make more things an overhead instead of hitting parallel to net/body.
      advantages: you can switch to forehand/backhand just by having your thumb turn the bevel a little to the right or left. This is probably the only grip that covers everything without seriously changing grips.
      • makes it great for speed ups at the kitchen where you don’t need as much power because it’s not a putaway, but need to get back faster for the 2nd shot.

Footwork

For backhand overheads, Hendry talks about how using the wrist is more sideways like turning open a jar, NOT revving a motorcycle throttle.

Priority Checklist

Must-have

1. Switch to some sort of grip that closes the backhand downwards.
2. Relax arm, don’t tense your arm.