KS2 · Physical education · Year 4
Backhand
Net and wall games: tactics to overcome an opponent through pickleball
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can play a backhand shot using a paddle knowing when and where to play the shot in a game
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Backhand: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.
What you’ll learn
I can play a backhand shot using a paddle knowing when and where to play the shot in a game
Key learning points
- Move: using the correct grip and pointing the head of the paddle towards the target helps us control backhand shots.
- Move: tracking the ball is important so we can move our feet from the ready position towards the ball to play a shot.
- Think: it is important to be able to play both forehand and backhand shots to increase our success in a rally.
- Feel: accurately keeping score through the game and applying the rules effectively shows excellent self-discipline.
- Connect: collaborating with our partners, and helping each other to keep score shows an excellent level of respect.
Words to know
- backhand
- when you hit a ball with a paddle/racket and the back of your hand facing the ball
- shot
- hitting the ball with the paddle/racket in different ways
- score
- the number of points, goals, runs, etc., that each player or team has in a game
Common mistakes
Pupils may switch hands if the ball is hit towards their backhand side rather than using two hands on the paddle to hit the ball. Pupils may place their dominant hand at the top of the paddle handle.
Pupils should keep their dominant hand at the bottom of the paddle handle for control and place their non dominant hand at the top to play a backhand shot with both hands on the grip. Explain that the hand at the bottom provides the control.
For parents, carers and teachers
- Find a pupil who can demonstrate good technique for the backhand so the rest of the group can observe. Feed them the ball accurately making sure they are in the ready position after each shot. Use alternatives such as hand, hand paddles, other rackets if pickleball paddles are not available.