KS4 · Physical education · Year 10
Backhand shots
Non-examined assessment: badminton practical
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can hit backhand serves, clears, drives, smashes and drop shots with consistency.
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Backhand shots: 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 hit backhand serves, clears, drives, smashes and drop shots with consistency.
Key learning points
- Move: underarm shots have a U-shaped swing with a slightly bent elbow.
- Move: overarm shots have a high elbow and flick movement to meet the shuttle up high in front of the body.
- Think: it is sometimes best to run round the shuttle to enable a forehand shot but that requires fast footwork.
- Feel: confidence is needed to persevere with tougher backhand shots to maximise learning and muscle memory development.
- Connect: striving to help others to improve their performance shows excellent teamwork and cooperation.
Words to know
- smash
- hitting the shuttle down to attack with power
- drop shot
- hitting the shuttle from the back of the court to go just over the net
- net shot
- a touch shot played at the front of the court to return the shuttlecock just over the net
Common mistakes
Drop shots and net shots are two terms for the same thing.
Whilst both shots play the shuttle just over the net, a drop shot is hit from the back of the court whereas a net shot is hit from the front of the court close to the net.
For parents, carers and teachers
- Consider hand feeding for longer with pupils who struggle to master the backhand. It does take longer but is needed to make progress and achieve in badminton.