Backhand defence off the body: the drive defence and the long defence
Two ways to answer a smash or drive that comes at your backhand side: a flat counter or a high, deep reply that buys time.
Two replies to the same problem
When a smash or a drive arrives on your backhand side, near your body, you can choose between two replies. Both are played from the midcourt.
- Backhand drive defence goes flat from midcourt to midcourt. The manual gives three reasons: to turn defence into attack, to force opponents away from the forecourt, and to deny them an attacking chance.
- Backhand long defence goes high from midcourt to rearcourt. It gives you time to regain your balance and position, moves your opponents around the court, and in women's doubles can be used as a tactic to tire the opponents. See the lesson on defence: the block and the counter for the soft block to the front.
How the two are played
- Prepare. Carry the racket out in front of the body. Start moving into a split-step in anticipation of the opponent's stroke. Begin to take a relaxed thumb grip.
- Backswing. Land the split-step with the knees slightly bent. Move the elbow upwards and forwards (the elbow is bent), turn the lower arm inwards (pronation), and create an angle between racket and forearm. For the long defence, the upper arm turns inwards as well.
- Forward swing. Turn the lower arm outwards (supination) and straighten the elbow. - Drive defence: hit flat. - Long defence: begin to straighten the legs slightly, meet the shuttle out in front of the body with the racket head below the hand, and strike through and under the shuttle.
- Follow through. Let the racket's momentum carry on the rotation as the arm relaxes. Recover the racket quickly for the next stroke.
Hints from the manual
- If you have less time, shorten the action. This means you may not be able to make such an angle between racket and forearm.
- Strike the left or right of the shuttle to send the stroke cross-court.
A simple practice
A partner feeds smash-like shuttles to your backhand side (overhead hand feed first, racket feed when you are ready). Alternate: one reply flat, one reply high to the back. Keep your feet moving and recover to the middle each time.
Limits
This lesson is for players who already use the backhand grips comfortably. The manual describes the technique in terms of arm rotation, not speed or distances, and a text description cannot replace a coach. If a hard shuttle hits you or a feeder drill hurts the hand or wrist, stop and ask a qualified coach.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.