The pulled forehand drop shot: a defensive way out of the forehand corner
When the shuttle is behind you in the forehand corner, a pulled drop shot can ease the pressure. How it differs from the attacking drop, and how to practise it.
What it is for
In the BWF Level 1 Coaches' Manual (2nd edition, 2017, module 7) a pulled forehand drop shot goes from your rearcourt to the front of your opponent's midcourt, and the shuttle is drawn towards, but not into, the middle of the court. It tends to be used in defensive situations, when the shuttle is behind you in the forehand corner.
The manual gives its purpose as relieving pressure. It restricts the opponent's chance to attack the shuttle in two ways: it makes it harder to play tight to the net, and it restricts the angle of their reply. This is not the attacking drop of the forehand drop shot, which you play from a good position to pull the opponent off balance. For the same idea on the other side, see the backhand drop shot.
Step by step
- Preparation. Carry the racket with the racket head above the hand and the elbow bent. Turn the racket in the hand towards a thumb grip; turn it more if you want to hit cross-court.
- Backswing. Rotate the upper and lower arm outwards and keep the elbow bent.
- Forward swing. Straighten the arm in a relaxed reach, rotate the upper and lower arm inwards and aim to get the hitting hand underneath the shuttle. Just before contact, reduce the arm rotation and push through the shuttle. The contact is slightly behind you.
- Follow-through. Complete the push through the shuttle, and use the follow-through to help you turn quickly to face the net.
Hint from the manual
Experiment with changing your grip. It changes the racket face, so you can play both straight and cross-court.
Practices
- Shadow. Copy a coach (or a friend) showing the stroke without a shuttle, then do it alone, then with your eyes closed to "feel the stroke".
- Beside a net or wall. Stand sideways to it and shadow the stroke. The net or wall helps you keep the racket head above the hand on the forward pull.
- Hanging shuttle. Stand with the shuttle slightly behind and to your side, step towards it, strike it and recover to the start.
- Fed shuttle. A partner feeds one shuttle over the net with a racket. Turn, step into the stroke, hit, turn back to face the net, then the partner feeds a new one.
Limits
The manual gives no distances or heights, and it treats this as a defensive way out, not as a shot to play when you are in a good position. Do not copy it with a full swing if you feel pain in the shoulder or wrist: stop and ask a qualified coach.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.