Drop Shot/Net Shot Key Teaching Practices
Forehand Drop Shot:
Disguising this shot is the key to its success. To disguise it use a big upper body turn to make the opponent think a clear or smash is going to be hit.The purpose of this shot is to catch your opponent out and make them stretch when playing their reply, hoping to force an unbalanced weak reply.
How: To execute the drop shot get behind and in line with the shuttle and turn side on to the net. Have the non-racket arm in front of the body and the racket hand should be up behind the head. To enable maximum disguise the racket/body preparation should be near as identical to how you would play a smash or a clear.
As the shuttle comes closer extend the racket arm and rotate the shoulders and hips round to face the net. With this shot make contact
with the shuttle out in front of the body but when it is still high in the air. Make sure to direct the shuttle downwards as with a smash but to decelerate the racket head speed - as opposed to accelerating it through. This will ensure the shuttle will drop in the forecourt area.
Disguising this shot is the key to its success. To disguise it use a big upper body turn to make the opponent think a clear or smash is going to be hit.The purpose of this shot is to catch your opponent out and make them stretch when playing their reply, hoping to force an unbalanced weak reply.
How: To execute the drop shot get behind and in line with the shuttle and turn side on to the net. Have the non-racket arm in front of the body and the racket hand should be up behind the head. To enable maximum disguise the racket/body preparation should be near as identical to how you would play a smash or a clear.
As the shuttle comes closer extend the racket arm and rotate the shoulders and hips round to face the net. With this shot make contact
with the shuttle out in front of the body but when it is still high in the air. Make sure to direct the shuttle downwards as with a smash but to decelerate the racket head speed - as opposed to accelerating it through. This will ensure the shuttle will drop in the forecourt area.
Backhand Drop Shot:
The drop shot is played from above the head in the same way as the clear except the drop shot is hit with a lot less power. If played correctly it should have just enough power to clear the net but then drop down to the floor.
This shot is usually only played when the player cannot play a 'round the head' shot with the forehand. Disguising this shot is the key to its success although the strength of a players backhand clear and/or smash will largely dictate the starting position of your opponent i.e. if they are aware that you do not possess a strong backhand clear - as soon as you shape up for a backhand they will most likely move their base position forward in anticipation of a drop shot.
How: The movement for this shot is similar to that of the backhand clear/smash. Sidestep to the rear court leading with the non racket foot until the shuttle passes over your shoulder. At this stage lunge the racket foot to the rear court trying to get under the shuttle as much as possible.
The shot is actually played with your back to the net and the hitting technique played with the racket following a loop type motion finishing with the racket head at the top. There is little or no follow through on this shot with the exception of the wrist motion waving the racket head over the handle to encourage the shuttle to get in a downwards direction.
Once the shot is played the player needs to push back off the racket foot and return to a position facing the net and move back to base ready to play the next shot.
The drop shot is played from above the head in the same way as the clear except the drop shot is hit with a lot less power. If played correctly it should have just enough power to clear the net but then drop down to the floor.
This shot is usually only played when the player cannot play a 'round the head' shot with the forehand. Disguising this shot is the key to its success although the strength of a players backhand clear and/or smash will largely dictate the starting position of your opponent i.e. if they are aware that you do not possess a strong backhand clear - as soon as you shape up for a backhand they will most likely move their base position forward in anticipation of a drop shot.
How: The movement for this shot is similar to that of the backhand clear/smash. Sidestep to the rear court leading with the non racket foot until the shuttle passes over your shoulder. At this stage lunge the racket foot to the rear court trying to get under the shuttle as much as possible.
The shot is actually played with your back to the net and the hitting technique played with the racket following a loop type motion finishing with the racket head at the top. There is little or no follow through on this shot with the exception of the wrist motion waving the racket head over the handle to encourage the shuttle to get in a downwards direction.
Once the shot is played the player needs to push back off the racket foot and return to a position facing the net and move back to base ready to play the next shot.
Forehand Net Shot:
The net shot is played from the net and when played correctly should just tumble over the top of the net and drop as close to the net as possible on the opponents. Try and reach the shuttle before it drops to low to make the shot easier and give the opponent less time to reach the net shot.
How: To reach the shuttle earlier step forward with the dominant foot and reach with the racket arm. Make sure to put the racket face in line with the dropping shuttle. Aim to put slightly more body weight on the front foot.
When in line with the dropping shuttle, cock the wrist, and as soon as the shuttle comes into the hitting area drop the racket head down and quickly lift it to make contact with the shuttle as close to the top of the net as possible. The racket hand palm should be facing up when making contact. The last of the racket lift should come from the shoulder. This should mean the shuttle bounces off the face with no pace on it, making it fall just over the net.
After making contact with the shuttle the racket should keep moving in a upward direction with the shuttle's path. Step back off the front foot to propel the body back to the mid court.
The net shot is played from the net and when played correctly should just tumble over the top of the net and drop as close to the net as possible on the opponents. Try and reach the shuttle before it drops to low to make the shot easier and give the opponent less time to reach the net shot.
How: To reach the shuttle earlier step forward with the dominant foot and reach with the racket arm. Make sure to put the racket face in line with the dropping shuttle. Aim to put slightly more body weight on the front foot.
When in line with the dropping shuttle, cock the wrist, and as soon as the shuttle comes into the hitting area drop the racket head down and quickly lift it to make contact with the shuttle as close to the top of the net as possible. The racket hand palm should be facing up when making contact. The last of the racket lift should come from the shoulder. This should mean the shuttle bounces off the face with no pace on it, making it fall just over the net.
After making contact with the shuttle the racket should keep moving in a upward direction with the shuttle's path. Step back off the front foot to propel the body back to the mid court.
Backhand Net Shot:
This is much the same as the forehand net shot in that to reach the shuttle earlier players need to step forward with the dominant foot and reach with the racket arm. Make sure to put the racket face in line with the dropping shuttle. Aim to put slightly more body weight on the front foot.
When in line with the dropping shuttle, cock the wrist, and as soon as the shuttle comes into the hitting area drop the racket head down and quickly lift it to make contact with the shuttle as close to the top of the net as possible. The last of the racket lift should come from the shoulder. This should mean the racket bounces off the face with no pace on it, making it fall just over the net.
After making contact with the shuttle the racket should keep moving in a upward direction with the shuttle's path. Step back off the front foot to propel the body back to the mid court.
The only two differences are using the thumb grip and instead of having the palm facing up when striking the shuttle, it should be facing down at the floor.
(Teach PE, 2017)
This is much the same as the forehand net shot in that to reach the shuttle earlier players need to step forward with the dominant foot and reach with the racket arm. Make sure to put the racket face in line with the dropping shuttle. Aim to put slightly more body weight on the front foot.
When in line with the dropping shuttle, cock the wrist, and as soon as the shuttle comes into the hitting area drop the racket head down and quickly lift it to make contact with the shuttle as close to the top of the net as possible. The last of the racket lift should come from the shoulder. This should mean the racket bounces off the face with no pace on it, making it fall just over the net.
After making contact with the shuttle the racket should keep moving in a upward direction with the shuttle's path. Step back off the front foot to propel the body back to the mid court.
The only two differences are using the thumb grip and instead of having the palm facing up when striking the shuttle, it should be facing down at the floor.
(Teach PE, 2017)