The backcourt high clears never land properly—better check if your side step is off.

•5 min read
The backcourt high clears never land properly—better check if your side step is off.

Among amateur badminton players, one "backcourt attack" tactic proves effective for many—largely because most amateurs struggle with their backcourt skills: they lack power, pose minimal offensive threat, and tend to make more mistakes.
When serving, secretly targeting the backcourt of female players often catches them off guard, leading to unreturnable shots and immediate points. Even if they manage to return the ball, their hits rarely land accurately, leaving them vulnerable for the opponent to finish with a decisive smash. But what exactly causes such inconsistency in these players' backcourt shots?

(Source: Wu Liuying teaches ball skills)

I. When serving from the backcourt


(1) A key reason for the reduced threat of backcourt shots is the lack of a sideways movement when hitting the backcourt.


Many people rely solely on their upper body when hitting shots from the backcourt, which certainly reduces the threat of their shots significantly.


(2) Three Main Reasons Not to Turn Your Body During the Serve
① Insufficient preparatory movements and no awareness of stepping back to hit the ball sideways;
② Finds sideways movements unnecessary;

③ Sidestepping backward leaves the steps too messy.


This often results in weak smashes, inaccurate high clears, and a lack of subtlety in drop shots, giving defenders plenty of time to prepare.


2. And now, why do we need to stand sideways when playing ball?

(1) When hitting the ball with a sideways motion, you can leverage your body to generate power. Relying solely on swinging your large arm, however, makes it difficult to achieve speed—and also increases the risk of arm injuries.


(2) By hitting the ball with a sideways motion, you can execute a fuller swing and unleash the "primordial power" stored within your body.


(3) If you twist your upper body sideways while keeping your feet parallel, this "twisting like a pretzel" motion when hitting the ball can easily lead to a waist injury.


(4) If you don’t shift your body position, your intended shot becomes directly visible to your opponent, giving them ample time to anticipate and prepare for the hit.

(5) Moving backward while turning sideways is faster than moving without turning.


(6) After hitting the ball, you can quickly return your body to its original position—otherwise, if you don’t turn sideways, you’ll need a deliberate, effortful movement to get back, which is both tiring and time-consuming.

(7) Think about how you miss the shot and get easily countered by your opponent; or how a backswing without turning your body leads to a painful waist injury; or even how failing to turn your body while swinging causes you to trip, stumble, and fall right on the court—then you’ll truly understand the importance of side-body positioning during your swing.


(8) There are far more benefits to side-stepping than there are to not doing it—and if you’re not yet aware of these advantages, it simply means your understanding of the side-step technique is still incomplete.

So, make it a habit to turn your body sideways—recognize the importance of this movement, and don’t think of it as an unnecessary gesture.


3. Developing a side-body habit simply involves practicing swings with your body turned sideways more often.

(1) When preparing for a backcourt shot, shift from a parallel stance with both feet ready to hit the ball to positioning your right foot behind your left foot, transferring your weight onto your right foot. Then, rotate your torso smoothly to align your body vertically toward the net.


(2) When preparing to hit the ball, push off the ground with your right foot (or slightly jump off the ground to generate greater hitting power), transferring force sequentially through your feet → thighs → core → shoulders → arms → wrists → hands as you strike the ball. As you make contact, rotate your body squarely toward the net; after hitting the ball, use the momentum to return to your starting position.

Complete side-body workout, content sourced from Wu Liuying's coaching lessons

When the backcourt player is in an active position, try to execute a sideways movement to hit the shot; however, if the backcourt position becomes more passive and there isn’t enough time to react, you don’t need to perform the sideways movement.
 

Side-on hitting in

A high ball above the head, with a side step that allows for quick positioning.

A forehand lob, catching the opponent off guard.

Step back sideways

Don't step back sideways

Professional athletes, thanks to their efficient power generation, can hit the ball accurately without turning their bodies sideways. However, amateur players should definitely learn to side-step, as they naturally have lower power efficiency. To improve their strength and generate more force, amateur players must engage every available part of their body—leveraging the full range of motion—to deliver the desired level of impact and control.


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Zhao Jianhua, Yang Yang, and Li Mao have prepared over 100 lessons for everyone, covering techniques like badminton net shots, backhand cross-court hooks, and smashes. Click "Read More in the Bottom Left Corner" to check them out! If you're looking to improve your badminton skills, don't miss this—your chance is right here!




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