Badminton drop shot is vital when playing singles and doubles. And to make the shot, you need to stand at the back of the badminton court, hit the birdie at a steep angle such that it crosses and falls very close to the net.
Having the best badminton rackets without sharp skills won’t give you any victory. That’s why you need to arm yourself with the best drop-shot badminton techniques.
There are various ways in how you can execute the drop shot. Accordingly, that gives rise to 5 different types of badminton drop shots:
Table of Contents
Types of Badminton Drop Shots
- Slow (basic) forehead drop shot
- Fast (slice) forehead drop shot
- Reverse slice drop shot
- Basic backhand drop shot
- Slice backhand drop shot
Let’s dig deep into each category and see the comparison with other types of badminton shots.
Basic Forehead Drop Shot
The basic, otherwise called slow forehead drop shot, is widespread. All you need is to set the racket’s head flat, hit the shuttle to cross and fall close to the net.
However you have to ensure that the birdie doesn’t fly so high. Otherwise, your opponent can gain an advantage and reach it before it falls to the ground.
Follow the below steps, and you won’t have difficulty.
Step One: Get Ready Into Position.
Ensure your non-racket leg is in front and the other foot right behind you. At that posture, concentrate your body weight on the rear foot. Do not face the net directly. Instead, turn and face sideways.
At the same time, place your racket arm in front and slightly raised. Your hold on the racket should form the forehand grip technique.
Step Two: Take On the Shuttle
With the aid of your elbow, swing the racket forward and above your head. Then switch your weight from back to front leg, then move ahead.
Step Three: Execute the Stroke
You aim to hit the shuttle at its highest point. So hold the racket with the flat head facing down. When it makes contact with the shuttle, do not twist your wrist.
Otherwise, it can make controlling the birdie very difficult. Further, during the stroke, your legs should trade positions. The then back leg goes in front, and the front takes back position.
Fast Forehead Drop Shot
The fast forehead drop shot is also called the slice drop shot. However, unlike in the previous case, the shuttle travels swiftly in a slice drop shot. For that reason, the birdie falls slightly far from the net. But you still have to employ the forehand grip technique.
Step One: Get Ready
Place your non-racket leg in front and face sideways. Concentrate your weight on the rare foot. With the racket face flat to the ground, position it to your front.
Step Two: The Movement
Swing the racket forward and let it go over your head. That’s because you aim at striking the shuttle at the highest point. At the same time, shift your weight on the front leg.
Step Three: Strike the Shuttle
Change the racket’s flat face to slightly tilt inwards. Trace a slicing motion so that you hit the shuttle with more strength. When the racquet touches the shuttle, interchange your leg positions quickly and step forward.
Reverse Slice Forehand Drop Shot
As the name suggests, it’s a slight variation of the forehand drop shot. The difference only comes in the position of the racket when striking the shuttle. Instead of tilting the racket’s flat face inwards, you turn it outwards.
The reverse slice technique makes it easy to drop shot the ball diagonally from one corner to the next. But you still have to use the forehand grip technique.
Like in the previous cases, your posture and motion in readiness to strike the shuttle don’t change.
Steps to Hitting the Shuttle
Most often, your opponent may mistake it for the badminton smash shot. Hold the racket flat to the ground but slightly tilted outwards. That makes it easy to slice the racket.
Time and strike the shuttle at its highest point. And owing to the position of the racket, the shuttle heads diagonally to the next corner.
Basic Backhand Drop Shot
The backhand drop shot is a parallel shot that taps on the backhand grip and lands the shuttlecock just over the net. Also, the movement of the shuttle is slow, curved, and places the birdie in front of the court.
There are three significant differences between the basic forehand and basic backhand drop shot. They include the grip technique, approach posture, and direction of the shuttlecock.
When the birdie heads for the non-racket side of the body, the backhand grip becomes the ideal shot. However, remember it’s slow and weaker.
Step One: Get Ready
It requires you to employ the backhand grip technique. Besides, detach your elbow from the rest of the body. Then begin your movement.
Step Two: Finish the Movement Towards the Shuttle
Unlike other shots, the hitting of the birdie must coincide with your foot landing on the ground. That way it offers you maximum energy on hitting the shuttle.
Step Three: Hitting the Shuttle
When you are almost at the corner, stretch your other arm to help gain stability. At the same time rotate the body such that your back faces the net. Slice the racket to the point where the strings face you. And direct the shuttle to the parallel corner of the opponent.
Fast (Slice) Backhand Drop Shot
It’s the parallel fast backhand drop shot that employs the backhand grip. Besides, you hit it on the non-racket side of the body.
It can run crosscourt or parallel. However, it gives the shuttle speed and hence lands it on the far side of the badminton court.
Although it requires the backhand grip, you need to give the racket a counterclockwise rotation of about 90 degrees. Like other drop shots, you have to assume the right posture for hitting the shuttle. So you’ll borrow the steps used in the previous backhand drop shots.
And to make your shot more effective on your opponent, start by using the backhand grip. Then at the high moment when you are almost hitting the shuttle, angle the racket as described before.
Also, inject strength to help you strike the birdie and impart maximum energy. That way, it will cross the net swiftly to your opponent.
Conclusion
Perfecting your drop shot skills gives you higher chances of scoring in badminton[scoring system in badminton]. No wonder your racquet needs to have the best badminton strings. You can then direct the shuttlecock to run parallel or diagonally as the shot dictates.