ONGAR BADMINTON CLUB
Coaching Tips
The forehand drop shot is a deceptive shot that aims to put your opponent off balance and places the shuttle in their forecourt. The preparation of the drop shot is the same as the smash and the clear, but the final hit phase is slowed down to take the pace out of the shot and send the shuttle just over the net to the forecourt area.
An accurate drop shot will put pressure on your opponent, particularly if they have to cover the shot from a deep court position. The drop shot may be played straight or cross court, either by hitting the shuttle with a straight racket head or sliced with an angled racket head (as often practiced by more experienced players).
The Forehand Drop Shot
Key points of a forehand drop shot are:-
- Hold the racket with a basic grip
- Start with split step timed with opponent’s hit and then adopt side-on stance with non-racket shoulder towards net.
- Weight taken on racket (rear) leg, wide base position.
- Non-racket arm extends upwards as racket arm is raised to create L shaped position
- Racket taken behind head (racket head facing downwards)
- Straighten racket arm (forearm rotates) to hit shuttle as racket leg transfers from rear to front position (body weight transfer)
- Slow down racket just prior to the hit but follow through swing with racket finishing on non-racket side of body.
Watch this video narrated by Gail Emms concerning the Forehand Drop Shot.
Remember that the drop shot is still an ‘attacking’ type of shot because the shuttle is hit downwards to force a possible lift by your opponent.