Backhand grip.

[Cheung]

How do you hold the racquet for an overhead backhand?

Traditionally, I learnt to hold it in an "Eastern" grip with the thumb on the flat part of the handle.

Now, I learn, that for slice and control, it can be held with a western type grip except mostly in the fingers. The heel of the hand should not touch the handle.

Anybody else learnt this? I think Peter G and Sun Jun do this but it;s diffiuclt to see clearly. I haven't looked at the other singles players technique so closely yet.

[Bob]

i usually do it the "eastern" way, cuz it felt odd to me doing the other way when my friends pointed it out.
i figure this might be personal preferance?

[May]

Is there a difference???? After plying for abt 4 years, I change my grip automatically, so I don't really no how i hold it.

[Hoang Nguyen]

it's impossible to play a backhand the western way. The western way is the way everyone begins with. only beginners and some intermediate players use the western way. It is tactically challenged if you use the western way. The only thing you can do with it is hitting the shuttle straight on your forehand. If you can prove to me that you can use the western grip and play a good backhand, I will call you the God of Badminton.

[Cheung]

When first introduced to me, I found it exceptionally strange as well so other people's opinions are helpful.

In order to play the shot, the wrist is supposed to be already almost fully extended and it's the supination of the forearm (so rotating the racquet face outwards) that controls the shot.. The impact of the racquet face on to the shuttle is a slicing shot for forecourt shots. I am not sure how to coordinate for the clear.


Any suggestions Viver?

[viver]

Hi Cheung,
Honestly I do not know about the western grip. I've read some badminton books written by western authors (English and Danish) and the grip seems similar to what I've learn.
For backhand drop shots you can also try the following: if you have tapes of Park Joo Bong, the Korean doubles player, watch carefully how he holds the racquet on backhand serve. Use the same grip, extend your arm and slice the bird at the highest point. If you do this correctly (correct racquet acceleration is needed - similar to forehand slice) you'll see the bird will go fast cross court and landing before the service line.
One player backhand that left a deep impression on me was a Chinese provincial player playing for HK in late 70's: with his arm completely raised and without any racquet swing movement (even smash), he could place the bird anywhere in the court. More impressively is he could do that even under pressure - that is in full stretch

[kwun]

Cheung,

by western, do you mean the grips are more of a pan-handle grip? like the way Sun Jun and Taufik hold their rackets?

at least for forehand, i see there are two ways pros choose their grips.

when the racket is held vertically, one way is when the "V" of the hand at around 10 o'clock position. most players hold rackets this way.

the other way is when the "V" is at around 1-2 o'clock position, i see that Sun Jun and Taufik, and also Peter Gade use that forehand grip.

[May]

got one, move ur left leg, make that right if ur a right hander, so that u r standing vertically instead of horizontally. I get scolded 4 not doing that every session.

[May]

I think I use that grip. At least, the coach wants me too.

[Cheung]

Which one do you use May? The 10 o'clock version or the 2 o'clock version.

Kwun,
Yes, I did mean like the panhandle grip.
You have noticed Taufik's backhand as well. Is this another change of technique that has crept up on us?

[kwun]

Taufik defeinitely uses the western grip for forehand, i haven't been able to tell if Taufik switches grips when he do his backhand. i think he does it some of the time, but not always.

Taufik has one of the best backhands i've seen. very agile, very fast, he also managed to put in more spin into it than many others.

agree with this resurgent of the western grip. something to experiment on? :)

[May]

What do u mean by 10 o'clock or the 2 o'clock versh?????

[marshall]

Good question. I'm confused too. Kwun, are you and Cheung referring to which bevel of the racquet handle you place your thumb on when you hit a backhand, and if so, is the big flat bevel or the smaller corner bevel the 10:00 o'clock postion?

Thanks,
marshall

[kwun]

yeah. or more like, where the V (formed between thumb and index finger) is on. if you put your racket face vertical, the eastern grip have the V on 10 o'clock, while the western grip has it on 1-2 o'clock (this sometimes is call a pan-handle when describing beginners)

[May]

I still don't understand.

[kwun]

nevermind lah.

[kwun]

been watching the 99 AE tape. still can't tell if Taufik switches grip for upper hand backhand. he definitely doesn't switch grip for lower hand backhand.

[May]

ok then.

[kwun]

i looked more, Taufik's grip is a hybrid. by that i mean, the V is neither at 1-2 o'clock nor 10 o'clock. it is at 12 o'clock. i think he add onto it his very agile wrist to create the appearance that his grip is more pan-handled.

he grip and his ability to rotate is wrist is what allows him to make those impossible angled defense.

i also tried swinging the racket with the 12 o'clock grip. my forehand swing sounds very different. i am not sure whether that's good or not in actual play. i will try it out next week.

[viver]

Using different grips during the game it's a thing more developed players do during matches. If it's a good idea that depends how much practice you put into it. Consider the situation of switching forehand to backhand grips in quick defensive shots - similar to a situation in doubles play. It needs a lot of practice.

[Cheung]

I do that switching grip practice every two days at home.

Just saw a coaching VCD from China. The overhead backhand grip is different again. Have to go back to review it(cos of being half asleep) but looks like she used two grips. One with thumb on the flat part of the handle and another with the thumb on the 10o'clock position.

Having seen that with my own experience, seems that you can use more than one type of grip for overhead backhands just so long as you can "fa li" (fat lik [Cantonese]) with your stroke.

A relaxed grip seems very important with the pivoting action centred on the thumb and forefingers.

[viver]

This 10 o'clock position is Park's grip for serve. It's a variation of the 'original' overhead backhand grip. Advantages are quicker switch between forehand and backhand grips and more deceptive in the movement. Disadvantages, harder to control and easier to let the racquet go. Need really good grip for this stroke.

[Mark]

I have had some coaching from a county coach and i will try to explain what he taught me.

The basic principle is that no matter where you are on the court the racket must be flat to where you are going to hit the shuttle ( 90 degrees to the direction of travel ) This gives the shot maximum power and control. So in general for backhands a net kill is played with a traditional backhand grip ( thumb on the big flat ) then as you move back through the court the racket is rotated in the hand so the thumb is on the small flat untill you get to a very deep backhand then the thumb is along the side of the racket ( almost panhandle ) The same principle is used for forehand shots - panhandle at the net to traditional forehand for a shot that is deep in the court.

The main thing he told me was that most people use pronation and supination to change the angle of the racket but this leads to tendinitus in the forehand. Chances are if you have tennis elbow your backhand grip is wrong leading to a lot of stress on the forearm muscles. When i was told this it completely blew my mind but it does make sense and it feels a lot more comfortable to play like this.

[Cheung]

Thanks.

But if I haven;t been playing a bakhand properly for all these years, why haven't I been getting Tennis elbow. Guess I'm just lucky!

[marshall]

On the other hand (no pun intended), two coaches at a camp I took 2 yrs ago told me that my forearm tendinitus was due to an improper stroke and too tight a grip. Their view is that you can pronate as long as you keep your grip relaxed until you are just about to hit the shuttle, then tighten up grip, pronate, and hit (of course this all happens very fast).

In my own experience, the only time I've gotten tendinitus was when I had too tight a grip, but I didn't know to look for that until I was told about it. The worst pull I ever had was one time I tried to force a hard drive with my hand wrapped tightly on my racquet. That took a few weeks to recover from.

[viver]

Interesting fact. Is it possible to know where your coach learned these issues? I have played badminton for sometime and never heard this. I'd really like to find more about that! Thanks for any additional information.

[Mark]

Not sure if you were asking me but i dont know where he learnt these things. When he was young he was ranked in the top ten for singles players in England so i guess he must have learnt it from a national coach at the time. Sorry i can't help you any more than that.

What Marshall said aswell is true. I was taught to test wether you are gripping the racket too hard by clearing the shuttle with only your forefinger and thumb on the forehand. Its a good tester but could be expensive if you get it wrong!

[viver]

Thanks anyways.