Teaching the GF how to clear the shuttle, need help

As you said, she has a problem with timing. That's what you should try to fix first. Is she usually hitting with a high contact point? If not, try to teach her that first. Without movement, pronation stuff or the like, just to get the feeling.

In those cases, the best is to break every thing down and repeat one part of the hitting action again and again to understand and actually experience (which is far more important than just a mental process) the difference with what she's currently doing.

This is awfully slow, but efficient.

Anyway, I'm no coach, if someone has a better way of teaching this stuff, please stand up

Please consider that there are people that are just not cut out for sports too, this is not nice to say, but it's true. When they can't, they can't, don't be too hard on her if that's the case

 

Maybe she's holding the grip too tight. Squeeze as you "HIT" the shuttle. This will hopefully encourage a whippy action

 

Sounds like she may be struggling with "too much information"! Haha! sorry phil... by the way, have you tried clearing left handed? Then you will understand how she feels...

 

Clearing end to end is certainly something that takes time. Focus on the technique and not the distance for now. Also, perhaps her shoulder girdle and forearm need a little strength work, away from the courts.

BTW, this is a great test of your relationship. How patient and kind can you be in teaching? And how patient and kind can she be putting up with your teaching?
Hope you are allowing her to teach you something, too. Ballroom dancing? Cooking? The lyrics to Justin Bieber songs?

 

Yes, you "told" her. Doesn't mean she understood, doesn't mean she knows what she has to change, doesn't mean she practiced all those things.

 

Rub lotion into her shoulders to 'soften' the sunburnt skin, so she can move her arms better.
Is she getting behind the shuttle? she needs to be hitting in front of her slightly, if the bird is too far back behind her it will go upwards somewhat.

 

I would say teach her footwork as well. The basic ready position then step behind the bird swing and back into ready. As other people said work with her timing and consistency, power will follow. Later on her hips will come into it and that will give her the power to get it even farther.

Just wanted to ask how long have you been teaching her? Because in my experience a base to base comes within a month or two and thats with everyday training.

 

As a thought, have you considered goal setting? Measure where she hits the shuttle to today, and next time, the aim is to hit a further 2 feet beyond that. Set realistic goals! Aim to be hitting full length clears (with 2 training sessions a week) within 4 months or so. This gives plenty of time to develop, and hence should seem achievable. Together with sub goals (the distance ones) you should be there in no time. After clears, I recommend teaching finger power on drives and lifts!

I think that she will develop good technique if she reaches up to a high contact and uses the correct grip. Not a lot can go wrong then (although it is always possible).

 

Motivation: Tell her she gets a dollar for every good clear. In no time she will bring you to the nearest departmental store

 

Real motivation would be ... get a genuine Louis Vuitton bag for a baseline to baseline clear.
I'm positive...she will get there in shortest time possible.

 

Sometimes the harder you try, the less far you hit. Really focus on technique and timing and not so much on distance, and the power will come over time. In particular, use your ears and listen for that crisp hitting sound on every clear.

 

She's coaching you tennis? That means she's coming from a tennis background. In that case, make sure she doesn't force it and use too much shoulder. Remind her to use a loose arm like throwing a rock.

 

^One of the lads at my club clears like Malinga.