In the previous post you read about the smash, a crowd-favourite shot that can help you win rallies. But you don’t always need a powerful stroke to keep the attack on during a match. The forehand drop shot is a masterful rear court stroke in badminton that can also help you achieve this. It is played from the rear court area to the front or forecourt area on the opponent’s side.

You can choose to play a fast and long drop which lands just behind the front service line; or a slower, sharper and shorter drop which falls between the net and the front service line. The drop shot can be useful to pull or drag the opponent from the rear court area to the front court area, making the opponent cover the entire length of the court.

Grip and Posture

To execute the forehand drop shot, use a basic grip and side stance with the front arm raised. Step back to switch the load to your rear leg. Push your rear hip forward. The rear shoulder and elbow move upwards and forward. Rotate the arm outwards and anticipate the shuttle.

Position and Technique

Now rotate the arm inwards for the forward swing. Here is where the technique has a major difference compared to the strokes you’ve already learned. Rather than completing the swing in one fluid motion, slow the racquet head just before it hits the shuttle downwards.

Make sure you engage with the shuttle at the highest point in front of the body. Your back leg crosses in front of the front leg, and the follow-through action causes the arm to rotate inwards in a downward direction. The forehand drop shot is not the easiest to learn but if you follow the simple steps you just read, you should pick it up in no time.

Perfecting Your Drop Shot

To improve your stroke, there are three exercises you can practise. The first is a racquet feed by a sparring partner or coach. Ensure you use the forehand drop shot to return their strokes. The second exercise involves improving your precision and accuracy, by adding targets near the sidelines. Take aim at these when you play the drop shot. Keep at it until you can get the shuttle to drop exactly at the targeted points.

For the final exercise, practise a 1 on 1 predictable rally with a sparring partner. There are two routines or sequence of moves you can use for this: drop -> lift -> drop -> lift, or drop -> net shot -> lift -> drop shot for alternating.

Improving your drop shot can have a direct impact on the outcome of the game. By taking care of your grip, posture, position and technique when you practise, you too can master the forehand drop shot. In the next post, we’ll cover a variation of this stroke, known as the pulled forehand drop shot. Keep reading. Keep learning.