Badminton Round-the-Head Shot from the Back Court
Step-by-step teaching of the round-the-head shot, the overhead forehand hit above the backhand-side shoulder that players use to avoid a high backhand. Students work on the technique, moving to the backhand rear corner, and recovering to the center.
How to play
- Shadow practice: crossover step to the backhand rear corner and an overhead forehand swing around the head, leaning the trunk (4 min).
- A partner tosses the shuttle high to the backhand rear corner and the other plays the round-the-head shot, sets of 6 (4 min).
- Serve phase: the partner serves high with a racket to that corner and the player returns a straight or crosscourt round-the-head clear, sets of 6 (5 min).
- Conditioned game: singles to 7 points in which any shuttle reaching the backhand rear corner must be hit round the head; a point won with that shot is worth 2 (5 min).
- Switch partners with the next court between phases.
- Wrap-up: discuss when this shot is the right choice and when a backhand is better (2 min).
Rules
- After every shot, return to the center of the court before the next shuttle.
- The feeder stands on the opposite side of the net, out of the shuttle's path.
- Students waiting their turn stand outside the court lines.
- Safety: lean the trunk without straining the back and stop if the shoulder hurts.
Variations
Easier
Stay in the hand-toss phase and send the shuttle closer to the center.
Standard
Progression from shadow swing to toss, serve, and a conditioned game to 7 points.
Harder
After the round-the-head shot, the player must reach the net for a drop from their partner.
Adaptations
- For students with limited mobility, practice the swing from a stationary position with tosses to the non-dominant side.
- For students who are deaf or hard of hearing, support the explanation with repeated slow demonstrations and gestures.
- For lower-skill or less fit students, replace this shot with a regular forehand clear and shorten the sets.
Learning goals
- Perform the round-the-head shot with a trunk lean and contact above the non-dominant shoulder.
- Move to the backhand rear corner and recover to the center.
- Prevent shoulder and back injuries with a controlled swing.
Equipment for a class of 25
- rackets: 25
- shuttlecocks: 30
- nets: 4
- cones: 12
Teacher tip
This is a demanding shot: offer it to students with a solid clear and let the rest practice the regular clear. Warm up shoulders well first.
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