The Badminton Bible

[www.badmintonbible.com]

All original content copyright © Mike Hopley

Overhand net shots

Home > Shots > Forecourt > Net shots > Overhand

Edit page

Overhand net shots are where you approach with the racket above the hand.

Grip

For an overhand net shot, use a panhandle grip on the forehand side and a thumb grip on the backhand side.

When the shuttle is farther out to the side of you, you need to adjust the angle of your grip, so that you can still place the shuttle straight (and not hit it out the side of court!).

You grip should still be held delicately in the finger tips, for maximum control.

Posture

Your posture should be the same as for an underhand net shot, with one exception: bend your wrist back so that the racket head is above your hand.

With the racket head in this position, you will necessarily have less reach than you get with an underhand net shot.

As you approach the shuttle, you should usually keep your wrist bent back so that the racket head is very slightly behind the hand, rather than directly above it. This gives you the option of playing a drive instead, by snapping your wrist forwards. The threat of a drive will often prevent your opponent from rushing forwards.

Choosing between overhand and underhand

Much of the time, your choice is forced: you must use an underhand net shot, because you will be contacting the shuttle below net height, and you need the extra reach.

When you arrive early enough to reach the shuttle above the net, however, an overhand net shot is usually better. Take the shuttle immediately, rather than waiting for it to drop and playing an underhand shot.

What about when it’s really close?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether you will make it to the net in time to play an overhand net shot. You know it’s going to be close, but you’re worried that the shuttle will fall just fractionally too far and you’ll be stuck trying to play an impossible overhand shot.

In this situation, approach the net with your racket raised in an overhand position anyway. If you have misjudged the timing slightly, you can still switch from an overhand to an underhand action, by rolling your racket under the shuttle.../spinning/deception>deceptive spinning net shots. – >

It’s also possible to switch from underhand to overhand, but this is more difficult. This action is mainly used when you want to play a deceptive drive off a (fake) underhand net shot action.