The Badminton Clear: The Most Important Shot You're Neglecting

Why is the clear so important in badminton? A good clear pushes your opponent deep to the back corner, buys you time to recover to the middle, and resets the rally on your terms. If you cannot clear consistently to the back line, you will always be under pressure — which is why it is the first shot worth mastering.

How to hit a proper clear

Get behind the shuttle, contact it high and in front of you at full stretch, and drive the power up from your legs and trunk into a fast forearm and wrist snap. Aim high and deep so it lands near the back line. Reaching late or muscling it with just your arm are the two faults that keep club players short.

Attacking vs defensive clears

• Defensive clear — high and deep, giving you maximum time to recover. Use it when you are stretched.
• Attacking clear — flatter and faster over the opponent, rushing them if they are out of position.

The recovery habit

A clear is only as good as what you do after it — hit and immediately move back to a central base, racket up, ready for the reply.

Measure the difference

A reliable clear quietly wins you rallies by keeping you out of trouble. Track your games on Badminton 360 and watch your win rate respond as your basics get solid.