New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Forehand shots

I can hit forehand serves, clears, drives, smashes and drop shots with consistency.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Forehand shots

I can hit forehand serves, clears, drives, smashes and drop shots with consistency.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: adjusting footwork relative to the shuttle flight enables space to swing and a clean contact.
  2. Move: a well timed 'whip' to swing is achieved with a snap of the wrist to apply power and direction.
  3. Think: to attack the shuttle you need to be behind and underneath it, with a wrist snap to angle the shuttle down.
  4. Feel: confidence is required to adjust early to hit underarm rather than overarm.
  5. Connect: if your partner is struggling, hitting the shuttle up for an overhead forehand clear shot shows kindness.

Keywords

  • Clear - a shot played from the back of the court up high and deep into your opponent's half

  • Drive - fast attacking shots where the shuttle is kept low over the net

  • Open face - angling the racket strings slightly upwards to play defensive rallying shots

Common misconception

Hitting it hard and fast is the highest priority.

It is more effective to vary the pace, angle and positioning of where you hit the shuttle to create opportunities to win the point.


To help you plan your year 10 physical education lesson on: Forehand shots, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Remember to watch out for and correct the grip for anyone still holding their index finger up the shaft of the racket.
Teacher tip

Equipment

1 badminton racket per pupil, at least 1 shuttlecock between 2 and the additional materials to support with technique.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

4 Questions

Q1.
Which component of fitness is most important in performing a lunge?
flexibility
Correct answer: agility
strength
Q2.
When should you perform a split step?
when hitting
after hitting
Correct answer: when opponent hits
Q3.
What position should you be in to ensure you can hit the shuttlecock before it touches the floor?
net position
serving position
Correct answer: ready position
Q4.
If your opponent moves towards the net, where would you typically aim your next shot?
Correct answer: the back
the net
the sideline

4 Questions

Q1.
Which part of the court should we aim for to create space early in a rally to win more points?
Correct Answer: the back, back, rear, the rear
Q2.
What is the most important technical point when performing a smash compared to other shots?
Correct answer: wrist flick
weight transfer
sideways on
Q3.
When playing defensively and lofting the shuttle what should you do with the racket face?
close it
Correct answer: open it
rotate it
Q4.
What is the shape of the shuttlecock trajectory when hitting a drive shot?
high arc
low arc
Correct answer: flat