In badminton, which stroke travels high and deep to give the player time to recover?
VerifiedAnswer: Clear
Explanation:
The clear is one of the most fundamental and important strokes in badminton. It's designed to send the shuttlecock high and deep into your opponent's backcourt, giving you precious time to return to your ready position and prepare for the next shot. This defensive and attacking stroke serves multiple purposes during a rally.
When you execute a clear, the shuttlecock follows a high arc trajectory that takes several seconds to reach the opponent's end of the court. This flight time is what makes the clear so valuable for recovery. While the shuttle is traveling through the air, you can move back to the center of your court, regain your balance, and position yourself optimally for your opponent's return shot.
There are two main types of clears in badminton:
• Defensive Clear: This travels very high and deep, maximizing the time you have to recover. It's used when you're under pressure or out of position and need to buy time to get back into the rally.
• Attacking Clear: This has a flatter trajectory and travels faster, putting pressure on your opponent while still giving you time to recover, though not as much as a defensive clear.
The clear is typically played from the backcourt using an overhead forehand or backhand motion. The key to an effective clear is proper technique: contact the shuttlecock at the highest point possible, use a full arm swing, and follow through completely to generate the power needed to reach the back of your opponent's court.
Beyond recovery time, the clear serves other strategic purposes. It forces your opponent to move to the backcourt, opens up the front court for your next attacking shot, and can tire out your opponent if used repeatedly. It's also an excellent way to change the pace of the game and reset the rally when you're feeling rushed.
Mastering the clear is essential for players of all levels. It's often the first overhead stroke that beginners learn, and even professional players rely heavily on well-executed clears to maintain control during intense rallies. The ability to hit consistent, deep clears gives you confidence to play more aggressively, knowing you have a reliable shot to fall back on when needed.
