Backhand Drive
NCERT Class 8 Physical Education and Well Being Chapter 40: Backhand Drive (Pages 120–122)
Summary of Backhand Drive
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Backhand Drive at a Glance
CBSE
Class 8
Physical Education and Well Being
Khel Yatra
40
120–122
6 study resources
Backhand Drive Summary
In this chapter, we will learn all about the Backhand Drive, which is a crucial stroke in table tennis. The Backhand Drive helps players attack the ball with speed and accuracy, making it an important skill to master. To begin, we focus on the stance. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and parallel to the end line of the table. Keep your knees bent and lean slightly forward. Make sure your left foot is slightly ahead. Hold the racquet at table height right in front of you. Having the right stance sets the foundation for a powerful backhand. Next, we will talk about the backswing. Move the racquet back a little sideways towards your waist. Angle your wrist backwards and inwards while rotating your waist and hips back. This movement helps you prepare for the strike. The Backhand Drive is an attacking stroke, so it is essential to have a good backswing. When it's time to strike, swing the racquet straight and forward. Move your elbow slightly forward as you make contact with the ball at the front of your body, slightly to the left. Remember to close your wrist over the ball when you hit it. This contact point is key for ensuring control over your shot. After the strike comes the follow-through. Guide the racquet in the direction of the ball with a little upwards and forwards motion. This helps you return to the ready position for the next stroke and keeps the flow of the game going. To practice this skill, we will engage in a fun lead-up activity. Players will pair up and rally using only the Backhand Drive. The goal is to keep the ball on the table. If someone makes a mistake, the rally stops. The player who wins the rally earns a point, and then they switch opponents. The first to reach five points wins the round. This activity not only helps you practice the stroke but also makes it competitive and fun. Teachers will demonstrate the correct backhand drive technique to ensure everyone understands the grip, stance, and follow-through. Students can practice individually against a wall or with partners, while teachers provide helpful feedback to improve their techniques. During our circle time, we will discuss why proper technique is so important and the different phases involved in a successful backhand drive. To make practice more challenging, we can introduce variations. For example, keeping the ball low and close to the net or trying to aim for different areas of the table, like the left, right, and center. This enhances control over your shots. Additionally, we will introduce a target challenge where specific zones on the opponent's side are marked. Players will earn extra points for landing their drive in these areas. There will also be a timed rally activity, where the aim is to maintain the longest backhand drive rally without any errors. The player with the longest streak wins. Lastly, we will set up a knockout game. In this game, any player who loses three rallies in a row must do five jumping jacks before rejoining the game. This adds an element of physical activity and competition to our practice. By the end of this chapter, you will have a thorough understanding of the Backhand Drive and be ready to apply these skills in a real match.
