NetballExplained

Back Cuts in Netball

The back cut in netball: stepping towards a defender who is fronting you, then reversing into the space behind them for a pass over the top.

Written by Claire McDonald · Last updated

A back cut is used when a defender is fronting you, between you and the ball. Step towards them to draw their weight forward, then plant and reverse sharply into the space behind them, where the pass is placed over the top.

A back cut is the counterpart to the front cut. It's for when a defender is fronting you — standing between you and the ball — so the direct route is closed. Instead of going through them, you go behind. As with the front cut, World Netball's coaching material doesn't use the name, but the movement is built from skills it describes: the dodge — taking the defender away from the space where you want to catch — and placing the pass into the space away from the defender.

Technique

A front cut compared with a back cut Left panel, the front cut: defender D is level with attacker A, so A cuts across in front of D, towards passer P, into space. Right panel, the back cut: D is marking tightly in front of A, between A and P, so A steps towards D and then reverses into the space behind, where P passes the ball over the top. Front cut Back cut A D P 1 A D P 2 3
Front cut or back cut. Filled circles are attackers; D is the defender; the solid line is the pass.
  1. Front cut: the defender is level or behind, so cut across in front of them, towards the ball.
  2. Back cut: the defender is fronting you, so first step towards them to draw their weight forward…
  3. …then reverse into the space behind them, with the pass placed over the top.
  1. Set it up. Step towards the defender as if you're going to come for the ball. That draws their weight forward.
  2. Plant and reverse. Ground your outside foot, bend the knee, rotate on the ball of the foot and push off into the space behind them — the same mechanics as a dodge.
  3. Go decisively. The reversal must be quick and committed. Hesitate and the defender recovers.
  4. Catch on the move. The pass usually arrives over the defender's head, so a lob is the natural choice — placed into the space ahead of you, not at where you are now.

Why it works

A defender who is fronting you is facing the ball and can't watch you and the ball at the same time. The set-up step is what makes the back cut work: World Netball's coaching material describes how a dodge lets the attacker wrong-foot the defender or take them away from the space where the ball is to be caught. A back cut without that step is easy to follow.

When to use it

It's most common in the shooting circle, where a defender fronting a shooter leaves space behind them near the post, and for any attacker being denied the ball by a defender standing in front. Check before you go that the space is really free — a second defender covering behind can turn your back cut into their interception.

Timing with the passer

Back cuts depend on the passer reading the move and placing the ball into the space as you arrive. That understanding comes from practice together: the passer has to choose the exact moment of release, or the movement won't link with the ball.

How to practise

Practise back cuts alongside front cuts, against a defender who varies where they stand, so the choice becomes a read rather than a plan. Then add a feeder who has to place the lob into the space — see feeding the shooting circle.

Sources

All information on this page is given to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing (October 2026), after referring to the official sources below.

Common mistakes

  • Reversing without the set-up step, so the defender simply turns and follows.
  • Giving the move away by looking at the space before you go.
  • Cutting into space a second defender can still cover.
  • Not committing fully to the reversal and getting stuck between two directions.