<![CDATA[This study examines the relationship between arm muscle strength and the ability to perform the basic backhand stroke technique in badminton among tenth-grade students of SMPK Ratu Damai. The background of this research is based on the observation that students’ backhand stroke ability is still relatively low, which is suspected to be related to insufficient arm muscle strength as a primary source of power in executing the stroke. The objective of this study is to determine the extent of the relationship between arm muscle strength and backhand stroke performance. This research employed a quantitative approach with a correlational design. The population consisted of 59 students participating in badminton extracurricular activities, while the sample included 30 students selected through simple random sampling. Arm muscle strength was measured using a 60-second push-up test, whereas backhand stroke ability was assessed through a targeted backhand skill test using a scoring rubric. The results indicate that arm muscle strength plays an important role in supporting the effectiveness and accuracy of backhand strokes. Students with better arm muscle strength tend to produce stronger, more controlled, and more accurate strokes. The findings of this study imply that physical conditioning, particularly arm muscle strength training, should be integrated with technical training in physical education learning. This integration is expected to improve students’ overall badminton skills and enhance the effectiveness of learning outcomes in sports education]]>
