Why can’t I smash in badminton ? Are you a badminton newbie? Do you have challenges executing a smash? Well, as a badminton starter, you are going to face several hurdles including being unable to smash. This is not the worst that may happen since training and persistence ultimately brings out your game. By the end of your session, you will be able to complete a point with a smash regardless of whether the shots are high or low.
The main deterrent to your success on the badminton court as you attempt finishing points with a smash is losing power unnecessarily. The explanation is that you are not connecting at the highest point, and when connecting, your arm may not be fully straightened such that the power you had mastered in your arms gets lost resulting in an underwhelming, easy, and flat shot.
Please note that the racket is
Smashing in Badminton
Considering that the smash is the most aggressive shot in badminton, you’ll understand why a game seems incomplete without it. The world’s official fastest badminton smash was 332kph, by Fu Haifeng. Although faster smash speeds exist, they are not official since they were made in tests.
What You Need to Know to Smash Effectively
- The footwork needed to move into the right position
- How to move into the ready position prior to the smash
- The process of hitting the shuttlecock from the smash position
Moving footwork into position
In physical gaming, positioning takes centre stage such that you cannot make a perfect shot if you are not well-positioned. Besides, positioning yourself well helps to take the pressure off your body and achieve the right balance. Being at the right place at the right time without experiencing undue pressure helps you to unleash that fiery smash you so wish to accomplish.
Preparation
Once again, to achieve a perfect smash, your body and mind should be in a relaxed state. Relaxation emanates from sufficient preparation, timing, and confidence. The idea is that a tense muscle is likely to lag hence delivering a weaker shot compared to relaxed muscles.
- Now, use your relaxed forehand and hold the racket into a flexible grip.
- Stand sideways, so that your non-racket foot and shoulder are facing toward the direction you wish to smash.
In a perfect positioning, if the shuttlecock was to drop and up the neck, it will do so without resistance.
- The fee arm, on the other hand, should point up toward the shuttlecock.
- The racket arm should be raised with your elbow bent and your wrist uncorked, so your racket is pointing upwards and your weight is on your back foot.
How to achieve the best smash in badminton
The main principle – and the secret is to maintain relaxed muscles all through the smashing process. Usually, you may want to smack it hard so that the thrust is hard. The secret is maximizing the acceleration of the racket while maintaining the momentum of your body weight. When you smash, take a step forward and aim for the shuttlecock at its highest point – and again, try to achieve this with comfort, not strain. Your arm and racket should be fully extended at the point of impact.
Remember, the smoother and more fluid the motion. Therefore, avoid throwing the racket and aiming for a hard strike. It will only tighten your muscles making the thrust inconsistent. You don’t want that!
Follow through with these steps.
- As aforementioned, your free (non-racket) arm should be pointing up toward the shuttlecock. Your racket arm should be slightly raised almost as linear as the shoulder blade, and your elbow bent with uncorked wrists – such that the racket is up-pointing – almost vertical.
- Begin shifting your weight to your back leg.
- Lead the motion with your free arm. As it drops from the angle facing the shuttlecock, the shoulder rotates.
- As your shoulders rotate, try to simultaneously step forward and swing your forearm forward. Note your racket arm and racket leg moving forward at the same time.
- As your forearm swings forward, cock your wrist, and tilt it backward so that your racquet is pointing downward. At this instance, your elbow should be turned so that your racket is pointing behind your back.
- Then as you swing your arm forward to smash the shuttlecock, you rotate your forearm around and straighten your elbow to straighten your arm out as you swing the racket toward the shuttlecock.
- Flick your wrists just before impact to generate extra speed as the racket hits the shuttlecock. Ensure that the impact is at the centre of the racket. Also, at the instance of impact, the racket should be facing downward with a slight depression. With the racket flat to the shuttlecock at the point of impact, and slightly dipped, the shuttlecock flies at a steep downward angle over the net.
- Also there are best badminton racket for smash and control and choosing a better racket also help to hit good smash as well.
Moreover, the point of impact should be slightly in front of you. To achieve a perfect hit, ensure that your arm is outstretched such that you hit the shuttlecock at the highest point possible in the air. Precautions should also be taken to avoid over stretching that may lead to undue injuries. You can prevent over stretching by maintaining a slight bend on the elbow.
- After the smash, keep the racket in the same trajectory downwards as if the hit was a though-and-through.
- Let the movement follow through in an arc-like form such that it comes to rest near the non-racket leg.
The bottom line
If you watched Fu Haifens’s video showing his smashing, you will realize the technique he uses is the same. Well, his is a jump smash, but you can see the movement of his arms as he coils and uncoils his arms to accomplish the best smash to ever be recorded.
Please note that you need to know how to choose a good badminton racket for you. Because you play all shots with your racket not only smashes. No matter how good your technique is.
The steps and images above can inspire your DIY session in your house without the rackets and shuttlecocks – just to learn the movement. Afterwards, you can then have someone feed you high lifts as you practise your way to perfectness.