How to Smash in Badminton

Badminton is a good physical game. However, just hitting the birdie back and forth can get old, and it's hard to be really competitive without a few different kinds of hits. The smash in badminton is similar to a spike in volleyball: you hit the shuffle very hard and slam it downwards at as steep an angle as possible, ensuring that it still goes over the net. Because you hit it so hard and at such an angle, it's very hard to defend, making it a great offensive move. Read on to learn how to smash in badminton.

Steps

1. Be comfortable hitting normally. The smash is an advanced move that will be especially tricky for new players, so make sure you're comfortable and reasonably experienced hitting normally before you attempt it.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Position yourself under the shuttle. Stand under the shuttle, balanced on both feet but turned sideways so that your non-racquet foot is facing the net. Bend your knees slightly to keep yourself balanced and ready to move. You should place yourself under the shuttle such that it would fall down the back of your neck, were you to let it fall.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Lead the swing with your non-racquet arm. When you're setting up to hit, point to the shuttle with your non-racquet hand. Then, as you move to hit, drop your arm. This will rotate your shoulders, setting you up for a more accurate, powerful shot.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Point your racquet down as you start the swing. Move your racquet arm to follow your opposite arm through the swing. However, as you begin the swing, lead with your elbow, keeping your hand back over your shoulders and your racquet pointed downwards towards the ground. This will allow you to snap it forward with more power when you actually hit the shuttle, making for a much stronger shot.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


5. Swing as if you're throwing a ball. As your arm comes up over your head, it should straighten out so that your elbow no longer leads your wrist. Take a step forward or shift your weight forward and onto your non-racquet foot as you make this motion; this will put your whole bodyweight behind your shot and allow you much more power.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Just before you make contact, flick your wrist forward, just as you would when throwing a baseball. This will add speed and power to your shot and help to direct it downward.
   
   
   
   


6. Hit the shuttle as high as is comfortable. Hit it well above your head, and make contact when it is slightly in front of your shoulder. The higher you hit it, the more downward angle you can give it, making it even harder to defend. Hit the shuttle just above the center of your racquet and make sure to swing through it.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • For more experienced players, you can jump while smashing so that you can make contact even higher in the air, smashing it with even more of a downward angle.
   
   
   • Make sure that you hit it high enough that it is not blocked by the net.
   
   
   
   


7. Complete the follow-through. Continue the motion of your arm and racquet all the way through the swing. Your motion should shift your weight forward onto your leading, non-racquet foot; allow this to happen naturally, or do it deliberately to put even more force behind your swing. Once the smash has been completed, return to the center of the court to prepare for your next shot.^[1]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


8. Practice often. This is a difficult shot, so don't be discouraged if you don't get it the first couple dozen times. Practice until you are able to do it consistently and also to control the direction and angle of the hit. Then learn to do it with the jump.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Once you have learned to hit an effective smash through practice, try to hit a Cross Smash and a Backhand Smash.
   
   
   
   

Video

Tips

• Wrist work is critical for all the badminton shots, particularly the smash.


• Timing is essential for a good smash. So, observe the steps precisely.


• Never telegraph your smash. Instead, deceive the player and jump at the last moment before releasing the power of the smash. The opponent will not be expecting a sudden jump from you.


• You can hit a smash without jumping but it requires more arm power and the shuttle does not get to the ground so quickly. There is a higher chance that the smash will be blocked by the net.

Warnings

• Do not over-play, it may cause muscle injuries.

Things You'll Need

• Badminton racquet


• Badminton shuttle/bird

Related wikiHows

• How to Play Badminton Better


• How to Play Advanced Badminton

Sources and Citations

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/VLl1zW