Hey Guys:

I am just wondering in all badminton pro players (single/double), whose smash is the most powerful and what is the speed?

Any ideas?

it's pretty hard to tell who's got the hardest smash. At the level the pros are playing, most should have a pretty hard smash. an easier topic to discuss might be on the lines of who has got the highest jump for a jump smash (which i believe has already been discussed)..somethingl ike that.

do a search.

Simon Archer.

Check the book of records.

If the fastest recorded shuttlecock speed is 162mph (Simon Archer, 1997), then why do most badminton players claim that speeds reach up to 200mph? in an interview (The Guardian) Simon Archer says he wouldn't be surprised if smashes reached above 170mph, but he mentions nothing close to 200...

Originally posted by blckknght
If the fastest recorded shuttlecock speed is 162mph (Simon Archer, 1997), then why do most badminton players claim that speeds reach up to 200mph? in an interview (The Guardian) Simon Archer says he wouldn't be surprised if smashes reached above 170mph, but he mentions nothing close to 200...

As you said, he "claims" to be, it was never recorded or measured. Feelings of the speed can never be trusted.

its been quite a while since that recorded, i mean its been quite a while since 1997 and players have been getting better at their smashes not to mention new racquets have been improving the speed of the smash, most likely players right now hits the birdie at that speed or even faster... IMO:)

Check this thread. (http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2342) The only reason so many are still ranting about Simon Archer is (apart from that he was a good player) that he managed to get a smash recorded as an "official Guinness record". That, however, does not mean he has the hardest smash, or even that he has the hardest recorded smash.

Don't know about measurements but I notice that when Ha Tae Kwan smashes it rarely comes back. He certainly has a fierce smash. In the ladies Gao Ling's partner Huang(sorry, can't recall her name) also has a tremendous smash.

It is hard to tell who has the hardest smashes but Kim Dong Moon and Halim Haryanto seem to have the strongest smashes in the men's game. Zhang Jun is also very strong, saw him at the World Championships in Birmingham, the guy's torso is unbelievable.

Huang Sui is probably the strongest in the women's at the moment. Although she's retired now, Gu Jun was one of the strongest I've ever seen.

Wasn't there a lot of talk about Peter Rasmussen a while ago? Perhaps not when talking records but style of play..

I agree Simon Archer and Ha Ta Kwon both have great smash. I have seen them playing 1997 U.S. Open tournament and their smashes are incredible.

Don't forget that because of the shuttle decceleration pattern, the difference between a 300 km/h smash and a 250 km/h smash is almost neglectable once it reaches the opponent.

It's the placement that counts.

Other than Archer, Ha and Zhang Jun, another person I like to mention is Rexy Mainaky.

Jim Laugesen had his smash tested in swish open 2001 or 2002. His smash reached 364 km/hour the fastest in the world on that time. Very impressive. Dont know if there are one who can smash harder right now. Problary there is.

of course it is very important to note that variety in smash speed, angle, and direction is the most important. Jim Laugeson's 364 km/h smash translates to about 226 mph, for those of us who use that other silly system.
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I think Zhang Jun's smash is one of the most powerful at the moment, and very consistent, however, it is not so accurate. He is also not as tall as other players, but his size makes up for it ;)

I would not consider Kim Dong Moon's smash to be as hard as Ha Tae Kwon's, but he has excellent placement and accuracy. (My opinon)

Chen Hong's smash (at his peak of fitness) was virtually unstoppable. He seems to have lost the edge recently.

When did Huang Sui retire? I thought she played in a recent HK Open or some Asian GP?? She definetly can smash hard!

I think Peter Gade at his peak also had a piercing smash.

All pro players can smash very hard, just some harder than others. Even defensive players like Gopichand can smash hard if they want to, or provoked ;)

Originally posted by Wizbit
When did Huang Sui retire? I thought she played in a recent HK Open or some Asian GP?? She definetly can smash hard!


Hi Wizbit,

The post earlier meant Gu Jun, and not Huang Sui, who is retired.

It was once rumoured that Cheah Soon Kit in his prime, his smash was the hardest.
Even more powerful than Rexy. :) :)

a little off topic. regarding the jump smash, how do you do this or the best way to practice. i have'nt tried doing it and wanting to learn how. tnx in advance. Cheers!

i tink u forgot abt taufik. when at the indonesia open 2003. he smash thru chen hong dozens of times to win the competition. At times he could smash vry hard.

I was told by a former international doubles player that trained with Rexy Mainaky, that Rexy had an extremely hard smash. He told me that he could hit from the very back line and still blow it right past the defenders and bury it mid court. He described Rexy's smash as so powerful that when you were standing courtside, watching it, you could feel the power and speed. Coming from an actual international player, that's power! :D

I also heard the Danes were some of the hardest smashers in the game in general. I attended a training camp this past summer where one of the trainers was former Danish pro Thomas Stavngaard. When I asked him the show me how to generate the most power in smashes he gave me a demonstration. His smash came faster than anything I've ever imagined possible. Spectating courtside is one thing, having a shuttle blasted at you at such an alarming rate is another. I actually felt fear :p. In following demonstrations, just watching him preparing to smash and wind up was actually moving my heart up into my throat hahaha :D. Then he told me he was out of shape now and that his smashes were much harder when he was playing for Denmark! It sure is easier to be a spectator and speculate on the speed of the professionals' smashes ;).