Smash

[john]

I am trying to improve the power of my smash by using foerarm pronation. My forearm probably rotates about 45 degrees before impact with the shuttle. Is this about right or should it be more.

[Mag]

The more pronation, the more power. 45 degrees is a very modest pronation.

[john]

Mag - What sort of pronation would top players get?

[Mag]

Allow me to revise my previous comment -- it was a bit careless. The ideal pronation is about 90 degrees, and there is a reason for this: The idea is that the racquet face approaches the shuttle at a 90 degree angle (slicing the air with the side of the frame pointing towards the shuttle), and then just before impact a pronative movement of the forearm "opens up" the string bed to the shuttle so that the shuttle is hit straight on. In other words, proper pronation is 90 degrees. You will get a whip-like effect from his, plus your racquet will travel faster in the preparatory phase.

If you have a pronation of about 45 degrees it can mean two things: 1) you are not swinging the racquet in the correct way, or 2) you are hitting the shuttle at an angle (i e a slice) resulting in an unclean shot.