Right way to train smash accuracy?

[Mathieu]

OK.
As the title says, I want to work on my smash accuracy. As usual, I first made sure I have the correct technique and now, its all about practicing the shots...
Here is my problem: I am hesitating between those two "ways" of practicing

1) Starting with very low power (starting with fast drops, half-smashes etc) and trying to hit the lines and gradually increasing the power/strength of the smash.

2) Using regular power/strength (which is relatively high since the smash is a powerful stroke) and trying to aim closer and closer to the lines.

So basically, the first way is to start by hitting the lines and gradually hitting harder until I reach the regular power of my smash. And the second way is hitting with regular strength and gradually increasing the precision by aiming at specific spots (mostly the side lines).

I'm looking for advice on this topic because unfortunately, since it's summer time, I don't have access to any coaching but I still want to practice and I believe it's just better to practice the "right" way. Also, I think that precision is about as important (or more) as power, especially in singles and I think that it would really help me to have better accuracy on this particular stroke.

Thanks a lot
Mathieu

[kwun]

i think you can do both. go from light smashes, and gradually increasing the power. see if you can still hit close to the line.

i assume you have a partner who will be feeding you the birdie?

good luck with training, let us know how it works out for you.

[Kimmysolucious]

This is interesting. Never thought of it like that.

If you are able to keep smashing really REALLY hard as you improve your accuracy, kudos to you. IMO I would start with accuracy as I increase my power...unless you want to use a lot of energy and be tired in the beginning of practices or if you have infinite energy. ;)

[Cheung]

I think the point is to improve the accuracy under less than ideal positioning.

Hence you need a partner who can feed than shuttles and you play a smash. I would do a regular smash. Not that you always try for the line but just try to make sure you run to the shuttle, recover to hit the most likely return (i.e. a forecourt shot) and then run back to hit the next smash.

If you stand in one position training smash accuracy (assuming your technique is already OK), it won't help very much under game conditions.

[stumblingfeet]

To begin with, here's a statement: drills don't make you better. You get better by playing better.

What I mean is that you want to avoid thinking of drills as something you do, which lead to a corresponding increase in skill. What drills do is give you an opportunity to figure out what feels right and wrong, and a chance to reinforce the good movements.

So, any of your drills could work. What really matters is what goes on in your brain - whenever a shot occurs poorly, figure out what went wrong with the shot and adjust. When a shot goes well, try to recapture the feeling of that shot for your next execution.

[XtC-604]

how bout you put a box on the floor, and then try to get the bird into the box with a smash =p

[coachgary]

Give your self some targets, say three shuttle tubes a foot inside the sidelines. You need to give yourself a larger margin of error. Remember, in a game you play what you practice!!!

In the beginning there’s nothing wrong with a closed loop type of practice where the feeder always feeds to a specific area, however, you must progress onto a more game-like type of practice. You need to learn/consider/understand the various situations when your smash is to your advantage or disadvantage.

When to use power?

When to use less power but better accuracy?

What’s the margin of error?

Try to create situations in your practice where you can explore how to attack intelligently. Learn how the defender/counter attacker exploits your game-play.

How many times in a game is a smash the out-right winner? Probably not as many as the shot afterwards.

Where should you aim your smash? At the spaces you’ve created? Straight, cross-court, at your opponent’s racket hip, knees, chest etc? Explore all these in your practice to see how successful your smash is in different situations. Learn from your opponent his capabilities to different situations.