measuring smash speed

**Polder** · 06-10-2012, 11:47 AM

Hey guys & girls

I wonder how one can determine ones smashing speed. Apart from tactics, techniques etc, I would like to know how fast the shuttle goes when I smash.
The reason for this is, that I'm not 100% sure that my personal perception of the smash is objective. Although I think that I've got a pretty good idea, the hit on the shuttle will give you a lot of feedback by feel, sound, speed impression etc., which will influence my personal perception of how fast the smash really was, and my be different from the actual speed.

It would be interesting to smash with different rackets and strings, feel/think which one is the fastest, vs the mathematical data.

Now pls don't go tell me that speed isn't everything etc. I'm very aware of them. Tbh racket agility is more important imho once you reach a certain level.

awaiting for your reactions

P

**amleto** · 06-11-2012, 06:55 AM

Assuming you will not be buying and calibrating a radar gun of some variety, you will need:

tape measure, stop watch or good video camera, shuttle feeder.

good luck and have fun

**raymond** · 06-11-2012, 10:54 AM

Stop watch probably would be of no use due to speed of the shot, and all kinds of perceptual errors, e.g. when the contact is made on both the racket string bed, and on the floor.

Also, are you measuring initial speed, or speed at impact on floor, or average speed, since the shot continues to slow down?

In any case, if you'd like to have some fun, camcorder is the best bet, I'd think. Then you'd need to be able to upload onto your PC equipped with some video editing software that can dissect the video frame by frame. If the software gives you enough timing information, you can then derive the speed(s) you're interested.

Almost forgot to mention, some trigonometry is involved, as the shot is going downward.

So you do need to measure the distance between you when you smash, and the landing point.

Originally Posted by amleto

Assuming you will not be buying and calibrating a radar gun of some variety, you will need:

tape measure, stop watch or good video camera, shuttle feeder.

good luck and have fun

**Staiger1** · 06-11-2012, 01:01 PM

Most good club players can manage between 110- 120mph , Top league players can reach 130mph , county players to 140mph and international >140mph

Speed is not important, the precision of the smash , variation , steepness are far more vital .

There is no point in measuring the speed of the smash as it will only disappoint you ! lol

**Polder** · 06-11-2012, 04:16 PM

Hi Staiger1

Thank you for your reaction.
I am very aware that there are other factors that are important.
However, when you read my opening post more carefully, the goal is to measure shuttle speeds from different strings and tensions, so that it can be objectively compared.

Yes I know when a shuttle goes harder etc, but my perception of its speed will also be influenced by the sound of it, the speed of the oponent, and many other things. Therefore an scientific approach is needed.

kind regards
P

***kwun*** · 06-11-2012, 04:21 PM

video camera is what us mortals can manage.

there are quite a few video cameras that can record 60 or even 240 frame per second. those will give you much better measurement.

**Staiger1** · 06-11-2012, 05:12 PM

even with a speed gun , depending on the angle , placement etc . The speed measured can be varied , it is not that accurate .

Forget measuring the speed of your smash by changing strings and tensions , if it feels right, then go along with it . Every smash is different . You should concentrate more on improving technique , footwork rather than this nonsense .......that would what my coach would have said to me , lol

**Polder** · 06-11-2012, 05:18 PM

I did not ask in the opening post how I can improve my play. I did not ask for your opinion on what is more important.
All I wanted to know is whether in top badminton such things can/are scientifically measured, rarther then on personal impressions.
Please stay on-topic

kind regards
P

**urameatball** · 06-11-2012, 06:33 PM

wow, say you change configuration every week, do 3 different tensions for 5 different strings... that's 15 weeks already.
In 15 weeks, that's enough time to significantly improve on your smash speed regardless of string.

Save your money for 15 restrings. Save your testing time for actual training/practice. You'll be a better player and a wealthier person.

**captaincook** · 06-11-2012, 07:26 PM

would I be wrong to say that different kind of "swing" works differently (or works best) with different tension/racket stiffness. The swing that seems to "carry" the bird for slightly longer duration works best with less stiff racket. The quick snap swing....well...higher tension.

For your experiment, you will need about 3 identical rackets (low, med, high tension), and the same subject to perform the same smashing technique.

**Polder** · 06-11-2012, 07:40 PM

maybe I should contact the 'Mythbusters' to make me a decent testing setup

**Alapongtai** · 06-11-2012, 09:37 PM

jw, how much does the speed gun used for intl/official matches cost?

**Staiger1** · 06-12-2012, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Polder

I did not ask in the opening post how I can improve my play. I did not ask for your opinion on what is more important.
All I wanted to know is whether in top badminton such things can/are scientifically measured, rarther then on personal impressions.
Please stay on-topic

kind regards
P

I dont think the international players give a sh*t about this issue . They got more important things on their mind to improve their game , rather than testing out strings and tension to see which will show up quicker on a speed gun. They might measure their speed of smashes , once or twice in training but this are done by the analysis team with all the gadgets . Most time , they can feel , hear , and see how fast that smash is

**DuckFeet** · 06-21-2012, 06:28 AM

You could ask other people's perception? I understand your question and where you want to get with it. I go by percentage unreturnable smashes, depending on who is defending them and whether I wind up for "this one isnt coming back". The actual speed in kmh or whatever is irrelevant, the odd few khm probably makes no odds but if you get enough of a speed boost that suddenly your smashes are too fast to return then that's relevant. I'm not sure your efforts in measuring the speed would show this

if you work something out do share as I have thought the same thing myself.

**Tadashi** · 06-24-2012, 10:07 AM

The shuttle goes from very speedy to very slowly, measuring usually takes the initial speed, not the landing speed.

An academic article pointed out that national teams had been filled only with strong players of very high smashing speeds. Thus you question may be crucial.

The same article also pointed out that they tried out to track the wrist which may have better merits than "traditional" speed measurements. Yet, I'm not quite sure how the traditional measurements work, like seen on TV.

**Zynex** · 06-24-2012, 12:23 PM

I smile when I see your post Tadashi.
Exactly what I was wondering about.

**captaincook** · 06-24-2012, 02:10 PM

Did a school science project with my daughter last year; she needed to measure the number of spins of 3 different pinwheels under a constant air flow (using a fan). We recorded the experiments with a video camera with time clock on screen. Then count the number of spin from zero to 10 seconds in slow motion on a PC. It is definitely do-able with sport/high speed setting.

Originally Posted by kwun

video camera is what us mortals can manage.

there are quite a few video cameras that can record 60 or even 240 frame per second. those will give you much better measurement.