Improving the Quality of your Smash

[shooting stroke]

Smash is the most direct and lethal way to gain a point when playing badminton. Smash also is a type of stroke that has the most demand from the aspect of physical requirement and mental precision. In view of this demand, it is surely frustrating that while you've given all your effort to ensure that you can gain that point from your smash but in the end, the outcome is not what you've expected, then its just a waste of effort. Therefore, especially for beginners, the path to improve your smash also requires you to understand what are the qualities there are about a smash and then learn to master all the of this qualities first.

In your effort to improve the quality of smash, make sure that while learning and practicing, the quality of your smash follows the below sequence by priority:

Validity ----------> Accuracy ------------> X

1. Validity

There is no point to execute a powerful smash if the outcome is not valid i.e regularly out or stuck into the net. It will just be a waste of physical and mental effort. Learn first to make sure that your smash is 100% VALID. While practicing, ensure that your smash:

- Could pass the net cord 100% and
- Land IN inside the court 100%

While learning and concentrating on this effort, it doesn't matter if your smash is:

- Not steep
- Not powerful
- Land mostly in the back court

As i said earlier, there is no point having the above qualities in your smash but most of it is not valid.

2. Accuracy

Accuracy in smashing is all about how accurate you will place the birdie to the area of your intention while playing. It can be into an area beyond your opponent reach or to a specific area towards your opponent physical structure or to a specific strategic area that will make the most difficult retrieval that will open to a winning opportunity for you later.

Among all the quality that exist when you execute a valid smash, accuracy has the most important impact to the outcome in any of your smash. Having a high accuracy in any of your valid smash is so important because:
- it can yield a higher chances of giving a winning point by itself or
- opening an opportunity for a winning point later.

The level of accuracy in any of your valid smash also will dictate the level of effectiveness of your smash since if you combined your valid and accurate smash with the other additional qualities such as power then it will be very lethal.

Effective smash = Valid + Accurate
Lethal smash = Valid + Accurate + X ( power, steepness etc)

Therefore, its very important to diligently learn how to improve accuracy in any of your valid smash. Since it is not a over night effort that you can simply master how to place accurately your smash so therefore, its imperative for you to continuously train hard through numerous smashing drill if you have the opportunities. Mastering a high level of accuracy in any of your valid smash is not an easy skill to do and even world class player also practice hundreds to thousands of smashing drills to conquer that accuracy.

3. The other qualities (X)

If you are a beginner and starting to learn how to smash then ignore this this section for a while but if your smash has all the descent validity and accuracy qualities then lets move on to this section .

The end sequence to learn in regards about improving the qualities of your smash will include:

- Power
- Steepness
- Deception

Adding this qualities while already able to execute a high degree of validity and accuracy in any of your smash will indeed make your smash a more effective one. This are the additional qualities that is necessary to be learn especially if you're a type of player that involves competitively in any tournament since you need that extra flare in your smashing department in your game play.

If you have fully understood, its more easier to upgrade the qualities of your smash by following this sequence. The only issue is how dedicated are you to willingly learn and practice continuously hard until you can master those qualities. Since the technicality aspect about smashing preparation, technique of execution and footwork has been numerously discussed elsewhere here in BC so, it will not be explain furthermore here and this post is just emphasizing the aspect of what are the qualities there are that you need to focus while learning to improve your smash. Good luck.

SS

[visor]

Agree very much on the importance of accuracy.

Especially at higher levels of play where all players on court can effectively defend and counter attack, this is more important than power or steepness. If you can consistently and accurately hit the sidelines or the middle line when required, or the racket shoulder/chest/hip of your opponent, then that is more effective than an all out powerful steep smash right onto their rackets that are just waiting to counter back without much energy input on their part.

But this will also require an acute sense of court awareness of your opponents' positions and openings. Additionally, mix this up with an occasional deception (eg. faked smash drop a la Jung Jae Sung) when your opponents are forced to defend deep and your smash will become very effective.

[shosasakigamba]

Its is also worth remembering that a smash at half power can be a good set up for teh next full power smash if you dont quite have the ideal position to execute.

Really enjoyed watching morgensens sliced smashes during the London OG.

[amleto]

... when your opponents are forced to defend deep and your smash will become very effective.

you mean 'your drop shot will become very effective.', surely?

[visor]

you mean 'your drop shot will become very effective.', surely?

Yeah ... both... ... but only if one is acutely aware of where the opponents are standing. Ie if deep then fake drop, if closer then body smash or down the middle.