What is a good way to practice hitting the shuttle harder? I know the action should be in the wrist but I can't seem to get the powerful flick that I see other people do?
Absolutely right. I was having a coaching lesson on friday and working on smashes. I was trying so hard to give em a whack but you will never be close to hitting them very hard if you don't have the right technique. Technique is everything!!
If the wrist flick is a problem then you can throw a shuttle about if you hold the cork in your thumb and forefinger it will give your wrist the throwing action for smash and overhead shots, once the flick is OK then you can move on to strengthning the wrist. There are many threads on this.
I think that concentrating on relaxing while doing overhead shot preparation (elbows up) helps you hit harder. Dunno if consciously willing the wrist flick would help. For me, the wrist flick in the follow thru is more of an after product of my swing than a conscious one. Just think... "Snap!". As for wrist strength training, try squeezing small bean bags.
I sometimes don't flick my wrist when i smash i swing my whole arm as fast as i can asn i produce a powerful smash
If you play with a more open face and dare I say it a more PANHANDLE grip it can give you more power also, just look at flat/stick smash, it is often more powerfull because only the arm is involved in the preparation and you can go on to smash more times than if you do full body inclusive smash, you can do more of a punch clear.
practice practice practice. you can try throwing a ball. the motions and wrist movement is very similar.
