Exercise to strengthen your FINGER

**h4n5ip** · 09-26-2007, 11:07 PM

I've heard from couch Lee Jae Book that to defense smash is using finger power rather than wrist power

.

Any of you guys exercise your finger

If does, do you think it can improve your skill in defensing smash?

I am thinking of exercising using a tool that you normally squeeze within your finger (I am sure you guys know what I am talking about).

Pls share your experience

**Ichiigo** · 09-26-2007, 11:16 PM

I use a powerball and it's quite effective.

**h4n5ip** · 09-26-2007, 11:21 PM

I have used also Powerball. Doesn't it use to strenght you wrist mostly?

**chris-ccc** · 09-27-2007, 01:29 AM

Hi h4n5ip,

I find that the usage of the thumb (in the backhand grip), and the index finger (in the forehand grip), are the ones to give you the most important control to direct the returns of your shots.

Many players, when expecting a smash, hold their rackets with their backhand grips, and with their thumbs behind the rackets' handles, to return smashes.

Your grip is to be loose and your wrist is to be relaxed for best flexibility.

However, your last (little) finger is also important to be strong enough to wrapped around the base of the handle so as your racket does not fly away from your hand while your grip is loose.

So, strengthening the index and little fingers, and the thumb is very useful and necessary.

Making any sense to you ???

Cheers... chris@ccc

**h4n5ip** · 09-27-2007, 01:33 AM

Hmmmmm....... I rather got what you meant.
My question was, do I need exercise for those finger?
Or do you think when I exercise my return smash will be better of?

**chris-ccc** · 09-27-2007, 01:57 AM

Hi h4n5ip,

Originally Posted by h4n5ip

My question was, do I need exercise for those finger?

Please find a qualified coach on how to do strengthen your fingers.

I would hate that you get injuries with your fingers.

Many players try to save hundreds of dollars not to employ a coach, but then later spend thousands of dollars to fix injuries incurred.

BTW, to strengthen your fingers... you need to do it slowly and gradually. It doesn't happen overnight.

Cheers... chris@ccc

**h4n5ip** · 09-27-2007, 02:17 AM

Thanks for your help
I know Rome wasn't build in a day.
I will try to exercise and hope it will help my defensing smash.
what about you any particular exercise you take for this.

**cappy75** · 09-27-2007, 05:25 AM

I do what LJB suggested... a 20 sec 'plank' with fingers only (might even throw in a few push ups now and then) and sometimes squeeze a stress ball while I am commuting. You wanna strengthen your defense, learn how to defend properly and do lots of drive rallies.

**Sgbad** · 09-27-2007, 07:14 AM

So in conclusion, are the strength of my fingers very important in a game?

**cappy75** · 09-27-2007, 07:37 AM

The strength in your fingers is derived from your forearm muscles. If your fingers are fast enough to switch grip to change the face of the racquet in relation to the return shot, you can potentially place your return anywhere in your opponents' court (eg. netshot and smash defense). In addition, a good smash requires a sure grip and an explosive pronation of the arm to generate power and steep angle.

Originally Posted by Sgbad

So in conclusion, are the strength of my fingers very important in a game?

**skchen** · 09-27-2007, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by h4n5ip

I've heard from couch Lee Jae Book that to defense smash is using finger power rather than wrist power

.

Any of you guys exercise your finger

If does, do you think it can improve your skill in defensing smash?

I am thinking of exercising using a tool that you normally squeeze within your finger (I am sure you guys know what I am talking about).

Pls share your experience

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The best exercise to strengthen the fingers is to squeeze squash balls. You can do the exercise when you do your morning walks or do it along with any activity which does require the use of the hands.

First you squeeze the ball placed on the palm with the last 3 fingers together. You then use only the thumb, then the index finger and lastly the third finger. Squeeze 30 times for each exercise. Squash ball is the best as it is elastic and does not cause callus unlike the hand grip which is hard.
The exercise is also good for blood circulation.

**leonheart88** · 09-28-2007, 12:12 AM

Yes... for me finger is one of the most important part whether during smashing or defending... or even flat ball.... tapping.... every stroke use finger... Yes. doing push up using finger is good. But not really effective for badminton.. that one better for basketball i think

Since during badminton game, u are holding racket. So i think squeezing the A3 paper is good exercise for finger. Press the paper forcibly together using all the fingers... like compressing it.. until the A3 paper become damn hard and sphere in shape..

Any command about this exercise?? Can hava a try first

**kinoko** · 09-29-2007, 01:53 AM

theres a few equipment to strengthen ur finger.
1. squishing tennis/squash/squish balls
2. v shape like. the one that u squish with spring coil at the angle end
3. the one that u hold inside the palm and has 5 springs for each finger.

sorry for crappy explanation. do rock climbing or perhaps if u are strong enough do push ups with your fingers.

**stumblingfeet** · 09-29-2007, 05:40 AM

Why is it that no one mentions the obvious answers?!

How about practising many, many drives? Not only does that strengthen your fingers, it does so in a sports specific way and you refine your motor control/technique all at the same time.

Then, if you need something more you can do manual resistance exercises with a racquet.

Only if the above exercises stop working, should have to rely on some general strengthening exercise.

**kinoko** · 09-30-2007, 12:56 AM

some players dont get that much air-time on court. we have to train outside too. whenever, wherever. shadow drives with heavy racket works. squishing squash ball just one of the way.

**Notnimdab729** · 09-30-2007, 05:53 AM

Hi guys,
Agreed with u that finger power is important in badminton. How about squeezing newspapers instead of A3?

A3 can be quite expensive but newspapers are readily available after yr reading. Well, the only set back is u need to wash yr hands, that's all. I remember the Malaysian Double legend Tan Yee Khan(if I did not mispelled his name)

is one of the double player who had fanstastic n powerful fingers power.

His smash was so powerful, that in a match at India the shuttlecock went through the net......

.
Lee

Originally Posted by leonheart88

Yes... for me finger is one of the most important part whether during smashing or defending... or even flat ball.... tapping.... every stroke use finger... Yes. doing push up using finger is good. But not really effective for badminton.. that one better for basketball i think

Since during badminton game, u are holding racket. So i think squeezing the A3 paper is good exercise for finger. Press the paper forcibly together using all the fingers... like compressing it.. until the A3 paper become damn hard and sphere in shape..

Any command about this exercise?? Can hava a try first