Either you need to hone your defensive skills (such as returning smashes), or you should work more on your clears and lifts. Let's put it like this: if your clears were long and high enough, it shouldn't be such a big problem. Smashes from the baseline are not impossible to return, and may even offer good countering possibilities. Perhaps you are also giving the opponent too much opportunity to smash? Try to lift less. Play more net returns and drops, and flat drives to the rear corners, thus trying to keep the shuttle down. A valid doubles tactic that sometimes works well in singles, against certain players.
Great advice, couldn't have said it better myself. So what if they have a harder smash, doesn't mean that the hardest smasher in the world is nessicarily the best. Play with lots of drops, drives, net shots and if you must clear, clear ALL the way back to the baseline, and preferablly at a corner so that when they smash, you just do a drop and make them run.
Hmmm...I encountered one of this situation before. My opponents during my second round of the tournament had super smashes compared to me and my partner. First set we lost a pathetic 15-1 due to their ultra smashes combined with our super duper stupid mistakes. We managed to win the second set 15-11 simply by me cross netting in front of the net. Third set even best, we won the game 15-4, simply by me serving some shot services which they pushed it into the net. Maybe some smashers do not focus on net shots and if you do not give them a chance to smash, they will be pretty frustrated. But if u encounter a smasher who has got good net shot and good defence, walk out of the court.
If you know your opponents have strong smash. Try to keep the shuttle as low as possible. Play in an attacking mode and not defensive.
You have no choice but to go gANSTA on him then, kick his buTT. In all seriousness, then try not to lift the bird and hit low deep shots or low drop shots and make him lift.
Use the short service. This will from the outset cut off his smashes. Use drops and attacking clears, only if you can clear to within 3" from the backline. Work on your lifts, which probably fall well short, allowing him to have a smashing frenzy.
i have faced the same problem as you before and well everybody here has said it you shouldnt give him the opportunity to smash. i would agree that you should play drops and drives and go corner to corner, make the bugger run. but maby you should work on your clears like taneepak said, because if you can get them nice and high and near the back it will be harder to smash the shuttle when it is comming straight down...
I agree that you shouldnt give too much oppurtinity to let your opponent smash. To prevent his smash, you must be faster than your opponent in your net play. try your best to play a deep net shot so he doesnt have oppurtinity to attack. by playing a good net shot, maybe you have the chance to play an attacking game rather than allowing your opponent to attack. but if you really have to clear the birdie, you must give a high, deep and long lob. you can also use attacking lob if your opponent are not in a good position.....
play flat dont give him the chance to smash, if your opponet is aggressive play flat, if flat play control, if control play aggressive
My coach always advised us to drive it at their faces. I don't know it it was a joke but it seems reasonable nonetheless.