Hi guys,
I've been taking classes for a while now and am noticing some tangible improvements. However, one thing that I cannot seem to get down is the smash (and to some extension drop shots as they'd use the same striking angle).
I've been watching a lot of tutorials, asked my coach and some other veteran players and I'm getting some mixed information. Maybe I'm misunderstanding it. I understand the striking motion with ready position, elbow forward along with the body and fully extend before snapping downwards when about to hit the shuttle.
However, what confuses me is the striking angle. My coach tells me the optimal striking point is as high as possible to achieve a steeper angle, roughly at the highest point a bit in front of the forehead. Other players keep mentioning hitting at a 45 degree angle in front of me. So now I'm confused, is the 45 degrees they're talking about the optimal striking point to hit the shuttle, or the angle the racket head should hit the shuttle at, at the highest point (the previously mentioned position slightly in front of the forehead).
Could someone help me clear this up? It's a bit annoying to still not be able to smash consistently as it means I'm short a key attacking method.
I drew a terrible picture to illustrate what I mean.
For all intents and purposes, A is what i assume the veteran players are telling me. B is what I assume my coach means. Red is the racket, green is the shuttle.

Cheers!
I've been taking classes for a while now and am noticing some tangible improvements. However, one thing that I cannot seem to get down is the smash (and to some extension drop shots as they'd use the same striking angle).
I've been watching a lot of tutorials, asked my coach and some other veteran players and I'm getting some mixed information. Maybe I'm misunderstanding it. I understand the striking motion with ready position, elbow forward along with the body and fully extend before snapping downwards when about to hit the shuttle.
However, what confuses me is the striking angle. My coach tells me the optimal striking point is as high as possible to achieve a steeper angle, roughly at the highest point a bit in front of the forehead. Other players keep mentioning hitting at a 45 degree angle in front of me. So now I'm confused, is the 45 degrees they're talking about the optimal striking point to hit the shuttle, or the angle the racket head should hit the shuttle at, at the highest point (the previously mentioned position slightly in front of the forehead).
Could someone help me clear this up? It's a bit annoying to still not be able to smash consistently as it means I'm short a key attacking method.
I drew a terrible picture to illustrate what I mean.
For all intents and purposes, A is what i assume the veteran players are telling me. B is what I assume my coach means. Red is the racket, green is the shuttle.

Cheers!