hello, i'm now an intermediate player. can do basically all the strokes in the book. my footwork is "proper", i'm "very" consistent (smashing on lines is becoming increasingly easier) but there's a problem.... my smashes are placed, and mostly tight...but just not HARD...i just can't break trough a defence in doubles... so, any tips on training for my smash? for training, technique, you name it..
Plyometrics aka explosive power training. As to how, hopefully some experts here can post safe exercises/training methods. As for me, I practice smashing with a squash racket but I be careful, use proper warm-up and cool down and smash with a complete follow through to minimize stress to the joints. I start off doing dry smashes to eventually smashing shuttles. Then after I am warm, I switch to dry smashing with my racket and then eventually to shuttles. I cannot stress the importance of proper stretching and warm-up/cool down. Also progressively increase intensity as your muscles get stronger. This may take months to get to a high level. Don't go all out the first few times trying this. Case and point, I got carried away last week and injured my shoulder. I need to rest about a week or so to recover. So again, proper precautions are first and foremost. If you can follow these guidelines, I guarantee your smash will be stronger, more powerful, with less effort.
smash power. Just beef up your wrist power and press it down. Make a full swing and see how the other doubles technique. Alway make a point to smash when you see high shots. Take it as a practise no matter what people say. Once you get the extreme power you need, then you can slow down and play a normal game. Remember, just keep on wacking it. It'll also help to shake you opponents confidence. rgds
Oh yeah, ideally, make sure you are always trying to hit the shuttle out in front and transferring your power forward. I know it's not always possible but try.
smash = 30% strength + 70% timing do wrist weights, take dumbells in ur smashing hand and rotate them, lift them using only your wrist with hand facing down, then switch to palm up.
This is very good advice in my opinion. I started improving my wrist strength this way only a month ago and can already see the difference in my smashes. I've also found that the more wrist I put into my smashes, the more energy I conserve for the games, and my recurring shoulder injury has gone away!! Aaron
Try the forearm technique. To get a feel for the motion, grab your racket using the forehand grip. Now rotate/twist your forearm and wrist clockwise until you can't anymore (its like your coiling your forearm). THen unwind the forearm and wrist counterclockwise. The racket face will mimic this clockwise/counter clockwise motion. For the smash, do the clockwise rotation when you form your "bow and arrow" stance in preparation for the smash. Lead with your elbow, your racket will look like its approaching the shuttle with its edge. A split second before contact unwind your forearm/wrist counterclockwise. Once you unwind the forearm the wrist will snap naturally. I used to smash the conventional way and experienced a lot of elbow pain. Then I read about this technique somewhere in the web and my smash has become more powerful and my elbow is pain-free.
wrist is the most important timing muscle, angle comes from shoulder/pecs/abs, power comes from everything working together -- [jump] smashing uses your whole body, ur wrist being the contact point. abs, seated rows, benchpress, bicep curls and tricep extensions all will add power to your smash if your newly added muscle doesn't interfere with flexibility, stroke control and timing.
http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16712&page=4&pp=18&highlight=wrist about wrist..
wrist stable? you mean no supination/pronation (wich ever)? are there people here that smash solely with the shoulder/elbow/arm?
I think he means: "Yes, you should first supinate and then pronate the forearm". But that doesn't affect the wrist. If it's stable, then the hand is moved "by the forearm" and therefore the raquet as well. I don't think you should solely smash with shoulder/elbow/arm, because you have to use the kinetic chain to produce power. But i think there is a variaton of the smash. It is executed by "letting your upper body fall towards the bird" - that's my poor explanation for this technique. Perhaps somebody else knows about this smash (used in doubles sometimes?).
