Apologies if this thread has been done before, but I couldn't find the link. If there is one please post it here. How do you return a smash? Very often I find people smashing at me and I have no idea how to return it. I do this loop with my racket, change my grip from forehand to backhand, and do this flicking motion. Is this the most effecient way to do it? Sometimes I'm not quick enough and I find the smash hitting me in the chest or worse the face :crying: (ouch). Thanks!
Here are some tips given by Lee Jea Bok (in his coaching videos that you can find at ibbs.tv) - No fear of the smash - stay further to the back court so that smashes come mainly to your lower body - use finger power to flick the return, not large swing - In preparation, keep racket head low, and do split steps to enhance your agility. I hope you know this term. otherwise you can look for it in this forum
If you're regularly getting hit in the face and chest then it sounds like you're standing way too close to the net. Take a couple of steps back from where you'd normally defend and try that.
returning smashes Hi, Have u practise hitting shuttles against the wall. I mean at waist level. This will help u to react faster to shuttle returns. It will definitely help u in reaction to smashes. Practise hitting as many shuttles as possible. Good luck man. Adidas.
Sometimes the smash itself isn't the root of the problem-- maybe, for example, your clears aren't deep enough and you're allowing them to hit harder from closer up-- in which case it's not your reflexes, but that you (or your partner) may be the one setting up the opponent for an extra advantage. If you're getting it in the face-- i agree with Nitro, take a few steps back to give yourself more room to maneuver and more time to react, assuming the problem your positioning. Returning the smash relies on factors that are just practice related (reflex, 'smart responses', accuracy, etc.) so just keep at it. Try drills-- feed your opponent clears to his back court and have him smash directly at you as you stand a bit further back from midcourt. As you get braver, work your way up to midcourt, and get your partner to do the same... ...until you are able to block net kill smashes!! seriously though, practice makes perfect, just keep at it man.
In reply to the tip about standing too far back, my coach always says don't stand TOO far back, then you can't return the smash at all. Don't be afraid of the smash, and be prepared for it mentally. If you are standing around the middle of the court, not too far back, then you should be able to return a smash. One thing people tend to do is when they lift it, they back up too far or don't back up at all (maybe what you are doing if the shuttle is hitting you in the face), when a smash is coming.
Try to return a smash flat. Or you can return it cross court so that it will be more awkward for your opponent to follow up on his smash.
For smashes either side of me that I can get to above waist height (and close to the net as you seem to stand) I prefer a dropshot return. Otherwise I will try for a flat return, but failing that be left with no option but to lift. I use a forehand lift whenever it is a low body smash (reaching my legs) and a flat return whenever it is a body shot to the mid-chest or above. Usually lifting doesn't work out well because they are set up for another smash. If they aren't that good they will make a mistake after a few attempts at this, but otherwise they keep gaining a slightly smaller advantage each time as my returns may not lift all the way to the back. UJnfortunately I have no way to help you with body shots between upper legs and mid-chest level (which I see is your main concern). I can imagine trying to do a backhand, but it becomes too awkward for me - either I can't generate enough power to return back as I want, or I am simply too slow.
Use crouching defence to counter deep smashes. Basically keep your knees bend, dig in to keep your profile low and line yourself up to the point of attack with your racquet pointing towards it (more important to keep it up). You could use backhand for most of the coverage but there's definitely more need for you to be mobile while on the defense. This becomes more effective when you learn how to switch your grip on the fly so that you can drive the shot back forehand and backhand. Also, I can't emphasize enough the importance of taking the shuttle early. When you do that, you don't need a huge swing to drive/lift the smash (in fact, you shouldn't). Simply pronation/supination of the wrist plus fingerpower will do. If you take the shuttle too close to your body, your stroke will be awkward and your possible angles of return diminished.
Thanks for the tips - I know they were probably meant for the original poster but they'll be handy for me too. As for hitting the shuttle early - that becomes a problem when it is a smash. I normally have barely enough time to get the racquet there in time to return it, sometimes not even enough time to place the return carefully so I just go for a defensive lift. The pronation/supination thing is something I've been working on. For years now I've used the wrong grip (panhandle) for most of my swings and pronation never came in useful. Just recently I've been trying to develop that aspect of my stroke with a lot of advice from Gollum on the forum. I still don't have the quick/explosive pronation that is needed on the forehand stroke but hopefully that will work out eventually.
Hey SandeepD, No problem. Just to clarify that when I talk about taking the shuttle early off a smash, I meant contacting the shuttle at roughly an arm's length (comfortably with the arm slightly bend). How you do this is just a matter of habit in your recovery and preparation. Goodness knows how many players I have seen who would do exaggerated Sigit movement/swing to contact the shuttle near their bodies (do note that Sigit do take the shuttle early in his games most of the time). Those guys did that only cuz they're physically not prepared to receive a smash even though they knew one is coming their way. ie. Their racquets are not up and they didn't recover from their last movement. Once you have gone through enough games, you will notice a pattern in certain situations. Make full use of your anticipation by being better prepared after making your shot. Now when you or your partner lifts a shot, chances are the return is gonna be fast and furious. Most people would think about court positioning only, but there's alot more than that. It's also about stances, grips and mental preparation. Good luck and keep at it! Eventually every novelty becomes old, soon you'll be returning those hard smashes like the pros (well, almost like the pros anyways).
When i returen a smash i almost kind of role my wrist ( backhand obviousley) and it is almost like a top spin shot in tennis!
