What should I change to improve my clears & smashes?

[carlfried]

I know the short and correct answer is: Improve my skill. However, chosing the right equipment matching my level is important as well, so I would like ask for some opinions on what might help me on this.

Here's my background: I would consider myself an intermediate player, having played badminton for ~10 years in a hobby club. I never took any lessons, so I learnt everything from other players, books and YouTube. That's why my technique arguably is not the cleanest. However, I notice a lot of improvement in my own playing over the years. I also clearly can read matches watching other people play, and I also see when people have bad technique, so the theory is definitely there. I just haven't practiced my weaknesses enough, just because there's no real space for that in my club. I play mostly doubles and with plastic shuttlecocks.

The racket I played most of the time was a Babolat Satelite Essential (medium stiff, medium balance), just because one of the course leaders lend me his racket once and I quite liked it, so I bought the same. The string I used on this racket was a Yonex BG-80 Power with 10kg (for the same reason).

About a year ago was the first time I thought I know enough about my own playing now that it would make sense to question my equipment. So I started looking for a racket that fits my playing style and compensates my weaknesses. The latter are mainly:

1. I have trouble consistently clearing the shuttle from baseline to baseline. I definitely can do it, but when I do this a lot during warm-up, I notice how much strength I need for it and how it powers me out. Also, when I am under pressure during a game and do not get behind the shuttle quick enough, I struggle to hit it far enough to the back of the court.

2. My smashes come reeeeaaally slow compared to other people's shots. I think I know how to smash and I can definitely kill a shuttle. If my opponents have a good defense, though, I rarely make a point with a smash.

So I tested a few rackets and tried to get a feeling for different balance points and stiffnesses. I thought what I needed to make my game more offensive was a head-heavy racket, but every one I played made me really slow in my defense. Also I noticed an aching in my arm after playing head-heavy rackets. What I came up with in the end was a Victor Thruster F C (slightly stiff, medium balance), and I also changed the string to Exbolt 65 (still at 10kg). While I definitely enjoy my new racket and it feels like an upgrade compared to the Babolat, my main goal (compensating my weaknesses) has not been fulfilled with it. So I would like to continue my journey on finding the right equipment for me.

As far as I know there are four variables which might influence the power I can generate with a racket (apart, of course, from my technique):

1. Choose a more head heavy racket
2. Choose a more flexible racket
3. Reduce the string tension
4. Choose a different string

Unfortunetly I don't remember which head-heavy rackets I already tried, but since I noticed the aching in my arm everytime I played one, I think I maybe should continue trying only SLIGHTLY head-heavy rackets. However, I remember trying also one head-light racket (Babolat Powerlight) and was in LOVE with how precisely the services and playing at the net went with this racket. I never had trouble playing a good service with my previous rackets, but this was just so smooth compared to the others. Of course, clearing and smashing was even more difficult with this one, so I did not consider it an option.

But maybe it is, given the fact that there are the other variables as well? I think what I am ultimately looking for is the same "Wow!"-effect like I got from playing a service with the head-light racket, but for clears and smashes. And then of course everything in one racket. Which I assume does not exist.

So what's difficult for me is to decide which of the four variables to adjust in my specific case. Should I go for a more head-heavy or a more flexible racket? Or should I keep mine and just experiment with different string tensions or strings? If so, which ones might be a good choice for me? Has anyone been in a similar situation and can recommend specific rackets or strings that made a difference in their playing?

Very curious about your opinions. Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[Rebascra]

It's more a technique issue so I'd stick to the Babolat Satellite Essential and get some coaching or group lessons, a new racquet could afford you like 2-3 hours lessons. That will help you a lot more in the long run, less injuries and you play better overall.

If you must change something, you can increase the tension to 11kg/24lbs which is still a comfortable tension.
Low tension helps with power generation through the trampoline effect but comes with a low power ceiling so the distance is not proportional to your efforts.

 

[Rittersport]

Have you any video of you playing? Just to have an idea of your techniques. Not saying yours is be bad or not but I believe at some point, the racket won't make a significant difference.

IMO it is the best to find a racket that feels most comfortable. I used to play with the Yonex Astrox 77 Pro which I considered the perfect all-around racket, slightly head heavy and slightly stiff. It doesn't wow but it does everything well. Before that, I played with an Arcsaber 7 Pro which is even balance and medium stiff. That one was a bit too light to play in singles, my clears were often short at the backcourt.

 

[Cheung]

About a year ago was the first time I thought I know enough about my own playing now that it would make sense to question my equipment.

I could say there’s always a lot to improve on technique, even at high level. For example, if you can move better on court, you can get into the right position more often and have fewer times of being off balance. That will help you generate power for more shots in a match than changing a racquet.

 

[s_mair]

I have trouble consistently clearing the shuttle from baseline to baseline.

Just this one sentence is a clear sign that a different racket will not solve your issue. With a solid overhead technique you should be able to do baseline to baseline clears effortlessly with each and every carbonfibre-based racket and a halfway decent stringjob on it.

Have you any video of you playing? Just to have an idea of your techniques.

This would be a great starting point to give you further tips on where to set your focus. We have a number of great coaches in here who are always there to give their opinion.

 

[Budi]

All you description lead to coaching.
Lets ask your inner self, what do you really want?
Wanting new toy? Or want to improve technique?

what is better smash or clear?
Better power or better placement?
What is your aim? Playing at higher level? Or just want to improve yourself?

If you ever saw 6-7 yo kids training proper badminton, you would see they could do clear easy tho they are still small and little muscle on them.

If you just want new toy then goes for flex to mid flex, mid head heavy, 4U, with repulsive string and 22lbs. But keep in mind that even with it that, it wont help your issue much. Well, i could beat any beginner with any cheapest racket with proper string and tension even if its totally opposite of my preference.

If you want to improve, then spend it for coaching instead. Even if it just for like 3 month, you will notice the upgrade on your games.

Also as you also mention to feel ache on your arm, its become more important to fix your technique than new toy. That if you want to avoid long term injury and want to play for longer time.

 

[Rittersport]

Also I noticed an aching in my arm after playing head-heavy rackets

This is also a sign of you forcing the forearm pronation.

About a year ago was the first time I thought I know enough about my own playing now that it would make sense to question my equipment

I have to say that badminton is so complexe that it is never enough. New equipment will make you feel good but won't make you good. BUT, nothing wrong to have a new toy and feel good playing with it (yes I must admit my guilty of buying a new racket recently )

 

[scamp]

What shuttles are you playing with? Many groups play with shuttles that are too slow and so players have to use full strength to clear. This is wrong. I suggest you test your shuttles (stand behind back line and hit full underarm stroke to see where the shuttle lands) because if they are too slow you risk injury by using brute force to make clears.

 

[carlfried]

Thanks for all your helpful responses!

I could say there’s always a lot to improve on technique, even at high level. For example, if you can move better on court, you can get into the right position more often and have fewer times of being off balance. That will help you generate power for more shots in a match than changing a racquet.

Of course there is! Maybe my words were kind of misleading here. When I said "I know enough about my own playing" I did not mean I know enough about playing Badminton in general, but I am aware of what I can do well and what I can't (which is the foundation when looking for equipment matching my level IMO).

Have you any video of you playing? Just to have an idea of your techniques. Not saying yours is be bad or not but I believe at some point, the racket won't make a significant difference.

IMO it is the best to find a racket that feels most comfortable. I used to play with the Yonex Astrox 77 Pro which I considered the perfect all-around racket, slightly head heavy and slightly stiff. It doesn't wow but it does everything well. Before that, I played with an Arcsaber 7 Pro which is even balance and medium stiff. That one was a bit too light to play in singles, my clears were often short at the backcourt.

No, I don't have a video. But that's a good idea actually. I will try to record something during the next few trainings and open a new thread for tips on my technique. Astrox 77 Pro is already on my list of rackets to test, thanks for the recommendation.

What shuttles are you playing with? Many groups play with shuttles that are too slow and so players have to use full strength to clear. This is wrong. I suggest you test your shuttles (stand behind back line and hit full underarm stroke to see where the shuttle lands) because if they are too slow you risk injury by using brute force to make clears.

The club I play at always uses Yonex Mavis 350, which indeed are a bit slow, especially compared to real feather shuttles. That's why I noted in my first post that I am playing with plastic shuttles. I always bring Mavis 2000 myself (which are a bit faster), but I cannot always use them, since many of the other players I play with use the 350s, so I have to adapt to that.

If you must change something, you can increase the tension to 11kg/24lbs which is still a comfortable tension.
Low tension helps with power generation through the trampoline effect but comes with a low power ceiling so the distance is not proportional to your efforts.

That's actually the first time I hear that. Interesting! I always thought that rule of thumb is to lower the tension when someone has trouble clearing the shuttle baseline to baseline.

Lets ask your inner self, what do you really want?
Wanting new toy? Or want to improve technique?

I am definitely not the "buy something just to have something new" type. I want to find *my* racket and *my* string and stick with it as long as possible. But of course I also want to improve my technique. These two do not exclude each other IMO.

If you want to improve, then spend it for coaching instead. Even if it just for like 3 month, you will notice the upgrade on your games.

I'd really love to, actually. But as I said, in my club there's no possibility for coaching. If anyone happens to live in Hamburg, Germany here and knows a good address for Badminton coaching, please tell me.

However, I still will continue to look for the right equipment for me. So if anyone has racket or string recommendations for my specific case, I am happy to hear them.