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Previous Coaching Tips......


THE BACKHAND CLEAR

  1. Position yourself beneath and behind the shuttle.
  2. You can keep a forehand grip (shaking hands with the racquet) but for greater power and control try moving your thumb further round the wide part of the racquet so that the flat part of your thumb is facing the shuttle when you strike it. backhand clear
  3. Point your racquet shoulder toward your target and your racquet elbow toward the approaching shuttle.
  4. Relax and keep your wrist loose and flexed, this is very important as the shot comes almsot entirely from your wrist.
  5. Keep your arm extended and your elbow slightly bent.
  6. Swing your racquet by snapping your wrist and strike the shuttle when it is just slightly in front of you and just above head height.
  7. Hit the shuttle with an open racquet face.
  8. Follow through - upward and out, not across your body - to drive the shuttle as high and deep as possible.

THE SMASH

In our last hints and tips on how to make the most of your game we looked at SERVING. If the serve is the stroke that gets you off to a good start in a rally then our next shot is definitley the one that will finish it off i.e. the SMASH.  Here are some top tips to hone your power game:

  1. The smash may be the most powerful offensive shot in badminton but don’t be fooled into thinking that means you have to hit the shuttlecock as hard as you possibly can. As with most power shots in any sport, such as the drive in Golf or the volley in Football, it’s all about effortless power not powerless effort! The stroke or shot needs to be smooth and relaxed. This is especially true with the Badminton smash where a lot of the power is generated from the wrist and NOT the arm or shoulder.Fu Haifeng
  2. Getting into position is critical for the smash. You need to take the shuttle in front of and above you as it is virtually impossible for the average club player to hit a powerful shot once the shuttle has passed them. In other words, you should be behind and beneath the shuttle.
  3. Ideally, your weight should be on your back (racket) foot so that you can throw your weight forward and through the shuttle when executing the shot.
  4. Your racket arm should be raised and behind your shoulders with your elbow bent and your wrist cocked, relaxed and ready. Although not essential, raising your left arm (right arm if you’re a left-hander) often helps to stabilise or balance you in preparation for the shot and also acts as a guide to direct the shuttle.
  5. Reach up for the shuttle, striking it as high and early as you can and definitely in front you by pushing off from your back leg (racket foot) and transferring your weight to your forward foot. If you are particularly fit and athletic you can jump for the smash as the extra height will mean the shuttle is struck down at a steeper angle making it even more difficult to retrieve. However, constantly jumping for the smash is very demanding and can put you off balance for the next shot or reduce your recovery time so unless you’re a budding Fu Haifeng then it’s probably best to have your feet firmly planted.
  6. If you want to hit a powerful smash there are 2 critically important things to remember. Firstly, snap your wrist as you make contact with the shuttle, a little like flicking a towel. Most of the power in the smash comes from this well timed uncocking or snapping of the wrist. This will only be achieved if you are focused but completely relaxed. Secondly, make sure you follow through. Playing right through the shuttle will ensure that you have maximum arm extension and will encourage the wrist snap through the shot.
  7. Vary your smash. Most smashes should be straight down the line but an occassional cross-court smash will keep your opponents guessing and in level doubles nothing confuses more than one straight down the middle.
  8. Practice! Use club nights to practice smashes and smash variations. Get your partner to feed you during the warm up using full and half-court clears.

SERVING 

  1. Vary your serve, don't be predictable. Even if you have a superb short serve that is difficult to attack, make sure you add variety such as serving wide to the tramlines or close to the receivers left hip. Also, vary the pace of the serve.
  2. An occassional flick serve will unsettle your opponent but it has to be deceptive and used sparingly. Remember, there is no substitute for a good short service. Regardless of how tall or quick the opponent is, if the serve is tight enough to the net, he/she will have to lift the shuttle down no matter what! Besides, unless your serve is obviously short of the line, most attacking players rarely risk leaving it, just in case it is in. Doubles serve
  3. There should be no difference between a good forehand and a good backhand serve. However, a good backhand serve can be more deceptive since the shuttle is closer to the hand before impact. Try practising the backhand serve on club nights if you're not used to it.
  4. Notice the position of the receiver. Most people tend to stand in one place in the service court and have one stock response to a particular type of service. If you know this, you can vary your service and expose their weaknesses. For example, driving your serve fast and low at the receiver's head or chest or trying a flick.
  5. Talk to your partner and let them know how you are about to serve. Use a code or signal so that you don't alert your opponents. Always stay positive and encourage each other. Your partner might be as intimidated by the return of serve from an aggresive opponent as you.
  6. If you are the non serving partner, try to work out what type of return of serve the receiver likes. Usually players have one or two favourite returns. If the receiver likes soft returns, stand closer to the server. Likewise, if the receiver favours drive returns, wait farther away from the server and keep your racket head up.
  7. Relax! Nothing ruins the serve more than tension. Try to remember that the service is the only shot in Badminton that you have complete control over.