SMASHING IT! - PART 2

(The smash mechanics seen step-by-step. Drawings by Badmintonian)

Here we can see how the smash is done. Let us further analyze the steps.

1. The player takes a ready stance. Notice the racquet up position for easy blocking of any incoming shot or easy positioning for a return shot. Take note also of the feet which are slightly raised off the floor for easy movement or springiness.

2. The player assumes a ready position; an aim, as it were. Left hand/arm acts as balancer while racquet arm is ready to whip the birdie - they form a capital "U" with the shoulder or the bottom and sides of a box. The right foot moved behind and weight is transferred to it.

3. Immediately before the shot is taken player cocks the racquet by dropping it behind the back. Notice how deep the racquet head is. This will give momentum to the shot when the racquet head is thrown up at high speed.

4. Simultaneously, he turns his right hip and shoulder toward the birdie/net, whips his right forearm up and locks his elbow that brings the racquet head up, then snaps the wrist to the direction of the birdie, making contact with it for an explosive shot. Observe that the point of contact with the birdie is above and infront of the player and notice the downward and forward direction of the racquet face. The body weight shifted to the left foot.

5. Kapow! the shot sends the birdie steeply into the opponent's court. The stroke continues downward for the follow-through for added power.

SMASHING IT!

(Lin Dan executing a smash)

The smash is said to be the ultimate shot in badminton, because when executed with power and precision it usually ends a rally. Even top players are defenseless against a well executed smash. So all of you weekend warriors out there, you might as well include this shot in your array of badminton skills. The following instructions or guides are culled from tons of information about the smash and synthesized to give you, as far as my abilities allow, the clearest possible information about this killer shot.

There are two types of smash: forehand and backhand. Here we will only deal with the forehand - the most common in view of the fact that a lot of players have difficulty doing the backhand, let alone the smash version of it.

As with other forehand strokes, the foundation for the forehand smash is the forehand clear, previously discussed in the post "Clearing with the forehand." For ease of understanding, the pointers here refer to the right handed player so if you're left handed, simply reverse the process with the left hand and it will be the same. Also, the arm that holds the racquet is called the racquet arm or hand, which for our purpose is the right arm, while the other arm (left arm) is the non-racquet arm. Therefore, the right foot is the racquet foot and the left the non-racquet foot.

Here's how it is done:

1. Assume a ready stance. Face the net, feet spread apart at about shoulder width. The right foot is slightly forward. Both feet are raised a little with only the balls touching the court floor to allow you to easily spring into action. It is not a good idea to stand with your feet flat on the floor as it will prevent you from immediately moving into another position.

The racquet should be raised infront of you, crossing your body diagonally where the racquet head is about your left shoulder. You may also want to hold it a little lower to ready yourself for a steep smash. You could hold the racquet with either the forehand or backhand grip, depending on your preference. For a more defensive posture, however, it is advisable to use the backhand grip so it will be easier to block or return a smash.

2. Move to a ready position. As you see the birdie fly off your opponent's racquet, move your right foot back such that you will stand almost sideways to the net. Simultaneously raise your left and right arms above your shoulder while turning your torso to the right; your left arm is now infront of you to act as a balancer and your racquet arm behind you with the racquet head high pass your head. Your weight is now shifted to your right foot.

The way your arms are positioned now is like a capital letter "U" or the sides of a box with the upper parts of your arms and shoulder forming the bottom of the box. You can assume either, but for me I prefer the letter "U" because with my arms higher I avoid the mistake of hitting low.

Of course it is assumed that while doing all these movements your eyes are focused on the incoming birdie.

3. Unwind for the shot. As the birdie comes to the right position, unwind for the shot. The right moment to hit the birdie is ideally at the highest possible height when it is above and infront of you. Take note of the phrase "above and infront of you," which means that the birdie is high up but not directly above you. Rather it is infront of you preferably five to six inches away. This is called a one or 11 o' clock position. A birdie directly above you is at a 12 o' clock position, which is not the position you like to hit the birdie. The reason for this is to allow you to hit down the birdie to the other court, rather than hit it upward as is the case with a clear. It allows you to move toward the birdie with all your weight and stroke for that killer smash. Also, when you hit the birdie make sure it is along your right shoulder, because if the birdie is wide away from your shoulder your shot will not be as powerful and may hurt your shoulder. So, the right position is above and infront of you along the right shoulder.

Having found the right position of the birdie, you are now ready to take the shot by:

a) Cocking the racquet, which is done by dropping the head deep along your back;
b) Turning your torso to the left or toward the net;
c) Unwinding your racquet from its cocked position by whipping your forearm upward toward the birdie (your elbow is now locked - meaning your racquet arm is straight up, as can be seen from Lin Dan's picture above);
d) Snapping your wrist so that the racquet face (stringed area) contacts the birdie in an explosive manner (For the wrist movement, see the video in the post "The Wrist Action");
e) Allow your swing to continue naturally downward for the follow-through until your racquet ends up either to the left or right side of your body.

Normally, the racquet head ends up to the left side of your body as a result of the turning action of your torso to the left or toward the net. In other players the swing may end up to the right side of the body. There is no problem with either case. What is important is do not stop your stroke upon contact with the birdie; make sure there is a follow-through for added power to your shot. Also, immediately after the follow-through be sure to assume back your ready stance to prepare for any return shot by your opponent.

Step a) is done immediately before hitting the birdie. It will be a fast action where you will normally see the racquet in but a blur when a good player executes it during a game. This dropping of the racquet head is a cocking action that supplies power to the shot. It is also done simultaneously with steps b) to e). Steps c) to e) are done in immediate succession or in one continuous motion. Make no mistake, these steps are but a breakdown of the shot; you may do them one by one to make sure you are properly doing each movement, but in actual application these are all done simultaneously and in succession - in one smooth and continuous flow.

Furthermore, as you do steps a) to e), you are doing a forward motion where your weight shifts to your left or non-racquet foot. It is also alright if your racquet foot moves forward and lands in front as you execute the smash. Now, you might be asking what happens to your left arm throughout this whole movement. You don't have to worry much about it as it will naturally drop and get out of the way as you perform the shot.

Notice in these steps that it is not only the wrist snap that provides power to your shot, but the twisting of your torso through your hips, the shoulder turn, the cocking of the racquet, whipping of the forearm and the weight shifting forward. All these contribute to the power behind the smash. Seasoned players who have developed powerful wrists, though, could still deliver a fatal smash even with the wrist snap only if they find themselves out of position.

There is a variation to the forehand smash in what is called an overhead smash. The overhead smash is done with the birdie being hit on the left side of the body, along the left shoulder, as when the birdie is sent to your backhand side. Instead of the forearm traveling straight up along the right shoulder, it will pass along the back of the head from its cocked position. This shot is done as a substitute to a backhand shot, especially if the player has a weak backhand. But even if your backhand is good it is still preferable to use this shot as the forehand is still more powerful, like what Lin Dan does who sparingly uses his backhand.

There is also the jump smash, but for now this will not be tackled as it is an advance shot already.

Finally, the smash uses a lot of energy so if you are not in tip-top physical condition or your opponents have strong smash defenses, use it sparingly; as much as possible use it only when it will deliver a kill as when the birdie is high up in midcourt when the opponent delivers a giveaway shot. But if your opponents are not as good in returning smashes and you have that reserve of energy, by all means smash whenever there is chance for this will put you always on the offensive and your opponent on the defensive. In doubles, even if the opponents can return your smashes there will be times when they will make weak returns that set them up for an indefensible smash by your partner who is positioned in front. So a smash is not only intended to deliver an instant kill but also to force your opponents make weak returns or giveaway shots.

For an illustration, click on the link below and check the video tutorial to see the smash in motion. Remember, there will be variations in what you will see from what have been discussed here. In this video the player jumps a little and the racquet is positioned differently in the unwinding for the shot. Focus on the racquet and arm movements as the shot is delivered.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-8QlW8_PdYbw/badminton_technique_forehand_smash/

VIDEOS ON SERVING

For a better understanding of the serve mechanics, check out the following videos on You Tube:

1. Low backhand serve: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iinFT878Zs

2. Low forehand serve: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAwKKcG48H4

In viewing these videos, you may notice a little variation from what I said in my post "Serving to win," but the differences aren't that many. The variation usually comes in the style or preference of a particular player. Always remember that there are no absolute rules in the way things are done in badminton; there are only the basics. Beyond these basics, individual preferences may come in, which would account for the differences in the execution of the movements. So don't get confused.

SERVING TO WIN

In this illusration, A1 is the server (serving from the right or serving to the left) in a doubles game and B1 is the receiver. The line infront of A1 near the net is the short service line, the first line behind on the back is the long or back service line for doubles and the second or last line in the back is the long or back service line for singles, the first line on A1's right side is the singles sideline and the second line is the doubles side line. The line on A1's left side is the middle line. In serving, A1 should stay only on the darker shaded box. For a proper serve, A1 should make the birdie land only on the darker shaded box where B1 is. (Illustration from Wikimedia)


Service initiates the game in badminton. Learning how to serve properly and effectively is important in a game, as it may either cost you a point or win one. There are different kinds of service, and there are two types of games where service is applied. The different kinds of service are:

1. Low serve - done by sending the birdie just after the receiver's front service line (see the court illustration);

2. High serve - done by sending the birdie just before the receiver's long or back service line; and
3. Drive serve - done by driving the birdie straight toward the receiver.

The two types of games to which a service is applied are singles (one person vs. one person) and doubles (two persons vs. two persons) games.

Basic Rules of the Serve

a) According to the Word Badminton Federation rules, followed in all pro tour, the birdie must be below the waistline when serving. The waistline is determined to be the imaginary line below the lowest rib cage of the body. Serving with the birdie higher than this level can result in a wrong serve.

b) Serving is done by sending the birdie diagonally to the other court.

c) The birdie must land within the front service line and the long or back service line (the inside line on the back of the court for doubles; the outer line for singles). If you're serving on the left (which means you are on the right side of your court) the birdie must also land within the sideline (the outer line for doubles; the inner line for singles) on the left side of the court. The opposite is true if you're serving on the right. See the court illustration for better understanding.

How to do the Serve

(Note: the instructions are for right handers. If you're left hander, do the opposite)

Low Serve

1. Using the backhand

a) Stand just before the front service line facing the opposite court diagonally to the left (if serving from the right) or to the right (if serving from the left). Your left foot is slightly behind with the right foot leading . Your toes should be facing the receiver.

b) Hold your racquet using the backhand grip with the racquet head down approximately below your waist, such that your thumb will be facing you and the other fingers facing the receiver.

c) The racquet strings should be facing the receiver.

d) Left hand should be holding the birdie with either the thumb and index finger clipping the edge of the birdie's feathers or the thumb and index finger together with the middle finger wrap around the end of the feathers - all depending on your preference, in my case I prefer the first method. Hold the birdie only lightly. The tip of the birdie or the cork part should be pointing just in front of the racquet strings which will be the point of impact. Remember to keep the birdie below your waistline to avoid a foul serve.

e) Move the racquet slightly to the back or toward your body for the cocking action, drop the birdie, then swing the racquet forward just in time to hit the birdie. Make sure the birdie goes over the net and lands into the receiver's box just after the front service line. If the birdie gets snagged on the net or lands short of the front service line, then you have a fault or error in service.

There is a variation to this serve by flicking the birdie faster or stronger to send it behind the receiver making sure it lands just before the long or back service line (first line for doubles and second line for singles). This is called the flick serve. The motion for both low serve and flick serve are basically the same, differing only in the speed of the racquet as it contacts the birdie. All you need to do for the flick serve is move the racquet back a little farther toward your body and swing it to the birdie faster to send the birdie farther into the back instead of landing only in front of the receiver. The trick of the trade is that if the receiver is too close to the net you want to do the flick serve, and if too far back you want to serve low in front.

In doing a low serve, make sure the birdie crosses just above the net to avoid it from being swiped or dabbed by the receiver who will rush toward your serve. If you do a flick serve make sure the biride flies high enough to the back of the receiver to avoid it from being smashed back. Better yet flick it to the receiver's backhand side (left side if he is right hander or right side if he is left hander).

2. Using the forehand underhand swing

a) Stand in the same position as in the serve using the backhand, only this time move the right foot behind with the left foot leading. Extend your left hand in front of you and hold the birdie with your fingers (either the thumb-index finger clip or thumb-index and middle finger wrap discussed above) leveled just below your chest. The bottom of the birdie is pointing to the floor. Other players prefer to hold the birdie lower below the waistline.

b) Hold the racquet with your right hand using the forehand grip. Bring the racquet back for the cock, drop the birdie, then swing the racquet forward with the racquet head traveling from a downward to an upward swing just in time to hit the falling birdie. The birdie should travel just over and across the net and land on the receiver's box.

This type of low serve is trickier in that you need more control and accuracy to deliver the birdie over the other court with the right height. Poor movement may either make the birdie travel lower thereby getting snagged on the net or higher allowing the receiver to tap it down. It takes more practice to do this.

High Serve

The position and movement is similar to the low serve using the forehand underhand swing, only this time you need to move the racquet back a little farther to give you more cocking action and to swing it forward faster. You need to increase the racquet speed to impart a stronger force that will send the birdie high up behind the receiver. Also, unlike the low serve, your racquet head ends up above your left shoulder for the follow through to your swing. This is important to give you more power to the serve.

In doing this, take care not to overshoot the birdie so that it does not go beyond the appropriate long service line at the back court or you will get an error in service.

Take note of the common error beginners make in doing this service. The error they make is that the racquet face (where the strings are) is facing the ceiling flat when it makes contact with the birdie. This makes the birdie fly high above the server only, not passing to the other court, or even if does it flies high up in front of the receiver instead of behind him, thus allowing a smash back. To correct this, try moving backward and make sure the racquet face is diagonal forward instead of parallel to the ceiling or floor when it makes contact with the birdie; in other words the racquet face is angled up halfway. It is also not correct that the racquet face is 90 degrees or at a right angle to the floor or ceiling as this will make the birdie fly straight into the net instead of over it.

The Drive Serve

Same position as the high serve. But this time, hold the birdie to the right side of your body with the birdie's bottom facing away from the net. Bring the racquet back for the cocking action, release the birdie as you hit it with the racquet by swinging it forward. Note that unlike the high serve, you do not swing the racquet from a downward to and upward motion, but simply from back to front; racquet follows a more sideways motion. This will make the birdie travel a straighter path toward the receiver, hence the name drive serve. To be effective, the birdie should be fast which means you need to increase your racquet head speed.

One final note. In serving, do not hurry. Take your time so that your service can be planned well and executed properly. Who knows you could probably serve an ace and win you a point instantly.

SHUTTLER NOTES - Lin Dan upsets Lee Chong Wei in the All England Badminton Open

(photo from Xinhua/AFP)

China's Lin Dan reprised his 2008 Olympic gold victory over world number one Lee Chong Wei by giving him another stunning defeat in the recently concluded All England Badminton Open in the men's singles event. In his fourth men's singles victory in the prestigious Birmingham tournament, Lin Dan defeated the Malaysian shuttler 21-19, 21-12.

Although top seeded Lee was obviously saddened by his new defeat he promised to work harder next time and find ways to break Lin Dan. According to Lee, Lin Dan played even better than in the Beijing Olympics and was more fast and aggressive in his attacks.

China also swept the women's singles and all doubles event, making it the first country since Denmark in 1948 to win all gold. This is also the first time that the Chinese team bagged all categories in an overseas tournament.

THE WRIST ACTION

They say that badminton is all wrist. This is, however, not an entirely accurate statement. As you can see from the previous post about the forehand clear, several parts of the body are involved: hips, shoulder, elbow, and wrist. All these are involved in the generation of power for your stroke. Former RP team coach Butch Oreta says that the notion that badminton is all wrist must have come from the experience during a fast-pace game where a player is not able to perform all the movements (shoulder and hip turn), leaving only the wrist to do the job.

That being said, wrist action, nevertheless, is important in having an effective stroke. The first video (shown below) shows the wrist action in a forehand clear. Notice the sideways movement of the wrist as opposed to the up-and-down movement of the wrist in the second video. The second video shows the panhandle grip (so-called because the hand mimics the handling of a frying pan) and this wrist movement is applied when hitting the birdie while floating just above the net in what is known as a net kill. The wrist action in the forehand clear starts with the dropping of the racquet head behind your back which provides the cocking action for maximum power, then followed by the uncocking of the wrist together with the full extension of the arm. Note that the stroke does not end with the racquet head at the top as shown on the video, this is just for demonstration purpose. In actual game the racquet head ends down for the follow-through, which is equally important for adding power to your shots.

The speed you impart to the racquet head with the movement of your wrist from its cocked to its uncocked position also determines the force and type of your shot. Reduce the speed of your racquet head to do a drop shot. Increase it for a deep clear, and do it even faster for a smash. As will be shown later, the mechanics of the forehand clear is the foundation for other high forehand strokes such as the smash and drop shots.