The forehand smash
When to smash, how the movement is built from the legs to the racket, and a few drills to practise it safely.
What it is for
The smash is struck from your rear court towards your opponent's mid-court, downwards. You use it when the shuttle is high enough to hit down, in your attacking zone. It aims to win the rally or to force a very weak reply. You can hit into open space or into the opponent's body.
Step by step
- Get ready. Hold the racket with a V-grip (the one used for hitting hard). Stay relaxed, side-on to the net, and step back to load the rear leg.
- Load. Jump up and slightly forward off the rear leg. In the air, start to rotate, elbow up, and turn the forearm outwards (the "brushing your hair" feeling), so the racket drops behind you with an angle between arm and racket.
- Hit. Keep rotating and throw the racket head at the shuttle, turning the forearm inwards. Reach up and hit in front of the hitting shoulder, with the racket staying in front of the body.
- Finish. Complete the rotation, land and keep the arm relaxed so the forearm can keep turning. Be ready for the next shot.
Common mistakes and fixes
- Hitting behind the head. The shuttle goes up or flat. Reach up and forward; practise hitting a hanging shuttle in front of you.
- Tense arm and gripping too tight. You lose racket-head speed. Stay relaxed until the moment of contact.
- Only using the arm. The power comes from the legs and body rotation first.
- Always the same speed. Vary the pace to throw off the timing of the opponent's return.
- Only smashing, never following up. Prepare for a block or a push after each smash.
Simple practice
- Hit a hanging shuttle at a comfortable height. Jump, throw, hit in front, and see the shuttle go down.
- A feeder underarm-lifts a high shuttle; you step back, load, jump and hit down. Add targets for steeper, more accurate hits.
- Smash, block, block, lift: a sequence that links the smash to the exchange after it.
- In a game, give 3 points instead of 1 when a rally is won with a smash or the shot immediately after it.
Limits
The smash is hard on the shoulder and the lower back, particularly when you do many in a row. Warm up first, build up the number gradually, and do not train through pain. This lesson describes a technical model, not a medical or coaching programme.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.