Need help on Smash Technique

You're doing better than I was during my first year of playing, keep it up.

Footwork and racquet carriage are able to be learnt at home, you don't even need a shuttle

Tobias wadenka on youtube had some 20minute "lockdown" videos where he practiced footwork etc at home. They were pretty good.

Keep in mind that if your body is moving backwards while you are trying to hit a shot it's not too effective.

The panhanding you can fix with discipline. Hold the racquet in the correct v / universal / forehand grip to begin with. Then change it to a backhand grip, then back to a forehand grip and check it isn't a panhandle one. If your shot goes off to either side when you are trying to hit it straight, it is likely panhandling.

 

I also commented on your Reddit post. I recommend some shadow swings and also practice throwing shuttles without a racket. Throwing the shuttles is something that I should have done early on when I first started as I think it would have helped me a lot to get the “throwing “ motion of an overhead stroke

 

It might be a better use of your time to practice the two things separately.

1 - Hitting and moving forward. (can use feeder machine for this). Be prepared, behind the shuttle, arm in correct position. Right foot pointing forwards, left foot behind you pointing left or diagonally forward left. Bring your left foot forward, swing the racquet and end up with your left foot infront of your right foot.

2 - Practice the footwork leading into situation described above. Do a splitstep (mini squat), push with your right foot and do one or two chassé steps in the direction you imagine the shuttle is going (forehand side). You should then be sideways on and ready to hit it.

When you are comfortable doing both 1 and 2, but them together. It might be awkward at first, but with a few weeks of practice you should get better at it.

Your shorts clip had you doing it maybe 1 out of 4 shots. The rest of the attempts you end up moving your right foot backwards.

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Have a look at the youtube channel Badminton Insight. Both Greg and Jennie are left handers and you should be able to focus in on the footwork they do.

 

Do you think throwing shuttle is better than throwing a tennis ball?

If so, Why?

 

Simple, Distance. It's impossible to throw a shuttle the whole length of a court. But you could probably through a tennis ball 2-3 court lengths because of the mass of the tennis ball compared to a shuttle.

It's literally muscle memory. Once you have it ingrained into you, it should stay there. When I was first taught it, it did indeed feel unnatural to me. You just have to keep in mind that if you smash with a panhandle, the shot will never go straight (angle of racquet head at point of impact). When you can put together the two tasks I gave you, use your feeder and try your best to do clears or smashes down a straight line (like the tram line). The technique will come to you eventually, assuming you aren't doing anything terribly incorrect

 

Good point.

If it feels awkward one is probably doing it very wrongly.

When I was first learnt it "right"(or kind of right enough!) it felt natural. And before then, it felt awkward.. and it felt awkward because I was doing it very wrongly.. And I think probably it would only feel awkward if doing it very wrongly.

What percentage of people in a club would you say hit their forehand "correctly"?

And Suppose somebody does have a good forehand swing, what level is the rest of their game usually going to be at? I think probably at least intermediate, if not higher!

Often times beginners aspire to be club level and then once they are club level, then playing at a selective club that doesn't accept beginner level players. . But even in intermediate level clubs, what percentage hit their overhead forehand correctly?

 

I see why you'd say that. But if you convinced yourself doing something the right way most of your life is right, and someone corrects you, then it will feel weird when you aren't doing it your old and wrong way.

Depends on the club and environment you are in.

I've played matches for 2 clubs so far. Low league level (Division 3 and 4 with aspirations of doing better). Everyone could do a clear or smash, but some were better than others for various technical reasons.

My social club on Mondays and another social club I play at for fun? There are indeed players that have weak tactical and technical skills. But they all have fun (unless they lose 2-21 etc).

Last week I had a lady I was playing with say to me "I wish I could hit it as hard as you". She's double my age and a left hander and has bad habits (late to shuttle, slow to react stuff like that). So I observed her a bit during ralleys and on every point she had an extended 2nd finger instead of curled round. I made her aware of this and explained the biometric and injury prevention reasons she should try and change it, she seemed pleased with my advice. But I only told her because she asked .

If you're at a serious club with seasoned players, everyone should be capable of hitting forehand shots. It's a basic thing and easy to master the basics.

I like seeing beginners develop over time and enjoying the sport.

 

well that'd be a different kind of thing. A feeling somebody might have of "oh that's strange because i'e never been told to do this before or had anybody explain it like this before".. Like they're a bit closed minded and think there's only one way or something like that.. That's a very different feeling somebody might have of doing some movement and it's not working and it doesn't feel like it should work either and that's 'cos it's wrong. And the latter happens a lot too.

Also if somebody is shown the right movement well, and with a good explanation, then as long as they're not so closed minded, Then, if the movement doesn't feel right, it might be for the reason I suggested!

I didn't say can people do a clear or a smash!!!! Obviously most or at least lots can in intermediate level clubs.

What I wrote was "overhead forehand correctly"

As you may know it has often been said that male players will often "muscle it". (though it's possible to be so wrong technically so as to be unable to even do that).

Yes they can do the overheads , clears end to end.

But would you describe them as doing the overhead forehand correctly?

Some people that post here asking for correction may well be able to hit a clear end to end, but they will ask for advice and be told they are doing this/that wrong. And that's even when they can clear it end to end. Nobody here in those situations tells them they are hitting it correctly... They tell them all sorts of things they are doing wrong!

So when I asked you "What percentage of people in a club would you say hit their forehand "correctly"? " I'm not asking can they hit it a clear or can they hit a clear end to end!