Master the "smash" in badminton

Master the “smash” in badminton

A badminton smash is used against your opponent’s weak response as it can reach speeds up to 565 km/h. It is a downward attacking shot aimed at winning the rally. 

To execute a perfect smash, position yourself behind the shuttle when making contact, grip the racket near the bottom of the handle, and rotate your hips, torso, and shoulder to create rapid racket head speed, while shifting your body weight forward. 

How to hit a smash in badminton?

To hit a smash a player must follow these few steps: 

  • While hitting a smash a player must jump into the air to deliver a powerful smash on the shuttlecock, ensuring that the player considers both the angle and his/her landing position, which is said to be within the court. 
  • The smash should be executed with full force and straight down into your opponent’s side of the court. 
  • It is most effective when the shuttlecock is high in the air. 
  • The smash is difficult to defend due to its high speed and trajectory which flows downwards. 
  • You can challenge and make it difficult for the opponent to play the shot by aiming at his upper torso, leaving them stunned and difficult to respond. 

What are the different techniques to smash in badminton?

There are different techniques of smash in badminton which are as follows:

Forehand Smash Technique – A forehand smash is an overhead smash in badminton in which the player smashes the shuttle forcefully downwards. Mastering the smash can enhance your game but it is only possible if you have a solid throwing technique or can throw with good speed and angle. A well-executed smash is always challenging for the opponent to return, but you have to be prepared for the counterattack. 

Steps to perform Forehand smashes in badminton: 

  • Start raising your non-racket hand and position it above your chin to achieve a steep angle on your shot. 
  • Shifting your weight onto the back to maintain balance will help you track the downward angle of your shot accurately while reducing the risk of hitting it incorrectly. 
  • Keep your elbows straight and swing the racket in strong motion.
  • The grip on your racket is crucial for a successful smash and a player should stay on his toes ready to play forehand smash at any moment. 

Master the "smash" in badminton

 

Backhand Smash Technique –The backhand smash is a powerful downwards shot hit from the backhand rear court and is hit with a backhand motion rather than a forehand motion like in the other smashes. This is typically more common in singles (or for the lazier players who automatically turn to take a backhand)!

How to execute backhand smash in badminton: 

  • Mastering the backhand grip is crucial, the transition from forehand to backhand grip is very complex and requires awareness of swing, angles, and shots. 
  • Timing is the key, while it is tough for your opponent to return the shot, it’s equally challenging for you to return the smash with the right pace and angle. 
  • Without wasting your time rotate your body so that your back faces the net. 
  • In a forehand smash your weight is balanced on your backfoot and for the backhand smash your weight is balanced on your racket foot. 

 

Jumping Smash In Badminton – A jumping smash is a powerful overhead shot in badminton that’s typically played from the rear court to the opponent’s mid-court. When executed well, it can be difficult for the opponent to return.

How to execute jumping smash in badminton: 

  • You need to act and react quickly, as timing is crucial. Give your opponent little or no time to respond. 
  • The closer you are to the shuttlecock the more power you can generate, and if the shuttlecock is higher it is harder to hit. 
  • Using forehand grip for better control and balance. 
  • While jumping, a player should keep his body firm. 
  • Drive down your racket foot forward for a powerful jump. 
  • A player should keep his racket foot forward to maintain balance. 
  • Anticipating your angles while jumping to ensure your shots land accurately within the service court. 

 

 Best Badminton rackets to smash your opponents:

Now that you have learnt the tricks, let’s finalize the weapons you would need to ace the badminton smash.

  1. Yonex Astrox 77 (Play/Game/Pro) badminton racket 
  2. Yonex Astrox 99 Play badminton racket
  3. Yonex Nanoflare 1000 Z badminton racket
Top 10 badminton rules for beginners

Top 10 badminton rules every beginner should know

Badminton is said to have originated around 2000 years ago in Greece and eventually spread across Europe, Asia, and the world. Today, everyone in the world plays badminton, irrespective of age, and both amateurs and professionals engage in this sport. 

Badminton is played with a racquet in two categories: singles and doubles. A net divides the courts into two halves, and instead of a ball, a feathered shuttlecock is used, making it a distinctive sport. 

Due to the light weight of the shuttlecock, it can be difficult for the players to play outdoors because it can be highly affected by the wind, which is why professional games are played indoors. 

During the game, one player must hit the shuttlecock over the net and into their opponent’s court. The play ends when the shuttlecock lands on the ground. Each rally allows only one stroke over the net, and a game of badminton consists of three games, each played to 21 points. There are five variations in badminton: men’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles, women’s singles, and women’s doubles.

Here are the Top 10 basic rules in badminton for beginners to keep in mind while playing badminton:

  • Like any other sport, a coin toss will start the game. The winner will first select the sides of the court, while the one who lost the toss will get the remaining option. 
  • While the game is on players must avoid touching the net with their racquet or the body.
  • Players cannot carry or rest the shuttlecock on their racquet.
  • Hitting the shuttlecock over the net is not allowed. 
  • The player should hit the shuttlecock diagonally so that the serve can be valid. 
  • Players must not touch any lines on the court until the shuttlecock is struck. The shuttlecock must hit below the waist during a serve. 
  • Winning a rally earns the player a point. 
  • A player wins a rally when the shuttlecock touches the opponent’s court or if the opponent commits a foul. It can happen when a player is unable to hit the shuttlecock over the net or if the shuttlecock gets landed outside the boundaries of the court. 
  • Each side will hit the shuttlecock only once before it crosses the net, and it cannot be hit again in a new movement. 
  • Shuttlecocks that hit the ceilings are considered faults. 

With these basic rules of playing badminton, you will be better prepared to play the game. But there are different rules for singles and doubles categories as well let us have a better look at it. 

Rules and Regulations of Badminton for Singles

In singles categories, two players compete against each other on opposite sides of the court. 

The Serve: The server must keep in mind that while serving it must be executed below the server’s waist. If you serve overarm it will be considered a fault. 

Match Format: The match begins with a score of nil, players cannot choose the sides randomly. 

The server serves from: 

  • Right service court: when the server’s score is even 
  • Left service court: when the server’s score is odd

If the server wins the rally, and scores a point then they will serve from the opposite side. If the receiver wins, and scores a point then they will become the new server, starting from the appropriate sides. 

Scoring system

  • Matches consist of the best of three games, each played to 21 points. 
  • The winner of the previous game will serve first in the new game. 
  • Points can only be scored when the server wins the rally unless it is replayed. 

Faults: 

Faults result in the opponent winning the point and a loss of serve.  

Common faults include: 

  • Missing the shuttle while serving. 
  • Hitting the shuttlecock under the net. 
  • Hitting the shuttle out of the boundary lines. 
  • Touching the shuttle, net with any part of the body or clothing. 

Rules and Regulations of Badminton for Doubles

Coin Toss: The game starts with a coin toss to determine the sides and who will first serve. The winner will serve first in the next game. 

Boundaries: The server must serve from within the white lines diagonally opposite of the service courts. 

Match Format: A doubles match begins with a score of 0-0 with the first serve always from the right side.

Switching sides: 

  • After the end of the first game. 
  • When the first team scores 11 points in the third game. 

Scoring system

  • Matches consist of the best of three games, each played to 21 points. 
  • The winner of the previous game will serve first in the new game. 
  • Points can only be scored when the server wins the rally unless it is replayed.

Faults : 

Faults result in the opponent winning the point and a loss of serve.  

Common faults include: 

  • Missing the shuttle while serving. 
  • Hitting the shuttlecock under the net. 
  • Hitting the shuttle out of the boundary lines. 
Lakshya Sen Creates History, Becomes First Indian Male to Reach Olympic Badminton Semi-Finals

The Diet and Training Regimen of Lakshya Sen

World Junior No. 1 Lakshay Sen’s success was celebrated worldwide as he showed his exceptional badminton skills at the Paris Olympics. His planned diet and training play a major role in helping him perform in such major events. As most Indians believe, Lakshay Sen’s diet consists of home-cooked food made by his mother. 

What diet and training regimen does Lakshya Sen follow?

Home-Cooked Meal Goodness 

For a sportsman, diet is important in helping them achieve their dreams and push all the boundaries. As the Olympics were held in Paris, the food was not the same as the home ground, where Lakshya Sen’s family played such an inspirational role. His parents, Nirmala and Dhirendra Kumar, and his brother Chirag showed their love and encouragement by ensuring that Lakshya Sen gets the same nutritious packed meals that he used to eat in Bengaluru. They stayed in an apartment near the Port de la Chapelle Arena, where the family cooked healthy homemade food for him, which gave Sen the comfort of getting the meal he was accustomed to. 

To ensure the sportsman gets the right food to perform well in the game, his mother Nirmala plans and prepares his meals. The food is prepared with the guidance of Sen’s nutritionist. To ensure that the food is packed with all the goodness, besides the traditional Indian cuisine, his diet includes different cuisines like chicken steak, chicken pasta, and mildly spiced chicken noodle soup. To keep his body fit, Sen has 6-7 moderate proportional meats throughout the day. Carbohydrates, vegetables, and proteins are the major constituents of his balanced diet. The meals are created by keeping his physical health in mind and avoiding processed and packed foods. 

Lakshya Sen Crashes Out of Denmark Open in First Round

The Most Important Meal 

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, which is why it should be healthy and filled with all the goodness to start the day with a bang! When it comes to Sen, he likes to start his day with a smoothie made from fresh food, and he prefers this along with oatmeal or almond milk and dry fruits. This is later followed by a regular breakfast and protein after his intense training session. 

To make sure his intense training schedule is supported, Lakshya Sen drinks protein shakes and has supplements in his diet. As keeping the body hydrated is of utmost importance, his physio regularly sees to it that Sen stays well-hydrated, which is quite important for recovery and to make sure his overall performance is excellent. By avoiding processed foods and making fresh food his priority, he maintains optimal health along with excellent athletic performance. 

40-30-20 Multi-Feed Training 

As we went through the nutritious diet of home-cooked food, now below we will see what his rigorous training session looks like. He works himself through the meticulous training session to make sure he is fit for the match even in the last minutes of the match.

One of the intense drills that he does is the 40-30-20 multifaceted. Now, even though this sounds technical, we have broken it down for you. 

40: Coach continuously feeds the 40 shuttles for Sen to return it back. 

30: There are more than 20 shuttles that are dealt with by Sen. 

20: The end is followed by 30 more shuttles. 

In between every new shuttle throw, Sen gets a 10-second break to catch his breath. This cycle sounds doable, right? However, this is repeated over 10 sets, which pushes Seb’s speed and endurance level, preparing him to face his opponents. His long-time coach, Vimal Kumar, once said that such drills are quite necessary in today’s times as the players have the nature to retrieve quickly and also help in maintaining a fast pace. For better adjustment, the drill is adjusted according to the match scenarios, and Sen’s defensive skills are tested as well. 

This training and a strict diet plan have shown off, as Sen has received the peak VO2 Max level of 62. Top athletes in other famous sports have a high score of 70, which shows that Sen has high cardiovascular fitness. Other than the multi-shuttle drill, Sen engages in 7-8 

hours of training daily, which includes running, gym, and skill improvement. The body does get tired after such an intense session throughout the day, which is why he also ensures that Sen is recovering well with various techniques like hydrotherapy and massages. The training regime is aimed at ensuring that Sen’s stamina outlasts his opponent when the match reaches its tough points. 

Sen has been an inspiration to many as he has proved that hard-working resilience is a way to achieve your dreams. The young athlete has a promising future, as he has the passion and determination that sports ask for. All eyes are set on Sen, as his fans are looking forward to seeing him break all the records.

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