Forehand smash technique

Setup

1. Warm up the shoulders thoroughly before any smashing.
2. On the far side, mark two target boxes a stride behind the short service line: one in the middle and one down the hitter's forehand line.
3. The hitter starts at base; the coach lifts from the far side, standing by the net post, well out of the line of the smash.
4. Nobody stands in front of the targets; waiting players queue off court to the side.

How it runs

1. The coach lifts high to the hitter's forehand rear court.
2. The hitter gets behind the shuttle, smashes down into a box, then moves forward towards base.
3. 6 to 8 smashes a turn, then rotate. Keep the total number modest and build it up over weeks.
4. Count the smashes that land in a box.

Coaching points

• Move behind the shuttle early so it can be hit in front, not overhead.
• Contact further in front than for a clear, with the racket face angled down.
• Throwing action: hips then shoulders rotate, the elbow leads, the forearm rotates and the racket snaps through.
• Steep beats fast: a smash that falls steeply is harder to return than a fast flat one.
• Follow through across the body and step forward ready for the reply.

Common mistakes

• Getting under the shuttle, so the smash goes flat or long.
• Arm only, with no hip and shoulder rotation.
• Trying to jump smash before the standing smash is consistent.
• Watching the smash instead of moving forward.