Badminton Smash

Badminton Smash is the most potent of all badminton shots. There is almost no defense against a well executed smash. It can be played both on the forehand and backhand sides.

The smash is a shot hit with power and speed downward to your opponent's court. The angle and the steepness of the shuttle's trajectory will make it hard for your opponent to retrieve.

Contact the shuttle further in front of your body than the clear or the drop shot. The optimum hitting zone is located somewhere above the central area of your racket.

You can also jump and smash the shuttle at the same time to generate more power and create a steeper angle for the shot. This will give your opponent even lesser time to react. As this is a more advance shot, master the normal badminton smash first before taking on any jumping smash.

The feeling of being able to smash powerfully and kill off a point is really great. But try not to get carried away. As the badminton smash requires a lot of energy, use it only when the opportunity arises. For example, a weak clear from your opponent to your midcourt area. Do not tire yourself out unnecessarily.

Forehand Smash

The forehand overhead smash is similar to the action of throwing a ball. If you can throw a ball well, you shouldn't have problem playing this stroke. You can always practice throwing with a shuttle first before stepping on to the court.

Here are some pointers for playing a forehand overhead smash.
- Adopt the forehand grip.
- Turn your body and stand sideways to the net with your non-racket shoulder facing the net.
- Shift your weight on to your rear foot.
- Bend your elbow and lock your wrist preparing to swing forward.
- Raise your non-racket hand and point at the shuttle to improve timing and balance.
- Contact the shuttle as high as possible and in front of your body using a strong throwing action as if you are going to throw your racket high and forward through the air.
- Straighten your elbow as you hit the shuttle.
- Snap down your wrist at the point of impact giving the shuttle extra power and angle towards your opponent's court.
- Follow through with your racket and shift your weight from your rear foot to your front foot.
- Move back to your base position.

Backhand Smash

It is difficult to play a backhand overhead smash. Even experienced players have problem with this badminton stroke. Try to play an 'around the head forehand smash whenever possible.

However, it is important that you know how to play the backhand overhead smash. There are times when you just can't play the shuttle with your forehand.

Here are some pointers for playing a backhand overhead smash.
- Adopt the backhand grip.
- Turn your body so that your back is facing the net.
- Lead and shift your weight to your racket foot.
- Lift your arm from the shoulder with the forearm parallel to the floor.
- Hold the racket across your body with the racket head pointing down.
- Keep the racket arm and elbow close into your body.
- Hit the shuttle at a high point of contact and in front of your body.
- Flick down your wrist powerfully at the shuttle.
- A follow through is not needed.
- Move back to your base position.

Around the Head Smash

This is actually a forehand overhead badminton smash played at the non-racket side of your body. Try to use it whenever play permits as a forehand stroke is always better and more powerful than a backhand.

The techniques for hitting this shot are about the same as the forehand overhead stroke with only some minor adjustments.

Here are some pointers for playing a forehand around the head smash.
- Stand squarely to the net.
- Bend your upper body sideways to your non-racket side as your arms come through.
- Shift your weight to your non-racket leg.
- Bend your elbow and bring the racket behind your head.
- As you swing forward, your forearm will brush the top of your head before straightening.
- Transfer your body weight rapidly as your non-racket leg pushes your body back to your base position.

An important thing to note here is that whether you are playing a badminton smash, a drop shot or a clear, your wrist plays a key part in creating deception.

The basic preparations for these badminton shots are the same, only the angle of the racket face, the speed of the racket head and the point of impact is different. Keep your opponent guessing.

Practice hard on your Badminton Smash and use it wisely. Be patient and wait for the opportunity to strike.

Source : badminton-information.com

The Importance of Stretching

Badminton Stretching

Legs
Quads/Front Upper Leg Stretch
Hold on to a wall or chair for support. Using your right hand, reach back for your right foot, placing your hips forward while maintaining your other leg straight. Hold. Return to start position. Repeat using the other hand and leg.

Hamstring/Back Of Upper Leg Stretch
Stand in front of low bench or stair step. Put your left heel on it. Put your right hand on your right leg for support. Lower and lean forward from your hips until you feel a stretch on the back of your left leg. Hold. Return to start position. Repeat using the other leg.

Calf/Lower Leg Stretch
Hold on to a wall or chair for support. Put your left foot behind your right foot. Bend right foot slightly, straighten your left foot with your heel down and move your hips forward. Repeat using the other leg.


Back & Core
Low Back Stretch
Lie flat on your back. Bend knees, gently pull both knees toward chest, lift feet off the floor. Hold. Then relax.

Back Cat Stretch
On hands and knees, lift head and sag back. Hold. Then lower had down and arch your back. Hold.

Outer Hip Stretch
Lie flat on your back. Flex right knee across the body. Pull toward the shoulder. Repeat using the other side.

Torso Stretch
Lie on your stomach. Place hands as if doing a push-up. Raise upper body, keep hips and lower body on the floor.

Upper Body
Posterior/Rear Shoulder Stretch
Relax shoulder, bring left arm across the chest, parallel to the floor. Put the right hand on the left upper arm and gently move it towards the body. Repeat using the other arm.


Anterior/Side Shoulder And Chest Stretch
Standing upright, put your right palm against the wall, rotate your torso away from the hand until you feel a stretch on your shoulder and chest.

Neck Stretches
Stand upgright. With right arm at the side, bend your chin towards your chest, turning away from the left shoulder. Using your hand, stretch away from the right shoulder. Repeat on the opposite side using the other arm.


Arms
Biceps/Front Upper Arm Stretch
Stand upright. Stand an arm-away from a wall or fixture you can hold on to. Face away from the wall and reach backwards to the wall or fixture. Hold. Repeat using the other arm.

Triceps/Back Upper Arm Stretch
Bend the left elbow, use the right hand to bring the bent elbow up and behind the head until you feel the stretch on the outside portion of your left elbow. Hold. Repeat using the other arm.

Source : www.bcmi.ph

Taufik Hidayat

Taufik Hidayat (born August 10, 1981, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia) is an Indonesian badminton player. He is a former world champion and a former Olympic champion in men's singles. He has also won the Indonesian Open six times (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006).

When he was young, he joined the SGS Club, a badminton club in Bandung. Trained by Iie Sumirat, Taufik learned his characteristic confusing and tricky net play there.

Hidayat played badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in men's singles, defeating Hidetaka Yamada of Japan and Wong Choong Hann of Malaysia in the first two rounds. In the quarterfinals, Hidayat defeated Peter Gade of Denmark 15-12, 15-12. Hidayat advanced to the semifinals, in which he beat Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand 15-9, 15-2. Playing in the gold medal match, he defeated Korean Shon Seung-mo 15-8, 15-7 to win a rare gold medal for Indonesia at the Olympics. In August 2005, he defeated world number one Lin Dan of China, 15-3, 15-7 in the men's singles final of the IBF World Championships.

Hidayat's qualities are his backhand (Taufik is most famous for his backhand smash, which has been recorded at over 200 km/h), forehand drop shot (reverse slice in particular), forehand jump smash, net-play, smooth footwork and occasional deceptive shots (such as his fake smash and fake drive, both of which he plays as drop shots). He has weaknesses in is his propensity to make errors, his impatience with loud crowds and his penchant for returning a net shot with a net shot, even when the opponent is dangerously close to the net. His style mirrors Zhao Jianhua to some reviewers. Hidayat is known for his relaxed smooth playing style. His lack of consistency and mental fortitude are often points of criticism.

On top of his amazing profile, he also has an impressive record. He was the number 1 seed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, at the age of 19. He also won his first Indonesia Open title when he was just 18. He had got to the All England final when he was 17.

Taufik was defeated three times by Lin Dan in 2006, at the Thomas Cup semi-final tie, Japan Open final and the Hong Kong Open where Taufik forfeited the match after what he thought was a bad line call at 4-1 to Lin in the first game. Taufik defeated Lin Dan in the final of the 2006 Asian Games individual event on December 9 after losing twice to him in three days in the team event preliminaries and semi-finals. Taufik has an 8-4 losing record at present against Lin Dan, his ultimate rival.

To date, Taufik is the only male badminton player in the world ever to win the Olympics (2004) and the World Badminton Championship that took place in the following year (2005).

Hidayat has a wife, Ami Gumelar. She is the daughter of Agum Gumelar, who was KONI's former President, former PSSI's President and former minister of the Indonesian government. They married on 4 February 2006 and have a daughter, born in August 2007. His hobbies include swimming,watching movies, sleeping, loitering and also playing rugby. The name of Hidayat's parents are Abu Harmee (his father) and Enak (his mother). Generally people call him Taufik.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

Badminton Backhand

Badminton Backhand

The first thing you will want to learn in the mechanics of your badminton backhand is how to grip your racket. The best grip on your racket for an over the head backhand will be to have the flesh of your thumb on a bevel that allows the racket to face squarely at the shuttle. As for your racket position, the primary goal is to hit the shuttle before it passes your body completely. The racket in your hand should be pointing in the upward position and the hand you hold the racket in should be close to the opposite shoulder. At this point your upper body will be rotated away from the oncoming shuttle.

Now you have the grip and the position down you want to focus on the mechanics of the badminton overhead backhand stroke. The actual stroke in this swing will consist of your hip, shoulder and elbow working together to connect the racket with the shuttle. The stroke ends with a powerful twist of the forearm to the point of the racket squarely meeting the shuttle in mid air with your racket arm fully extended.

Incredible Forehand Grip Backhand Shots

Tilt to backhand side overhead drive
This move is very useful for answering quick drives to your backhand side, and the aim is to use even more velocity to overcome the velocity of your opponent's shot. The characteristics of this stroke is that it's fast, powerful, and flies straight at the opponent's chest, making this move an effective counter to fast drives to the high backhand side.

Tilt to backhand side overhead smash block
This stroke is to use to return relatively flat smashes to the backhand side. The characteristics of this block are that it can react very quickly and the power of the return shot can be adjusted. It's possible to clear to the opponent's backcourt or drop it into an empty corner, so this stroke can be used to turn the tides and start a counterattack.

Behind the back, between the legs smash block
The situation for using this stroke is that the opponent's smash is close to your body but your racket is not in front of you. In this situation you can put your racket behind your back and between your legs in an attempt to block the smash.

Behind the back waist position smash block
Another "trick shot" that's seen in world class competitions, this stroke involves putting your arm behind the back so that the racket head is on the waist of your backhand side. One of the most famous practitioners of this move is famous Indonesian player Taufik Hidayat, and bellows are some videos of him using this amazing skill.

Near-net forehand diagonal drop on the backhand side
The signature move of famous Danish player Peter Gades, the net shot involves using a forehand stroke to return a drop shot to the backhand side. Instead of returning the shot with the backhand, you let the shuttle fall a little further and then swing backwards with a forehand stroke, thereby dropping the bird to the other corner.

Turned-around baseline underhand drive
When the opponent clears to your backhand baseline corner, there will be times when you won't be able to reach the optimum position for hitting the return clear. Instead of trying to hit the backhand clear, you take one more step towards the bird so that your back is facing the net. At that moment you can use a hard, underhand forehand swing to drive the shuttle back towards your opponent and catch them off guard.

Turned-around baseline underhand cross-court drop
Similar to the above technique, the only difference is that this stroke will attempt to drop the shuttle in the diagonally opposite corner near the net.

Baseline backwards between the legs drive
The final trick shot technique in this article, this stroke is used when the shuttle is falling from high path towards the baseline. With your back turned towards the net, you run towards the shuttle and let it fall to your knees and then use a forehand stroke the drive the shuttle backwards through your legs and towards the opponent's court.

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