Smash Defence
How to do smash defence
in doubles, singles also mixed doubles
if a player has not got confident of defencing smash
he she cannot play game confidently
before I explain the techniques of movement
and racket skills
I would like to discuss about the positioning first
does not matter how good racket skill a player has
if he is finding or standing wrong place
then they cannot make good smash defence
the question is where to stand
I lift shuttle to opponent
then I have 3 choices
number 1 - from the net, rear court I stand exactly center
about here
or I stand little bit forward
or I stand little bit backward
what is your answer
what you think
some people some players say should be exactly centre
some might say little bit forward because they can attack it
some might say little bit backward
in my view when shuttle is in the air
in normal shot
its better to stand
not exactly centre
one step backward
that will be the right place
in defencing opponent smash
reason 1 - If I stand centre or little bit closer
the speed of smash will be much faster
also the opponent smash can come to my body
also to my floor
so the area, I have to defence will be much wider
but if I stay little bit further back
I can see shuttle better also the distance
between my opponent to me will be little bit longer
so I can defence it
but if smash come to here in this position
I don't have to hit it because it will go out
so the area I have to ready, prepare to defence
will be much narrow than when I am standing center or front
have a look
I am standing exactly center
between the net and end line
what happens
shuttle is coming too fast
the angle is too wide
if I stay little bit backward about here
then
easier
shuttle will come around this area
so my racket is there, then most of them
I can return it quite comfortably
if my opponent smash here then that's out
so not to worry about this area
and the third reason why the player should be not standing center
rather one step backward is this
some might say Lee if you stay little bit backward
what happens to the net
too much gap
ok no drop shot will land here
most of drop shot will land around the service line
so from here to the service line is not too far
and most important reason why player should stand
little bit backward rather than center
or forward is this
from my body my arm is this long, that's in front
from here I have racket
so from my body I have this much length
in front of me, so if I am standing center here
actually I am taking shuttle here
which is too quick
if I stay one step backward
my racket will be center or little bit forward
if my arm is this short, my racket is this short
then may be exactly center will be the right
but because of this player should be standing backward
much easier
now, posture
the most difficult shot to defence is to the body
so the player's posture should be smaller and crouched
and looking that way, rather than like this
have a look
if I do that I can see shuttle better
like this
but if I make posture like that, like this
then
much slower
so posture, upper body, lower body together
smaller, crouched
then my weakness will be covered by my racket
now
the racket position
when shuttle is in the air
I don't know whether my opponent will smash or drop shot or clear
most dangerous shot in that situation is smash
so my racket should be some where here
where shuttle comes
when I am ready like this
and opponent hit clear, I have time to go
from here, when my opponent do drop shot
I have time to move forward
but if I do that, racket is high
when shuttle is in the air
opponent court and opponent smashes it
then I don't have time to put my racket down and hit it
no chance
so the right posture the racket should be lower
have a look please
some where here
like this
like that
now
step
in defencing smash, how to make the movement
all the movements same
after my opponent made shot
I must do the initial
identifying step of where
have a look please
watch my feet carefully please
ready look
where - here
rather than
just standing
standing
and hit
standing and hit
no rhythm
look and hit
look and go
look, look
if you are looking all the match
real match
no player stand still and make move
every single player, they do that
every single time
now, racket skills
racket skill
how to hit the shuttle
same, in this technique
the finger power is very crucial rather than wrist
have a look what I mean
smash backhand side please
this is finger
this is wrist
too big, too slow
forehand same
this is finger power
rather than
wrist
this finger
for the fast, sharp stroke skills this finger power is needed
look, in general posture, my racket should be away from my body
not here
please compare
away
here
there
now not here, here
here
so too slow
put your racket away
so you can make quicker actions
ok once more
have a look please
the rhythm of movement
steps, how to start, how to stop and how to come back
watch my feet please
smash please
go
ready
move - hit
look - hit
finally, I know many players
they worry about their backhand because their backhand is weak
so when they are ready
they don't ready 50-50
they ready 70-30
so when shuttle comes here
they do that
I know some of the top international players they do that
but in my personal view that is not ideal
why?
from here, limited shot I can make
block or drive
but if I can do that
I can do across block, straight block
across drive, lift
I have much more choices
this one is limited
if this players opponent know
he is doing that
then he will smash here and he will do that again
so that is not ideal or that's not the way
trying to do
the way trying to do is this
here
center
50-50
and the mind of this player should be like very deep lake
because its so deep there is no sound
no panic
the players they cannot defence their smash
not only because of their lack of skills
but more because they panic
so they move before
rather than very calm and wait
look and hit
have a look please
smash any side please
look
look - hit
where - here
look - hit
rather than
make this shot
like gambling
already decision
yeah ready for backhand, that's lucky
ok
that's ok
but what happens if I do that
if shuttle comes here, problem
ready here
there
it will be much better, from here
there
so ready for both ways
I know its difficult but it will be the way
to train, rather than
limit yourself for just backhand
by this way your ability will be limited
because of this
so make your mind very calm and wait
wait, wait, wait
until you actually see the shot and then make movement
finally, the racket actoin
look ready
shuttle comes to the backhand then don't go backward
from here go forward
could you throw shuttle by hand please
have a look
yeah here
look ready shuttle comes, they try to hit hard
so they bring racket backwards
like this
because its there
shuttle comes to you more so its difficult to hit it
look, compare this one
do like this or
there
look here
there
look here
rather than
look
same forehand
ready
not here
not there
look ready
here
ready here
ready there
so, I would like to say the final word in this video
the technique, foot work is secondly important
number 1 - in order to be better player
playing better skills, better technique
the mind
the hunger, that is number 1
have a look again please
so, when this player practice
it should be like this
smash please
seriousness
ok, ready - hit
look - hit
rather than
casual
two different badminton
it does not matter the level
what matters is the mind
thank you I hope you enjoyed and you find it beneficial
thank you