The smash is the most aggressive shot in badminton. The world's fastest badminton smash was 332kph (206mph), hit by Fu Haifeng of China in 2005. (Note that faster smash speeds of over 400kph (250mph) have been recorded unofficially during smash speed tests used for promotional purposes).

Smashes are used differently in singles and doubles. In badminton singles the smash should be used sparingly – only when you are confident of a weak return.

In badminton doubles you should smash more often – after all, it's your partner's job to cover the strong returns!

The technique for smashing is very similar to serving in tennis or throwing a ball overarm.

How to Smash Effectively

The process of smashing involves moving into position, preparing for the shot and then hitting the smash.

1. Moving into position: Footwork

You cannot play a shot effectively unless you are in position in good time – you need time to come to a halt and centre your balance before you try and take the shot.

2. Preparing – the Ready Position

Your body should be relaxed – tense muscles move more slowly than loose ones. Use the forehand grip (same as in tennis) – keep a relaxed grip too!

Stand side on, so that your non-racket foot and shoulder are towards the direction you wish to smash.

If you are positioned correctly, you should be standing so that the shuttlecock would drop down the back of your neck, were you to let it fall.

Your non-racket arm should point up towards the shuttlecock, while your racket arm should also be raised, with your elbow bent and your wrist uncocked so that your racket is pointing upwards. (picture 1 below). Your weight should be on your back foot.

Ignore the fact that the player is jumping in this picture - follow the same motion, but instead of jumping, take a step forward as you hit.

You are aiming to hit the shuttlecock at the highest point you can comfortably so – so your arm and racket should be fully extended at the point of impact.

Imagine you are ‘throwing’ your racket through the shuttlecock. Your muscles should be loose up to the point of impact. Don’t try to hit the shuttlecock hard! This will cause your muscles to tighten. You may find it hard to believe – but the smoother and more fluid the motion, the faster and more consistent the smash will be.

The key principle is to maximise the acceleration of the racket and the weight of your body which you ‘use’ in the shot.

As stated, “Your non-racket arm should point up towards the shuttlecock, while your racket arm should also be raised, with your elbow bent and your wrist uncocked so that your racket is pointing upwards.” (see 1)

You should lead the motion with your non-racket arm, which should start off pointing towards the shuttlecock. As it moves forwards and downwards, your shoulders will rotate (see picture 2). As your shoulders rotate you should simultaneously start to step forward and swing your forearm forward, so that you racket arm and racket leg are moving forward at the same time (3).

As your forearm swings forward, you should ‘cock’ your wrist – tilt it backwards so that your racquet is pointing downwards rather than upwards. Your elbow should also turn so that your racket is pointing behind your back (4).

Then as you swing your arm forward, you should rotate your forearm round and straighten your elbow – so that your arm is straightening out as you ‘throw’ the racket towards the shuttlecock (5).

Just before impact you should flick your wrist, generating extra speed as the racket hits the shuttlecock. The shuttlecock should hit the centre of the racket, with racket flat to the shuttlecock at the point of impact. The racket should face downwards so that the shuttlecock flies at a steep downwards angle over the net.

The point of impact should be slightly in front of you, your arm and racket outstretched so that you hit the shuttlecock as high in the air as possible, but without your arm being hyper-extended – there should still be a slight bend in your elbow to avoid the possibility of injury.

Diagram 6 comes after the impact with the shuttlecock, but if you imagine the racket continuing the line of the arm, that’s the point where it should hit the shuttlecock. Like in the picture on the right.

Your racket should follow through in an arc and come to rest near your non-racket leg – so that your racket arm is across your body (8).

A good follow through maintains your racket speed as you hit the shuttlecock, so that you put the maximum force into the impact. So you should be hitting through the shuttlecock!

Following this technique may feel strange to start with. Try practising in front of a mirror without shuttlecocks until it feels more comfortable. Then get a friend to feed you high lifts so you can practice the smash. Soon you should be hitting the shuttlecock much better and harder than before!

One last thing that will help is watching this slow motion video of Fu Haifeng smashing. As I mentioned, he's hit the fastest recorded badminton smash, so he knows what he's doing!

It's a jump smash but the arm movement is the same - watch how his arm coils and uncoils as he smashes it.

If you wish to learn more about badminton,and see more videos then please visit my new blog, BadmintonDoubles.com.

Also see 'How to Return a Badminton Smash'.