Smash shot: “Hard-hit overhead shot that forces the shuttle sharply downward. Badminton's primary attacking stroke.”(Badminton Ottawa, 2015). 

The Badminton Smash is the most aggressive and effective shot in badminton and is typically utilised by a player to “seal the deal” against their opponent (Badminton-information, 2012). If performed correctly, the smash shot is almost impossible to return. This particular badminton skill can be initially challenging and requires correct timing and technical control of the body. There are several significant features that are to be considered whilst performing the movement which include, balance, body form and the height/speed/angle of release (Waddell & Gowitzke, 2000). In a visual sense, the flawless badminton smash would see the athlete standing sideways to the net with the racket held overhead. From here the athlete jumps, whilst swinging the racket hand forwards hitting the shuttle in a downward motion, landing on the opposition’s court (Badminton-information, 2012). However, a biomechanical analysis can further enhance the badminton players and coaches understanding of the biomechanical principles involved when performing a badminton smash shot, whilst simultaneously constructing further knowledge that may be useful within other skills of the sport. From a biomechanical perspective, significant considerations include force summation, momentum, velocity, balance, centre of gravity, levers, projectile and trajectory, height/speed/angle of release (Waddell & Gowitzke, 2000).

Figure 1 (Proddatur Municipal Indoor Shuttle Stadium, 2015)

The Answer

In order to understand the mechanics that enable athletes to perform the badminton smash shot, there are numerous biomechanical principles that must be comprehended.  To do this, the information is divided into the following subheadings:

• Preparation Phase
• Execution Phase 
• Follow through

Preparation Phase

The preparation phase consists of the player preparing for the shot he/she is about to perform. Within this phase there are several performance-based actions that will assist with the players ability to perform the smash shot using the optimal technique. To maintain balance throughout the shot, it is critical to retain a good base of support. The base of support is the area within an outline of all ground contact points (Whiting & Rugg, 2015). Players can increase the base of support by widening their stance, which in turn lowers their centre of gravity and provides maximum balance and stability. In order to proficiently combine the benefits of a wide base of support, a player’s line of gravity should pass through their base of support (Burkett & Carr, 2010). For example, when setting up for a smash shot, the players body must retain a sideways stance with the rear foot back and parallel to the back line, the body will be slightly bent and the centre of gravity will be over the base of support in order to remain balanced for the jump.

Figure 2 Line of gravity passing through base of support. By maintaining a balanced stance in preparation for the shot, the player is in an optimal position to execute maximum momentum into their shot which is needed when proceeding to the execution phase.

Execution Phase

The Summation of Forces is a significant aspect in executing an optimal badminton smash shot and can be defined as “the sum of all forces, generated to each body part” (Sports training adviser, 2009). Newtons Second Law of acceleration states, “The acceleration of an object is proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to the mass of the object” (Blazevich, 2010). For example, the velocity and acceleration of the shuttlecock is dependent on the speed and force of the last portion of the body at the time of contact, which in this case is the lower arm and wrist.  The force must be generated using as many parts of the body possible and in correct sequence by using the largest muscles first followed by the smallest muscles last, but fastest (Sports training adviser, 2009). When executing a jump smash, the force begins from the thighs, hips and abdominals as a result of the jump. The force is then transferred to the chest, shoulder and upper arm and lastly, the force is transferred to the lower arm, wrist and the racquet, ultimately passing the force onto the shuttle through the impact of the racquet (Rasmussen, 2012). The summation of forces in a smash shot allows for the player to produce more momentum at the racquet head. Momentum is the quantity of motion and can me determined by multiplying the mass of a body by its velocity (momentum= mass x velocity) (Blazevich, 2010).

Movement throughout the body is produced by a system of levers, which are formed by human bones and muscles acting together. Levers are used to increase a small force into a larger force, creating a strength advantage for the player when performing a sporting skill (Behnke, 2015). The badminton smash is a third class lever, as the force is located between the axis and the resistance. For example, when performing a badminton smash, the player is using the bones (humorous, radius, ulna) and muscles (bicep, tricep) within their racquet arm as a lever by extending it to its fullest, allowing for maximum force imparting onto the shuttle for the shot. By increasing the length of the lever, this then increases the range of motion at the levers end, therefore increases the speed of the racket (Auckland & Elliot, 2009). This being said, beginners often start with a shorter racquet in order to decrease the inertia gathered by the racquets, as this can often make the racquet feel heavier and decrease the accuracy of the shot.

There are several factors that influence the direction in which the shuttle moves through the air, these include, speed of release, angle of release and height of release (Blazevich, 2010). In relation to the smash shot, the height of release is the point at which the shuttle makes contact with the racquet and determines the horizontal distance that the shuttle travels, however an increase of the height of release is a significant advantage in playing the smash shot in badminton as it decreases the angle that the racquet makes on contact with the shuttlecock. This creates a steeper angle and makes the shot harder to return for the opponent. Tying in closely with the height of release, the angle of release is another crucial aspect to consider when performing a smash shot as it determines the time the shuttle stays in the air and the horizontal distance that the shuttlecock travels. (World Badminton, n.d). However there are particular aspects to consider that may influence the angle of release. After the shuttle makes contact with the racquet, there is a significant drop in the object due to the aerodynamic structure of the shuttlecock (solid end is heavy and cone end is light), resulting in a pull of gravity on the solid end of the object (World Badminton, n.d).

In order to gain maximum velocity when performing a smash shot and to ensure that the shuttlecock travels at an appropriate height to proceed over the net, Newtons First Law is applied. Newtons First Law states that, “an object will remain at rest or continue to move with constant velocity as long as the net force equals zero” (Blazevich, 2010). In a badminton smash shot, this means that if the shuttlecock is in a specific direction of motion, it wont move unless an external force is applied, in this case the external force being the racquet. It is at this stage of shuttlecock/racquet contact where Newtons Third Law of motion occurs ( “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”) (Blazevich, 2010). While the shuttle is making contact with the racquet, a sufficient amount of force must be applied to the centre of the racquet in order to maximise the opposite reaction. Correspondingly, when performing a jump shot, the player is exerting a force onto the ground in order to jump up. The ground will be exerting an equal and opposite force back to the player, thus pushing them into the air to perform the shot.

Figure 3  Ground reaction forces that are present, Source: Blazevich, A, (2012), “Sports biomechanics, the basics: Optimising human performance”, A&C Black, Pg 45.

The diagram above is a representation of the ground reaction forces that are present when the foot makes contact with the ground with horizontal and vertical reaction forces evident. The ground reaction forces can be manipulated to assist in the acceleration if the force generated is large enough to overcome the inertia.

Follow Through

The follow through phase is performed initially after a player hits the shuttlecock. A common mistake players make is to follow-through across the body. This causes players to lose momentum and power of the shot and forces the smash off to the left (Badminton bible, n.d). When considering Newtons Third Law, the shuttlecock will be travelling in the direction the force is applied. This means that if the racquet follow through is towards to target, that is the direction that the shuttlecock will travel in.

Within the follow through phase, it is important to maintain balance and stability. As the racquet moves in front of the body to follow through, the rear leg must stay back to ensure balance and the centre of gravity is maintained. Overall, the follow through is critical in influencing the final path of the shuttlecock and the general success of the shot (Burkett & Carr, 2010).

How else can we use this information?

By considering the biomechanical principles of a sporting skill, athletes are able to develop the maximum and effective technique that is biomechanically possible for that skill (Blazevich, 2010). The information provided within this blog can easily be transferable to all areas of badminton as well as similar sports such as tennis, lacrosse, table tennis and cricket.

By understanding the biomechanical principles of a sport or skill, athletes have the capability to produce successful execution of a skill whilst also understanding what is essential in further improving their skills as professional athletes. Furthermore, by understanding the underlying principles of biomechanics,  it can enable coaches/teachers  to give students constructive and correct advice regarding technique, body position and physics.

References

Badmintonbible,. Improving your technique for clears and smashes | Badminton Bible. Retrieved 12 June 2015, from https://www.badmintonbible.com/articles/forehand-power/improving-technique

Badminton-information, (2012). Badminton Smash. Retrieved 8 June 2015, from http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_smash.html

Badminton Ottawa,. (2015). Badminton rules. Retrieved 10 June 2015, from http://www.badmintonottawa.com/basicRules.htm

 

Behnke, R. (2015). Kinetic Anatomy 3E: Levers work to create movement in the human body. human-kinetics. Retrieved 5 June 2015, from http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/levers-work-to-create-movement-in-the-human-body

Blazevich, A. (2010). Sports biomechanics : The basics : Optimising human performance (2nd ed.). London: A. & C. Black.

Burkett, B., & Carr, G. (2010). Sport mechanics for coaches. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Proddatur Municipal Indoor Shuttle Stadium,. (2015). Proddatur Municipal Indoor Shuttle Stadium |. Retrieved 8 June 2015, from http://www.pdtrmplindoorstadium.com

Rasmussen, P. (2012). How to Execute a Powerful Badminton Jump Smash!. Badminton Connect. Retrieved 1 June 2015, from http://www.badmintonconnect.com/video/14/the-perfect-badminton-jump-smash

  

Sports training adviser,. (2009) Principles of Force in Sports. Retrieved 7 June 2015, from http://www.sports-training-adviser.com/principlesofforce.html

Waddell, D., & Gowitzke, B. (2000). BIOMECHANICAL PRINCIPLES APPLIED TO BADMINTON POWER STROKES. ISBS - Conference Proceedings Archive, 1(1). Retrieved from https://ojs.ub.uni-konstanz.de/cpa/article/view/2233

Whiting, W., & Rugg, S. (2015). Five factors determine stability and mobility. Human-Kinetics. Retrieved 2 June 2015, from http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/five-factors-determine-stability-and-mobility

Worldbadminton,. World Badminton. Retrieved 7 June 2015, from http://www.worldbadminton.com/