Video decryption of the smash, the fastest badminton shot in the world

In the thousandths of a second when the shuttlecock leaves the spiker’s racket, its speed increases to several hundred kilometers per hour. More than 300, and even 400 for the world elite. With its typical sound of violent metallic rattling, the badminton smash is the fastest shot of all racquet sports and one of the most impressive, in image and sound.

“When you hit the perfect smash, the sound that comes out (of the racket) is unique. You feel that you hit very hard. You also hear the public who has little ”hou!”. You show your opponent that you are the boss. To have a big smash and get it out once in a while is great”says Thom Gicquel.

The smash, a gesture that serves to “build the point and push back the opponents”

While the best badminton players meet from Tuesday in Paris, Pierre de Coubertin room, for the French Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, this great hope of tricolor badminton, who forms with Delphine Delrue a pair of mixed doubles on the rise, delivers from its base at Insep the secrets to a successful smash at full power.

Positioning, decomposition of movement, “segmental contribution” (the contribution of each part of the body to the power of the blow)…, you will know everything about this gesture which is used to “build the point and push back the opponents”, recalls Gicquel. Because if strong smash is rarely the key to conclude a point, not having a big smash is prohibitive at the highest level.

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