Shots & strokes · Overhead · Intermediate · ~6 min
Half smash
A controlled smash at medium pace with good angle, prioritising placement and recovery over speed.
▶ Badminton SMASH - The half smash - Fast cut — Badminton Famly (YouTube)
More videos: How to do a Half Smash #badminton #badmintonpro (Aylex Badminton Academy) · Master The Stick Smash - Step-By-Step Badminton Tutorial (Badminton Insight)
Tactical use & trade-offs
More accurate and less tiring than a full smash, and you recover sooner. Good for building pressure in long rallies; less likely to win outright against good defenders.
Technique
| Grip | Forehand grip: shake hands with the handle, the V between thumb and index finger on the top-left bevel, fingers relaxed and slightly spread. |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Turn side-on early, racket arm cocked with the elbow at about shoulder height, non-racket arm pointing up toward the shuttle, weight on the back (right) foot. |
| Contact point | In front, slightly lower than a full smash. |
| Racket face | Angled down toward the target. |
| Swing | Full but controlled swing at about 70% speed with good pronation. |
| Body & footwork | Rotation and transfer as normal. |
| Follow-through | Follow through and move forward to attack the reply. |
Coaching cues
- Placement over power
- Steep and accurate
Common errors
- Going flat instead of steep
- Slowing the preparation (telegraphed)
Practice
On your own: Shadow smashes at 70% speed, focusing on contact in front.
With a partner: Feeder lifts; hitter half-smashes to body/forehand/backhand targets, counting accuracy.
Volume: 3 × 15 shuttles.
Safety
- Stop if you feel sharp pain, dizziness, chest pain or unusual breathlessness.