Why is your smash weak? Many people fail because they don’t execute the final step properly.
Many of you have probably experienced this: when preparing to smash a shot while moving backward, your body is still shifting back, yet your racket needs to swing forward—resulting in a weak, lifeless hit. In fact, this issue is closely tied to the final step of your movement.
The final step of the movement is crucial, yet many people fail to understand it. This step applies not only to smashes but also to clear shots and drop shots. Today, let’s hear Lee Jae-bok’s explanation on this very point.
Look here. The final step, for example, looks like this: The ball flies backward—1, 2, 3… and that’s the “3” step. I’m holding the racket in my right hand, so “3” marks the last movement.
Before you hit the ball, your "3" step must be big—this step needs to fully support your entire body weight. In fact, the "3" step should be the longest one of your entire motion. By doing this, your smash will become more powerful, your shot will gain greater deception, and your recovery movement will speed up significantly.
Look, this is the right way to do it. This "3" has to support my body.
Then, shift the center of gravity.
Because this Step 3 is quite long, I can hold the pose. Look at my right foot, please.
Instead, this is a problem that many players face. Take a look at my right foot, please.
Incorrect example: This common issue among players (short duration)
Please compare this with the correct example: It must be the step that takes the longest time.
This is the final step—should be the last one—and then it’s time to move forward; supporting my body while shifting my center of gravity.
However, for many players, this step turned into a transitional one—just an overstep, like this.
Animated GIF
This way, they’re moving backward, since this step wasn’t able to support my body—so after hitting the ball, their entire body continues to shift backward.
So what happened? Their bodies moved backward, while his racket went forward. Plus, their control was poor, and their power wasn’t great either.
That's how it should be—forward!
If it's your final step—and if you're holding the racket in your right hand—you should make that last step bigger, stabilize your body, and then shift your weight as you strike the ball.
Instead of moving with small steps and then transitioning—only to still end up moving backward and hitting the ball—using small-step transitions is simply incorrect.
If you do that, you’ll find it hard to recover your movement. Your smash will only carry about 60% of its intended power.
Finally, take one last look. Do you have the styling for the final step?
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