Why PV Sindhu's Smash Is a Case Study in Power
PV Sindhu has one of the most recognisable smashes in world badminton. At 1.79 metres, she is taller than most opponents and uses that height to hit shuttles at extreme downward angles. But height alone does not generate the speeds she produces — at her peak, Sindhu's smash has been measured above 350 km/h. The real story is the kinetic chain she has built over fifteen years at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad.
This breakdown explains exactly what Sindhu does, why it works, and how you can borrow elements of her technique to add real power to your own smash.
1. The Grip: Loose Until the Last Millisecond
Watch any slow-motion clip of Sindhu's smash on YouTube and notice her hand. Through the entire preparation and the early swing, her fingers are loose on the grip — almost like she is barely holding the racket. Only at the moment of impact does her hand "grab" the handle.
Why it matters: A relaxed grip allows the wrist to whip naturally. A tight grip locks the wrist and you lose 20-30% of potential racket head speed. The "grab" at impact transfers all that speed into the shuttle.
Drill to practise: Do shadow smashes in front of a mirror. Hold the racket so loosely that someone could pull it out. Snap your wrist at the imaginary contact point. Repeat for 10 minutes daily for two weeks. Most Indian club players hold the racket far too tight.
2. The Stance: Side-On With Weight on the Back Foot
Sindhu rotates fully sideways before a smash, with her non-racket shoulder pointing toward the net. Her weight sits on her back (right) foot, knee slightly bent, ready to drive forward and upward.
Why it matters: A side-on stance lets you use your full body rotation. A facing-the-net stance limits power to your arm only. The weight transfer from back foot to front foot during the swing is what couples your legs to your racket.
Drill: Stand sideways at the back of the court. Have a partner toss high shuttles. Practise transferring weight from back foot to front foot as you smash. Don't worry about the shot quality at first — focus only on the weight transfer feeling.
3. The Kinetic Chain: Hips, Then Shoulders, Then Arm
This is the secret most Indian club players miss. Sindhu's power does not come from her arm. It comes from the precise sequence: hips rotate first, shoulders follow, then the elbow leads, then the forearm rotates, and finally the wrist snaps. Each link adds speed to the next.
Sports biomechanics research shows that 50-60% of smash power comes from hip and trunk rotation. Only 20-25% comes from the arm. The rest is from forearm and wrist. Yet most amateur players try to muscle the smash with their arm and shoulder, which produces slow, predictable shots.
Drill — Wall Throw: Stand sideways to a wall. Hold a tennis ball in your racket hand. Throw the ball overhead at the wall using only hip rotation, not arm muscle. Most beginners cannot throw harder than 30 km/h this way at first. Within two weeks of practice, you should easily exceed 60 km/h. That improvement transfers directly to your smash.
4. The Jump: Optional but Devastating
Sindhu uses a jump smash for steeper angles. Her jump is not very high — typically 25-30 cm off the ground — but it has two purposes:
- Adds a few centimetres of height to the contact point, allowing a steeper downward angle
- Adds rotational momentum from the air-borne body twist
You should not jump on every smash. Sindhu uses standing smashes for deep clears she can attack flat, and jump smashes when the shuttle is short and high.
Drill — Box Jumps: Build vertical leg power with 3 sets of 10 box jumps onto a 30 cm box, twice a week. Pair this with calf raises. Most Indian academy players spend 2-3 sessions per week on jump conditioning specifically for the smash.
5. The Contact Point: As High and As Far Forward as Possible
Sindhu contacts the shuttle at the highest point her racket can reach, slightly in front of her body. This single detail determines the angle of the smash. Contact behind your head, and the shuttle goes upward (a clear). Contact directly above your head, and it goes flat. Contact in front, and it goes down — that's the smash.
Drill: Have a partner toss high shuttles to your forehand side. Focus only on contacting the shuttle as high as possible, in front of your body. Don't even worry about power. After 50 reps you will start hitting the right spot consistently.
6. The Follow-Through: Across the Body
After contact, Sindhu's racket swings down and across her body, finishing past her opposite hip. This long follow-through ensures she got every bit of energy out of the shot and didn't decelerate the racket through fear of injury.
Why amateur smashes lack power: Many beginners "punch" the shuttle and stop the racket abruptly. This unconsciously causes the body to slow the racket before contact, reducing speed. A long follow-through tells the brain it is safe to swing fully.
7. Recovery: The Forgotten Element
Sindhu's smash is not just about hitting hard. It is about being ready for the return. Watch her body after the smash — she lands with both feet, regains balance instantly, and split-steps forward to attack the return. A smash without recovery is a wasted shot, because top opponents will return it deep and you will be out of position.
Indian doubles pairs like Satwik-Chirag drill smash-and-recovery sequences for hours every week. The goal is to land in attacking position so you can finish the next shot at the net.
8. The Mental Side: When to Smash
Sindhu smashes about 8-12 times per match — far less than amateurs assume. She picks her moments: high lifts to her forehand corner, slow returns near the back tramline, predictable defensive shots. She does not smash every shuttle that comes high.
The lesson: a smash is a tactical choice, not a default. Smash when:
- The shuttle is in your forehand rear court at proper height
- You have time to set up your full kinetic chain
- You are in attacking position, not stretched
- The opponent is out of position or off-balance
Putting It All Together: Your 4-Week Smash Improvement Plan
Week 1: Grip and Stance
Daily 15-min shadow practice. Focus on loose grip and side-on stance. No shuttles needed.
Week 2: Kinetic Chain
3 sessions of wall-throw drills with a tennis ball. Add box jumps twice a week.
Week 3: Live Practice
3 sessions of partner-fed smashes from rear court. 50 smashes per session focusing on technique, not power.
Week 4: Match Application
Play matches but consciously limit yourself to 10 smashes total. Make each one count. Recover after every smash.
Common Mistakes Indian Players Make
- Smashing flat-footed: No weight transfer means no power.
- Smashing from a facing-the-net stance: No hip rotation possible.
- Trying to smash every high shuttle: Most amateurs smash three times more often than they should.
- Holding the grip tight throughout: Kills wrist snap.
- No follow-through: Body unconsciously decelerates the racket.
Equipment Considerations
Sindhu plays with a Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ — a head-heavy 4U racket strung at high tension. You don't need her racket to learn her technique. A simple Yonex Astrox Lite 21i or Li-Ning Tectonic series is sufficient for an intermediate player to practise these movements. The racket should be head-heavy enough to feel the kinetic chain without being so heavy that you can't control it.
Read our brand comparison guide to pick the right racket for an attacking style.
Test Your Smash With AI
The fastest way to identify what is wrong with your smash is to film it and analyse frame by frame. Upload a clip to Formanti's free swing analysis tool. The AI will tell you whether you are rotating your hips, where your contact point is, and how your follow-through compares to elite players like Sindhu.
For a complete training programme to build the legs, core and shoulders that produce a Sindhu-style smash, see our badminton training plans built by Indian academy coaches.