Download Biomechanics of Badminton

The
Biomechanics
of Badminton
The Smash
Generating Momentum
 The total momentum of the badminton
smash is the sum of the individual moments
of different body parts.
 To generate max momentum in the
shuttle, use as many body segments as
possible in the hitting action (ie. the hips,
spine, shoulders, upper arm, forearm and
wrist will all contribute momentum to the
speed of the shuttle)
Generating Momentum
 The greater the stretch exerted on body
segments (ie those muscles relevant to
smash- abdominals, muscles surrounding
shoulder and chest) before the hitting action
the greater the player is able to contract the
muscles and thus exert maximum force.
 When looking to generate max
momentum, the small body segments
capable of moving fast (arms, hands) are
used last, whilst the larger, slower body
segments move earlier in sequence. Eg. The
hips generate large amounts of momentum
in the smash, the smaller segments feed off
this momentum to produce fast, dynamic
movements.
Optimum contribution of body
segments
 When hitting the shuttle, it is important
that each body segment makes optimum
contribution at exactly the right time before
the next body part begins to move.
 Ie. the hips and trunk must have
rotated as far as possible back, before the
next segment the shoulders and arms begin
their rotation.
Discuss why the pitcher will deliver the ball with high velocity with reference
to the number of body parts used, the stretch exerted on relevant body
parts, and the coordination of body segments.
Range of Motion


To achieve maximum speed in the shuttle, the body segments
must track over the greatest possible range of movement.
Eg. The greater the follow through in the smash, the greater
the velocity of the shuttle off the racquet. Is this individual
achieving the greatest possible range of motion?
ACCURACY
 Accuracy can be broken down into 2
components: Height accuracy and sideways
accuracy.
 Height Accuracy: can be achieved if the
impact of the shot is made along any point
on a straight line to the target. However, for
optimum velocity of shot, the racquet should
make contact at the top of the swing.
 Sideways Accuracy: achieved if the arc
of the swing is kept in vertical alignment
with the target.
Rotational Inertia

Inertia is a body’s resistance to change
in motion eg. The shuttle’s resistance to
moving in the direction you are hitting it.

If the motion is rotational (swinging the
racquet around an axis- the shoulder), we have
to consider not only the object’s (shuttle) mass
but also its distance from the axis (length of
arm and racquet combined)- rotational inertia.

I (inertia) = mr2 (m-mass; r- radius)

The larger the mass of the object
(irrelevant, shuttle weight is constant) and
the greater the distance away from the axis,
the greater the inertia.

Rotational inertia will provide force in
opposition to your swing and thus, will
decrease speed of shuttle of racquet.
Inertial Speed and Leverage
 The snap of the wrists during the
badminton smash shortens the distance of
the object from the axis/lever (as the new
axis is the wrist, not shoulder), and this
decreases the amount of inertia enabling
increased racquet speed.
Centre of Gravity
 A person’s centre of gravity (CoG) is
important in enabling that person maintain
balance and thus execute an effective smash.
 Individuals who start from an offbalance position have their centre of gravity
outside their body which lends their body to
fall in the direction of the CoG.
 An effective badminton smash will start
with a performer’s CoG within the line of
their body, and will finish in front of and in
a downwards direction from the body, as
the performer looks to place their weight
and momentum behind the shuttle.