Kick smash: angle and bounce point control

What this lesson covers

The kick smash requires a specific bounce point on the court to ensure the ball exits over the side fence. When positioned close to the net, a high to low motion creates the necessary angle to drive the ball down into the court. As the player moves further back, the angle changes and the focus shifts toward hitting the ball deeper into the court to maintain the trajectory needed for the ball to rebound off the back glass and exit.

Successful execution relies on aiming for a target area roughly one meter from the side glass. If the ball bounces too close to the glass, it often rebounds too high, causing it to hit the fence or stay in play. When playing from a deep position, the player must avoid hitting the ball straight down and instead aim for a deeper landing spot to allow the ball to clear the side wall. The coach emphasizes using an eastern backhand grip to facilitate the required wrist motion and contact point.