There's one grip mistake I see constantly on court, and it's quietly killing smash power: over-pronating before contact.

What's Actually Happening

Instead of keeping the wrist neutral on the backswing, a lot of players roll it into full pronation early — often without even realizing they're doing it, because it can feel like you're "getting ready" to hit hard. By the time the racket face actually meets the shuttle, the wrist snap that should be generating power at impact has already been used up on the way there. There's nothing left to deliver at the exact moment that matters, so the smash ends up relying on arm speed alone to make up the difference, and arm speed alone only gets you so far. It's an easy mistake to miss too, because it happens early in the swing, long before the part of the shot everyone's actually watching.

The Fix

Hold the grip the way you naturally would if you were just holding the racket comfortably — not pre-rotated before you've even started the swing. Stay neutral through the backswing and the mid-swing, and let the pronation happen at contact, not before it. That's where the power actually comes from: the wrist snapping through the shuttle at the last possible moment, not somewhere earlier in the motion where it does nothing for you. It sounds like a tiny detail on paper, but it changes the entire timing of the shot once you actually feel it.

It's a small adjustment, but it makes a real, noticeable difference in smash speed once it clicks. Watch your own wrist position next time you're on court — then watch the full clip below.