Tried a new external cue on my smash for the first time today. I wasn't doing it perfectly — I'd guess I was only really hitting it properly maybe 20% of the time — but even at that hit rate, the difference was already noticeable.

What Changed Already

Better angle, an easier time placing it — especially on the extreme doubles lines — and better consistency overall. My smashes have a tendency to go flat when I want them to go down, and this cue is already cutting into that, even applied inconsistently. Even partially applied, it felt like the missing piece of my smash so far, which is a strange thing to feel from something I'm only getting right one time in five, but that's usually how the biggest pieces show up first.

What Comes After This One Clicks

Once this is fully internalized, the next layer is the abs — there should be a slight crunch right at the point of impact, similar to the brace you'd use taking a punch. That's what adds even more speed and power on top of what the cue is already giving me. After that, the plan is to fine-tune the legs and start working on fluidity between all the different stages of the swing, so the whole thing feels like one motion instead of a series of separate parts stitched together.

One cue at a time. I'm quite happy with how the smash is coming along, even this early into it. Watch the full clip below.