5 Fastest Smashes Recorded in Badminton Matches

A shuttler executing powerful smashes is a sight to behold, isn’t it? In a fast sport like badminton, players having the power and skills to execute smashes add thrill to the matches.

And some take it a notch higher by generating the fastest smashes using all their energy to shatter records. India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy holds the record for the fastest smash, clocking 565 kmph, although it came in a controlled facility.

But we have also seen shuttlers recording the fastest smashes in badminton matches with finesse. So in this article, let’s look at the five fastest smashes recorded in badminton matches.

5. Kunlavut Vitidsarn | 419 kmph (260 mph)

Kunlavut Vitidsarn makes it to the fifth spot thanks to his rocket smash. The Thai shuttler’s smash came at the right time, as it tilted the match in his favour.

In the 2023 Singapore Open, Vitidsarn was looking to advance from the round of 32. He was up against Taiwan’s Wang Tzu Wei, with the final set standing at 26-26.

But then Vitidsarn’s 419 kmph smash gave him the lead and eventually went on to win the match by adding another point.

4. Lakshya Sen | 420 kmph (261 mph)

The new badminton sensation in India, Lakshya Sen, has recorded the fourth-fastest smash in a badminton match. He sent down a lightning-quick shuttle during a singles match in the 2023 Canada Open.

It was the final of the tournament, with Sen pitted against China’s Li Shi Feng. The Indian badminton player hit a smash of 420 kmph in the first set, giving no chance to his opponent.

3. Mads Pieler Kolding | 426 kmph (265 mph)

Mad Pieler Kolding once held the top spot but now sits in the third position on this list. The Danish shuttler held the record for six years before our number-one player surpassed him by miles.

With a height of 2.05 meters, Kolding produced a smash of 426 kmph. He did so in the 2017 Premier League Badminton while playing for Chennai Smashes against Delhi Acers in a men’s doubles match.

Kolding, paired with Chris Adcock, executed the powerful smash against the duo of Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov. He lived up to his team’s name, didn’t he?

2. Prannoy HS | 428 kmph (266 mph)

The second Indian to feature on the list, Prannoy HS, occupies the second spot. He surpassed Kolding’s record just by a whisker.

In the 2023 Japan Open, Prannoy faced Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals. With the score reading 13-17 in the first set, the Indian shuttler put his full power behind the shuttle to generate a speed of 428 kmph.

Prannoy’s 428 kmph shot is the second-fastest smash in a competitive badminton match.

1. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy | 500 kmph (311 mph)

Well, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also tops the chart in badminton matches. So he can generate top speeds not just in controlled environments but even in high-intensity matches.

Satwik is the only shuttler to cross the 500 kmph barrier in badminton’s history. He scripted history in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Korea Open.

Satwik was up against the Japanese pair of Hoki Takuro and Yugo Kobayashi, along with his doubles partner Chirag Shetty. During the first set of the match, Satwik logged the 500 kmph smash, making it the fastest in badminton.

World Sports to India!!!