A Straight Kill is a very satisfying shot, similar to a Straight Drive but typically played with more pace and hit a lot lower, so that it bounces twice higher up the court.

It is a great shot for applying pressure to an opponent as it forces them to get down low quickly and retrieve the ball quickly.

It is particularly effective against players who sit deep on the court (especially when played from the back) or players who struggle to get down low.

It is also a valuable shot when you are looking to play at a high tempo or increase the intensity of the game, as opponents will have less time to react and have no time to allow the ball to come off the back wall.

Play a good Straight Kill in two quick steps:

High backswing – As you prepare for the shot, you’ll need to get your racket high enough to be above the ball in order to be able to bring it downwards.

Extreme high-to-low swing – Using a high-to-low swing is recommended for several shots on this site but when it comes to the Kill, you need to really go from high to low and do so quickly and dramatically. Find your range and see how vicious you can make your kill shot.

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→ Check out our other related Short Shots:

→ Recommended posts for those looking at Kills:

Changing the pace of the game, Hitting the Nine Corners, Following up short shots from the back