The physics behind Smith's stunning power shift

Until seven days ago, Steve Smith had hit 14 sixes in his entire KFC BBL career.

He's now got more than double that after belting 18 in three games – which has him equal top for the most sixes in the tournament alongside Tim David and Matt Short who have played 12 and 13 games respectively.

It's been a noticeable shift for Australia's statistically best Test batter since Don Bradman, sending a pair sold out crowds in Coffs Harbour and at the SCG into a frenzy with two brutal displays of power hitting.

It appears like Smith may have finally found his spot in the T20 format, and he revealed after his second century in as many knocks on Saturday night that simple physics has been the catalyst for him consistently being able to clear the rope since returning to the Sydney Sixers.

"I've just brought my hand around a little bit so I'm a bit more open (with my grip) and I'm a bit more side on (in my stance)," he explained following an incredible 125 not out from 66 balls in last night's thumping Sydney Smash victory.

"It just opens my bat face a bit.

"If you look at some of my footage from 12 months ago (back to) four or five years probably, during that period I was quite closed with my (bat) face, which probably didn't enable me to hit the ball as big.

"I was probably top spinning it as opposed to back spinning it and letting the ball go up and away further.

"I thought I back spun a couple of nice ones tonight. The ball just travels a lot better when you do that.

"It's been a nice adjustment for me (and) I feel like I'm batting well in all forms of the game.

"Hopefully I can continue scoring some runs and helping firstly the Sixers and then the Aussies after that."

Smith says he implemented the grip tweak six months ago across all formats, which led to the memorable "I'm back baby" grab that was picked up by TV cameras during his 80 from 78 balls against England in the first ODI last November.

He explained then that it was as "close to perfection" as he could get and "the best I've felt in about six years", and no doubt he probably feels better now following a 486-run Test summer and 262 runs striking at 175 in three Big Bash matches.

The 33-year-old says the technique tweak has also allowed him to slice the ball to gaps easier to open up scoring all around the ground.

"It's working well so far," Smith says.

"I feel like I'm in a good place at the top of the order. It's a role I haven't done a great deal of, I did it a couple of times (previously) in the IPL and did OK.

"It's a place I think most people probably enjoy batting."

It was a sold-out crowd of 38,757 at the SCG – the second biggest BBL crowd ever at the venue – that were treated to one of the best knocks the Big Bash has ever seen as Smith led the Sixers to a 125-run pounding of crosstown rivals the Thunder.

Even more impressive was the fact Smith peeled of his unbeaten ton with a "cactus" back, revealing post-match that he had battled spasming during the afternoon after twinging it in the nets before play.

"I spent most of the pre-game on the table just doing extensions," he says.

"I was fortunate I didn't have to run too many tonight; it came off the middle of the bat pretty consistently so it was it was a good night, I really enjoyed it.

"I'm struggling to get upright, I can bend down alright. But it probably helped me in my batting and kept me a bit lower in my shots for a bit longer on that wicket."

Despite it being a bit stiff, Smith was certain he'd be fit and firing for Australia's four-Test Qantas tour of India next month, as would champion off-spinner Nathan Lyon who missed his second straight match for the Sixers with a lateral meniscus irritation as medicos take a cautious approach ahead of the Border-Gavaskar series.