The Ruthlesness Complex

[Aleik]

It doesn't exist, but there's something I don't understand about getting a huge lead on someone and then losing it for no comprehensible reason.

I played a match last night and won 2/6 games, but I only dropped 6 points. We won the match, but I always feel guilty about not making more of a statement about what I COULD do for the team. It just seems I can never bring myself to take chances properly, no matter what theory I carry to the court.

It's certainly not lack of competitiveness. All I can think of is that I make more errors than usual (for each of the X points left it takes for them to win) to try and finish the game. Or, because of some mental deficiency, I want to play more badminton during a match, and risk losing the game instead of winning by 10 points.

Or perhaps the small lingering thought of losing is on your conscience BECAUSE it is so small and annoying, if you know what I mean. How can I overcome this lack of ruthlesness?

Aleik.

[other]

heh.....its a little similar to what happens with us. Most of the teams we play in the intra-uni league we can beat 9-0, 15-0 in each game, but we always mess up easy shots, give away points etc. It's not about how you win, as long as you end up winning. Just don't try to finish, keep going at what's good for you, and you'll find that you've won at the end.....hopefully.

[Dill]

It's all about consitency and how you play, if you expect more you are leaving the gate open for more things to go wrong in your shots!

Being competitive is good but don't take it too far or you start to over analise things and thinking about them all the time will affect your game.

[jayes]

Originally posted by Aleik
. . . How can I overcome this lack of ruthlesness?

Aleik.

It is very difficult to balance being gentlemanly and being ruthless in badminton. However, there are many factors for lacking of ruthlessness in a competition. One of them might be the mental state of the player during the competition - lack of confidence, easily intimidated by the environment, think many thoughts and thus lose focus and purpose of the competition, etc. Other factors might be lack of playing competitively in a competition environment or lack in physical preparedness. Some players might have ruthlessness down pat due to the environment that they grew up in, thus needs only a little nudge. However, they still need to balance with other requirements of playing. Others might need work on being ruthless more than other requirements of playing badminton. So back to your question. In general (can't offer specifics since I have not seen you play), to overcome the lack of ruthlessness is to perhaps play more competitive badminton, minimize social games, and place your mental state to "crush your opponent mercilessly" while being a gentleman. :)

Good luck.

[viver]

Originally posted by jayes
It is very difficult to balance being gentlemanly and being ruthless in badminton. However, there are many factors for lacking of ruthlessness in a competition. One of them might be the mental state of the player during the competition - lack of confidence, easily intimidated by the environment, think many thoughts and thus lose focus and purpose of the competition, etc. Other factors might be lack of playing competitively in a competition environment or lack in physical preparedness. Some players might have ruthlessness down pat due to the environment that they grew up in, thus needs only a little nudge. However, they still need to balance with other requirements of playing. Others might need work on being ruthless more than other requirements of playing badminton. So back to your question. In general (can't offer specifics since I have not seen you play), to overcome the lack of ruthlessness is to perhaps play more competitive badminton, minimize social games, and place your mental state to "crush your opponent mercilessly" while being a gentleman. :)

Good luck.

I also agree with your points. The attitude in the training sessions makes all the difference. You could try creating a mock competition during training sessions with your teammates and see if it works.

[bighook]

Focus is such a big part of the game.Staying on track is the real mark of a professional.When I go out to play a serious match I make it my intention to play the very best I can.If I don't I cheat myself and my opponent of the best performance as well as experience for learning and growing.Remember when you go on court you are beginning a battle where you play to win .If not you are cheating yourself and your opponent.After the game is finished despite the score if you played in accordance with the rules and to the best of your ability you have nothing to be ashamed of.REmember it is just a game and as such the end result is a reflection of that day and how you played .If you were on the losing end and your opponent after getting a big lead on you just sort of played haphazardly would you feel you earned the next few points based on your true ability.By the same token if this person then lost that game because they lost focus and couldn't get it back mean that they are the superior player.I think not unless they learn from the experience to focus on the game to the end.I am a nice guy off the court and that never changes but when I play a game seriously I commit everything to the win never looking back.Of course this in accordance with the rules.Believe me I hate cheaters as much as the next guy.I often point out to cheaters that I observed the illegal drive serve but I don't let it rattle me.Some people often resort to the dirty pool methods to win by playing on your emotions to make you lose your focus.Sometimes when I am playing less serious games and I see a particular fault by a player I will mention it to them because as bad as I want to win I really prefer that my opponent get better to increase my level of enjoyment as well as play.There will always be a separation of the differing players as there is those who only play for fun (we all know them ) who can't understand why we (serious players) take a game and turn it into a life or death struggle .For the serious players the game transcends itself and becomes a total release where everything else doesn't matter but giving everything into winning.The experience whether a win or a loss is still so exhilarating because not only are we battling our opponent but also ourselves with all our faults.This is why Men and Women play games.I have sometimes won and lost but felt that I have played that match to the perfect conclusion because I never lost focus.The experience from playing that game in total focus makes me and sometimes my opponent want to repeat it again and again.There is an old saying that goes "the problem with experience is that by the time you get it your too old to make use of it." so that is why I never hesitate to ask others for advice or give it when asked or I feel it can help others.ANother old saying that I am sure many have heard is "Never say Die" which I am sure relates to the warriors we become on court.

[ruth1]

I one time had that problem at a tournament. I had to play this girl that went my highschool in a first round singles match. It was her first tournament and I felt bad that I had to play her because the "B" division didn't have enough players so she had to play the open division. I could have easily beat her 11-0, but instead I played around with her and let her get some points. I still beat her but then the next week she went to school saying how she just started and she got "so many points" on me and she had only been playing a year and I had been playing for three. I was the top player in my school, and needless to say that bothered me. So the next time we had a tournament I had to play her again and I beat her 11-0, 11-0. She didn't seem too bothered and I wasn't petty enough to yell it around my school that I creamed her, but I just hoped it would give her a lesson.

it sure gave me one. you can beat someone and still be lady-like about it (although most of the time I'm not :)) if I'm playing someone who I know I can beat I never make it seem like the game is so easy. i know it's not a very good feeling when someone is just listlessly playing. I also don't yell or get intense like I do during a very close match with someone near my skill level or better than me. Although the other day I had a relapse and was beating this older man 12-3. I really felt bad because he kept grabbing his side and heaving over his knees. He eventually won 15-12. I guess I needed another slap in the face since the other lesson was "learned" more than three years ago. Another reminder :)

I guess that doesn't help with how to overcome the problem, besides learning from the games where you should have won by 10. Just immediately after the game think about your mistakes, your mental attitude, and challenge them again if the opportunity is there. Try to stay focused during the game and not feel sorry for your opponent.

[Psycho V]

The trouble is that in doubles, there's almost always a weaker player. And when u have high points, u tend to hit to de stronger one to keep the game fun.

When u r losing, u tend to hit to the weaker player. It happens all de time.

[Phil]

In singles when you are up 14-3 or so you just wait and you'll win. In doubles though, when you're up 14-3 the other team can come back so fast you won't know what hit you. Just something related to this discussion.

Phil

[Loh]

Yesterday afternoon, I had my usual game. As I play only once a week now on Sundays, I try to give of my best and will normally get soaking wet after just two hard-fought doubles game. I still got wet yesterday, but unfortunately I did not derive the same amount of satisfaction as I used to get. Worse still, we lost the game rather submissively.

The reason - my partner did not display a killer instinct, if she ever had one. There were many shots I would have smashed for the kill, but she gently executed a net drop and instead of punching or driving at the shot, she gave an easy clear to enable our opponents time to recover and worse still, to counter attack and kill us instead.

Yes, I agree with some posters that we need to attack when the opportunity arises. If we take it easy and allow the opponent to recover, then we are not doing justice to ourselves and especially to our partner in doubles. Never take your opponent lightly lest you'll regret in the end, as had been the experience of some of our posters here. Therefore, in training and in social games, do what is expected of you, attack if you must. Don't wait until a real competition to do this as you'll not be able to do it at will. Only through regular practice and making the attacking game part of your strategy that you can acquire the KILLER INSTINCT. This could be one of the X-factors in a good badminton player.

Coming back to my game yesterday, maybe if I had Ruth as my partner, it would have been a different outcome altogether, albeit we were up against two guys! Btw, Ruth, how's your attacking game. Can you carry a mean smash?

[woop.]

Three brief examples. Earlier this season we played a mens match against a prison team. We were by fair the better side and could have hammered them but decided to play around, figuring that as prisoners they would probably enjoy a lengthy match against some "outsiders" (we had to play in the prison obviously). However this went dramatically wrong. They one a game but were well aware we had "given" it to them. A minor confrontation occurred. Note: play convicted criminals at full whack, they don't appreciate dishonesty.

Secondly, my mixed partner and I often play our #1 pair at club nights. It's good practice for us as they have played the game longer, and been a pair longer. We beat them last week 15-12 but I came off the court less than happy, because the last 3 points had all been soft ones with them making mistakes as opposed to us finishing the point ourselves. Note 2: in every game you play push hard and demand the best from yourself, then carry that frame of mind through to competition. It is harder to achieve that state of mind if you only use it in competition.

And finally my coach and I often play Danish in our sessions. Recently I took a point off my coach in one such game. I was over the moon and she was completely gutted. Hopefully both reactions show the attitude to win.

[Neil Nicholls]

what's Danish?

[ruth1]

Originally posted by Loh
Coming back to my game yesterday, maybe if I had Ruth as my partner, it would have been a different outcome altogether, albeit we were up against two guys! Btw, Ruth, how's your attacking game. Can you carry a mean smash?

Thanks, Loh! I can guarantee you we would've won. :) I have a mean smash in my singles game. But in doubles at the net I tend to swing too much. I'm working on it though. The other day during a match I served the bird to this guy who would stand right on the service line. He rushed the shot and I cut it off and it was really funny because the cork of the bird landed right in his mouth. I didn't laugh though. I just raised my hand and apologize. But now, I can laugh where he can't see me. :) But to answer your question, I do my fair share of attacking. I'm Ruth-less. :)

[Loh]

Originally posted by ruth1
Thanks, Loh! I can guarantee you we would've won. :) I have a mean smash in my singles game. But in doubles at the net I tend to swing too much. I'm working on it though. The other day during a match I served the bird to this guy who would stand right on the service line. He rushed the shot and I cut it off and it was really funny because the cork of the bird landed right in his mouth. I didn't laugh though. I just raised my hand and apologize. But now, I can laugh where he can't see me. :) But to answer your question, I do my fair share of attacking. I'm Ruth-less. :)
Ruth(less),

When can you fly over and help me take revenge on all those guys who belittled me?
That sort of assurance (in skill) from you will beat the daylights out of them and I will enjoy the last laugh!

Thank you for not laughing at the poor guy whose mouth you kept shut with the bird. You have given him some semblance of self-esteem by being polite. I still can't figure out how you managed to do it. I thought he would have attacked your 'weak' service but instead you replied with such an inexplicable shot. Thankfully he did not lose any teeth!

[Aleik]

So I had my usual Monday night practice last night with the usual people. They are all boys roughly my age of roughly the same standard. The rivalry is fierce between the two brothers and one of them can't bear to lose. I felt my usual sombre, forgiving self.

However, before I went on court I reminded myself of the ought to be ruthless even in a social game, as some have mentioned here. I now know that this is the only way to hone the "killer instinct" craved by so many.

We had a singles round-robin. Where at other times I may have just looked for a more interesting game by giving a few points away, in the first game I went straight up to 4-0, and didn't stop there. At 8-0, my opponent complained that I was "taking the p***", because he knew I wasn't normally so ruthless. Was he being jokey? Or was he seriously trying to slow me down for some reason? I didn't know, and more importantly, I didn't care.

I explained to him I wouldn't give him any slack because I wanted to see him improve and give me a better game too. He understood, and from then on we played our hearts out with the kind of footwork and speed I only dreamed of playing with - relentlessly hammering home net kills and mercilessly exploiting his weaknesses.

I felt bad...but it felt good!


P.S.: Killer instinct is born out of necessity (in the case of hunter-gatherers). This instict has worn away over the centuries as we have begun to use machines instead of our bodies to gather food.
We sometimes feel we have killer instinct in our game because, in our priveleged, consumer societies, sport has become the replacement for hunting for food (especially for males). It soothes our chaotic mental pathways by making us think we are fulfilling our roles as humans, which is why we feel so barbaric and uncooth on court when we display ruthlesness. This is why we need to re-acquire the INSTINCT (operative), as instincts are nothing to be guilty about or even aware of.
Killer instict is not wholly something we are born with, nor is something we need to wholly acquire. It is a combination of both.


Aleik.

[bighook]

Congratulations Aleik YOu have just taken a big step forward.THat kind of focus is critical to even higher success.May you continue your winning ways.Your example will push others to the same excellence which is what badminton needs.Just remember to put back to the game what you get out of it.I think we all have to be ambassadors for this great sport .Once again continued success.

[jamesd20]

Originally posted by Neil Nicholls
what's Danish?


I am wondering too! Anyone?!

[ruth1]

No. He didn't lose any teeth. He just had to pull the shuttle out of his mouth. I didn't laugh because I'm ruthless, but only when I play. My coach said I should've smiled though, because he's not a very nice man sometimes. But I guess I still showed that I'm better than that. Loh, from Singapore; hmm...haven't ventured that far before. I plan to go over there and improve my badminton skills. But let me polish up first before I go that far. I guarantee though, I will either be over there for a tournament or a clinic in the next couple of years :) You think you can wait for me? LOL You and your partner will probably have beaten those opponents by then:)

Aleik, congratulations on your ruthless victory. It's that kind of intensity that is needed to promote our sport. Yesterday I was watching a pingpong match on ESPN (big sports station here), and I really see no difference in the way they play and the way badminton play (as far as their intensity goes). I mean, if it's intensity and excitement they want, in my opinion, badminton is more in both. There was this once instance where one of the players was jumping around the camera and barricades to get the ball is his opponent had "smashed" and the whole crowd was getting into it. They really went wild when he wound up winning the rally after his opponent was smashing and smashing. His opponent then decided to drop but I think the crowd got to him, and his drop missed the table. I wish US crowds could see badminton at its highest level. They'd realize that it's just as intense. Goodluck with your ruthlessness!

[Loh]

Originally posted by ruth1
Loh, from Singapore; hmm...haven't ventured that far before. I plan to go over there and improve my badminton skills. But let me polish up first before I go that far. I guarantee though, I will either be over there for a tournament or a clinic in the next couple of years :) You think you can wait for me? LOL You and your partner will probably have beaten those opponents by then:)

Hi Ruth,

Are you serious in coming to S'pore? We are not a top-notch badminton country yet, unlike our close neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia. But we now have our sports school to train our athletes almost fulltime and in 4 years, I'm sure a few of them will don national colours for badminton. By then, hopefully, our badminton standards would have risen.

Anyway, which part of the US are you from - Frisco, LA or NY? Now SIA, our national airline, is able to fly direct to the US in about 18 hours non-stop. Hopefully, by then the budget airlines will make it even cheaper, but I doubt that they will fly that far. Plans are afoot for these airlines to fly to nearby cities like Bangkok (currently), Kuala Lumpur (KL), Perth (Western Australia) and maybe Jakarta, Yangoon (Burma) and other Southeast Asian cities.

For the sake of badminton, I'll wait for you until I can't hold the racket 'no more'. By then, you'll have to be an even better player than now and your smash must be lethal, not just mean! For while you'll be nearer your prime, I'll be almost at the foot of the hill. You'll have to cover me and I'll stay upfront hoping to tap away the weak returns resulting from our opponents' failure to counter your devastating smashes.

Aleik,

I join Ruth in extending my congratulations to your newlook "killer instinct" mode. You're right, your new found passion to uplift your game has a positive spin-off effect on your opponent. He has to wake up to your attacks to prevent from total annihilation! Keep it up!

[Loh]

Ronald lost the second game to Pakistan's Wajid Ali, 9-15, despite emphatically beating him 15-0 in the opener during the Thomas Cup Asian Zone qualifiers round yesterday in KL.

It cannot be over-emphasized that one should not treat the opponent complacently and lose focus on the game. If he had not bucked up in his third and final game, which he won as in the first without giving away a point, Ronald would have made a laughing stock of himself as he is ranked 18th in the world and Wajid only 385th!

This is a lesson for every player who aspires to be a better player. Don't underrate your opponent and count your chickens before they are hatched!

[Gollum]

Aleik, that little story is really quite inspirational. I'll have to try out such an approach next time I get the chance to play my old coach.

Except I'll probably STILL lose. <--- Dammit, that's not the right attitude! /slaps self

[kwun]

i believe each person's ruthlessness on court is also affected by their personality. a notice a more mellow person will be more mellow on court. a normally aggressive person will show more ruthlessness and aggression.

(are ruthlessness and aggression the same thing?)

going up one level, how about one's ability to turn off and on ruthlessness at will. i challenge you to try to be ruthless in one rally, and be more laid back on another one. it will be a fun exercise and see if you can control your emotions.

if you are able to completely control your emotion and style, it will be to your advantage as you will be unpredictable to your opponent. but it will be risky as it affects your own game if you cannot control it properly.

interesting, the psychology of badminton!

btw. i enjoyed reading your story Aleik! :)

[ruth1]

Loh, I'm from the humble state of Texas. It's not really a badminton haven but I travel enough throughout the US to get my share of good competition. I am serious about going to Singapore though, even though badminton is not up to your neighbors' standards. I wish to enhance my international experience and Singapore is one of the first countries on my list. Ok, I'm off to practice to work on my "Ruthlessness." I have three tournaments coming up that are all in consecutive weekends. One more month. Fun Fun Fun!!!!!!

Everyone work on their ruthlessness. It's what badminton needs. :) Today I shall work on it. We have this one guy who was runner up in the U19 doubles in a national championships in india about maybe 5 or 6 years ago (i'm not sure). And he says his old partner now is the national champion in india. So I'm excited to practice against him. He definitely allows me to bring out my ruthlessness on the court.

[Pecheur]

Originally posted by kwun
i believe each person's ruthlessness on court is also affected by their personality. a notice a more mellow person will be more mellow on court. a normally aggressive person will show more ruthlessness and aggression.

(are ruthlessness and aggression the same thing?)


No actually I disagree, there's this saying we have in Oz which I think originated in the states called "white line fever" where the most mild mannered, mellow, caring considerate person (being PC, I'll be honest I meant guy ;P) becomes a raving psychopath once they step onto a sporting/competitive field. It's actually very common here, they are often far more aggressive and scary than the normally bad tempered people.

[jayes]

Originally posted by kwun
i believe each person's ruthlessness on court is also affected by their personality. a notice a more mellow person will be more mellow on court. a normally aggressive person will show more ruthlessness and aggression.

Agree. I think in general a person's personality will affect their character on court. However, aggression and ruthlessness can be learned and be brought to light, if one is not usually showing such attributes in their normal life. This requires training and a badminton trainer can mold a player up to a certain stage. The younger the player, the easier they are to be molded. :)


(are ruthlessness and aggression the same thing?)

To me, ruthlessness and aggression has a small difference. Sorry, a bit hard for me to describe. I am sure other more eloquent posters can describe much better than I.


going up one level, how about one's ability to turn off and on ruthlessness at will. i challenge you to try to be ruthless in one rally, and be more laid back on another one. it will be a fun exercise and see if you can control your emotions.

From my own playing experience, switching from one to the other can be done from one game to the other. What I find helpful for me in this situation are focus (concentration) and awareness of my opponents and partner (if playing doubles). (Hmm, just noticed that I am beginning to tread on sixth sense here. Will quit before I start to be incomprehensible ;) ). Depending one's character, it can be hard or easy.


if you are able to completely control your emotion and style, it will be to your advantage as you will be unpredictable to your opponent. but it will be risky as it affects your own game if you cannot control it properly.

interesting, the psychology of badminton!

btw. i enjoyed reading your story Aleik! :)

Yes, controlling one's emotion and style can be unpredictable to your opponent and become advantegous to you. However, in order to achieve this and produce consistent result (ie to control it properly), you need lots of training.

Cheers.

[bighook]

I agree with you.It is all too common to see games become turned around from lapses in in concentration.I think one of the toughest people to beat during the era of the 80's was Yang Yang.I don't think I ever saw him lose focus for any match I have seen him in and his demeanour on court was almost nonexistent in emotion.He played hard and never let up no matter what the score.The battles between him and Morten Frost {Mr Consistency with Defence}were amazing to watch.Emotional control and focus were a major part of what made these two champions.Pumping yourself up can be good and bad.If you get too pumped up errors kick in which often leads to emotional responses which only make it worse.But if you manage to get pumped up appropriately and get that focus and maintain it the very best comes out.Many a game I have seen opponents who try to stall in an attempt to change the rhythm and try to change the focus .In Tennis John MacEnroe tried this with great results with outrageous behavior over line calls but in badminton it is more subtle like in water breaks and shuttle changes.I believe when you watch or play the games there is much more than just the physical.Many a time I have seen the older players who use the mental aspects of the game to win against their physically superior opponents who get too riled up emotionally.The old saying that age and treachery will overcome youth and skill comes to mind .Anyways this has been an interesting topic and one which I think we all can relate to and work on.So lets all butt heads and run ourselves silly chasing that bird till we drop or a winner is declared.

[cappy75]

I recalled an interview article with John McEnroe that he blamed steroid drugs he took (for asthma?) for his outragous behaviour on the court.


Originally posted by bighook
... In Tennis John MacEnroe tried this with great results with outrageous behavior over line calls but in badminton it is more subtle like in water breaks and shuttle changes...

[Loh]

Originally posted by ruth1
Loh, I'm from the humble state of Texas. It's not really a badminton haven but I travel enough throughout the US to get my share of good competition. I am serious about going to Singapore though, even though badminton is not up to your neighbors' standards. I wish to enhance my international experience and Singapore is one of the first countries on my list.

Oh Texas! Never been there but heard from my badminton partner, who's worked there for a couple of years, that it is beautiful. I think Texas is a great place for music and we've got quite a few graduates (mainly ladies) from there who are great musicians and singers (opera). And we've got great sports people coming from there too, especially our swimmers!

I'm surprised that tiny Singapore is on your visiting list. Probably you know a bit about the makeup of the people here who are mainly Asians (Chinese, Malays or Indonesians, Indians, Filipinos,etc) with quite a large contingent of 'white' professionals from the US, Europe and Australia. The service industry, comprising banking and finance, insurance, shipping, fund management, international trade, ports and airlines management, IT and education is predominant although manufacturing and R&D, especially in medical and biological sciences, are currently encouraged.

You'll feel much at home esp if you're Asian.

[Aleik]

It's all about consitency and how you play...

Just re-opening this can of worms. I'm compiling my thoughts on what I need to adjust this year to witness a rapid improvement.

I feel there is particular currency to this quote by Dill, because consistency is the essential factor in winning anyway. I now believe that ruthlesness is not born out of aggression, but out of embracing consistency, which may or may not involve aggression. Consistency is relentlesness, and guiltless consistency is ruthlesness.

To achieve consistency in a game, all actions must be executed in the spirit of getting to the shuttle in good time. By all actions, I mean anticipating opponents' moves, positional play, shuttle placement and power, fitness, etc.

Does this make sense, and does it have a place in the ruthlesness argument?

Aleik.

[Dill]

I feel there is particular currency to this quote by Dill, because consistency is the essential factor in winning anyway. I now believe that ruthlesness is not born out of aggression, but out of embracing consistency, which may or may not involve aggression. Consistency is relentlesness, and guiltless consistency is ruthlesness.

To achieve consistency in a game, all actions must be executed in the spirit of getting to the shuttle in good time. By all actions, I mean anticipating opponents' moves, positional play, shuttle placement and power, fitness, etc.

Does this make sense, and does it have a place in the ruthlesness argument?

Aleik.

What I was getting at was in order to win you need to be consistant, I think we will all agree in that.

Next we need to find out how to be consistant, it does not always mean shots. A game is much more than shots as we all know. We need to be able to play the correct shot at the correct time, we need fitness, and above all we need to be able to hit good accurate shots consistantly.

Aleik has described in his view what consistancy is and it is a very fair point or two but we have to factor in the negatives where some people go too far to win like making bad calls or gamesmanship etc.

As far as my definition of being constantly on form it is the mental game, thinking about what you are doing, have done and are about to do is the way forward, as long as we think about the game and analyse what has happened we can better our games. It is how we aproach this that determines the ruthlesness of out intentions.