In the zone

[marshall]

I was playing doubles and went very fast to the right hand net corner to get a drop shot, which I lifted cross court to the back corner because I was in a hurry and couldn't think of anything else. I ran off the court for a step and pushed off to get back on, and that's when I entered the zone of total concentration . I looked toward the opponents' forehand back corner just in time to see the shuttle start on a flat drive down the alley. The shuttle is all I saw, not the guy who hit it. Next thing I knew the net tape was moving past my eyes and I thought "I'm moving along the net." No sensation of running at all. I checked the shuttle again and it was still flying down the alley toward the net and I kept going. Now I knew I was running so I took one more big step to get there first, and planted my left foot on the floor then saw the shuttle coming right at me so I killed it.

This state of mind has happened to me only a few times. How about the rest of you? Does this happen often? When I get like this, it's as though everything is automatic and I'm acting but not planning anything. Nothing matters but the immediate situation, and my play is the best I've ever done. It's completely unpredictable.

Does anyone know how to get in this zone? Does it happen to you?

[Andy]

Are you on any medication!!!

[marshall]

No, but if you know of some that lets me focus like that and play so well, with not after effects, please tell me what it is :)

[neil]

I have been in this "zone" a few times when playing a game in which i am losing heavily, something seems to click and i just cant hit a bad shot and i feel like i know what my opponent is going to do next. After the matches i sit and try and think of what i started doing differently but there is nothing there i dont remember much from when i started to play well. i dont know if this is the same as you have expeirenced but i thought i would tell you anyway. :

[May]

Unlikely. Medication is more likely to make u tired and sleepy.

[May]

Yeah. I do that when it comes to homework. Otherwise I won't have time to post here everyday.

[Pebulutangkis]

sometimes the kill comes automatically, i mean when i get into that zone i take returns i normally can't take!!!! when i get in the zone, 90% of the time i win the point.

[marshall]

That's what happens to me also. It comes on with no warning and ends just as quickly, usually when the situation changes.

[cooler]

mashall, i think your body and mind are just entered the next level of badminton advancement where you are thinking and foreseening your opponent action and NOT thinking about your strokes & footwork which should come automatically at this level. If you experience this on and off, you r at the borderline transition phase to the next level.

:cool: er

[kwun]

yes! marshall. i know what you are talking about, there are times when i play, i am "not using my head". and i meant that in a good way. the shots i made are automatic and reactive, and they are so good, they surprised both my regular partner and even myself. i have experienced that a few times. but not enough times!! :P


but i think you may have touched one level higher. i have never reached the point when i have "No sensation of running at all"!

this is all so cool. we are getting close to the nirvana of badminton. yup. that's it. we have "marshalled" it. :)

[cooler]

"No sensation of running at all"!

hey marshall, maybe u were levitating, just like those warriors in crouching tiger and hiddening dragon. :) I would love to achieve that kind mastery.

[May]

hahahahaha. I don't run at all. At least, I don't feel I run at all.what's the max u can play at one time??? As in how many hrs in one shot. I can play up to 5-6 hours. U ppl don't seem to be able to concentrate long.

[marshall]

I don't think it is mastery because I have no control over it, it's just a gift. BTW, you probably play twice as well as I do already.

[Cheung]

How many yrs you played Marshall?

My experience of not even moving is precisely that! I don't move. (poor footwork, you see).
The other week in a doubles match the opponents were drive/smashing like crazy at me from a mid court position. It was wierd because I was getting every thing back, and then the last shot I controlled for a flat net shot and they hit the reply in the net. Just wasn't thinking, it 'happened'! I "marshalled"..........

[cooler]

you mean 'court marshalled' :lol:
cheung, your opponent's repetitive smashes actually helped you in tuning up your defense (like doing a drill with a game) and sharpened your smash return.

[cooler]

marshall, for me, the thrilling part is executing shots that i couldn't do before. It is a great feeling for anybody to know he/she had overcomed his/her weakness, in badminton and life in general.

[May]

who plays twice as well as u????? pls be specific.

[May]

Yeah, that's the only time when my backhands any good.

[marshall]

I've been playing for 4 years, ever since I accidentally saw a tournament in Maryland.

[marshall]

Cooler. I'm sure he plays at *least* twice as well. I've only been playing 4 years.

[Brett]

Marshall, do you live in Maryland? Or, if memory serves me correctly, are you currently living in Louisiana? Just curious, as I've lived in both states.

[cooler]

thanks for the compliment marshall. You still have many good years left though.

[May]

Well, that's abt the same as me, I have played since I was 8.

[May]

cooler, may I know where u got ur nic???? I know somebody who uses the nic coolfromcanada.

[May]

U guys can't seem to concentrate. It isn't that hard getting into that zone when u r playing badminton. That's if u don't have an irritating coach telling u this and that, trying to improve on ur game.

[marshall]

I live in Louisiana. I was in Maryland visiting friends and happened to see a tournament. It was the first time I had ever seen competitive badminton and I got a racquet when I got back home.

[Brett]

I lived in Slidell (home of blues great Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown if I'm not mistaken) for a year at the end of my high school years. Great place to visit, but I was glad my dad's employer transferred him elsewhere. Too darn hot and humid in Louisiana.

[cooler]

no special meaning or purpose, just easy to type and still available from my internet service provider.

[Cheung]

Is that all? But you've been on the badminton message boards for as long as I can remember, even b4 inception of BC.

[mongoose]

Yesterday afternoon, I found myself playing doubles in what most tennis players would call, "in the zone".
I was fully focused.
My concentration was super sharp.
Everything went right.
My movement was fast and smooth.
Shots were crisp and accurate.
Anticipation and reading of the game was at an "out of this world" level.
I could drive back most of my opponents' smashes.
I could intercept almost all of the drives and pushes when I was at the net.
From the backcourt I could execute a backhand drive straight into my opponent's chest.
I could pinpoint my smashes straight into my opponents right hip...... etc etc etc :D

The last time I played close to this level was in 1997!

I can't really explain how I got in this "zone" or state of concentration/focus or whatever you may call it.
But the feeling at that time was like I was in a state of TOTAL CONTROL.
At the end of the game, I wasn't even tired.
It was like I was running on pure adrenaline alone! Hehe!

Have anyone else experienced this before?

[timeless]

Oh all the time...

... then I wake up and reality sets in. ;)

[jwu]

:D good reply timeless.

Yeah I had games like that before, probably coz I had a good night's sleep, good partner, a little psyched up about the game...there could numerous reasons. We all have bad days and good days.

[kwun]

i just have to bring back this old thread.

was visiting a friend's place yesterday, while we stepped in, he was watching "The Last Samurai" in DVD.

so i sat down and watched a bit with him. then comes the scene when Algren (Tom Cruise) was duelling against this Samurai with wooden swords, the others were betting on the results. Algren lost the few intially but later he remember what he was told by Nobutada (Katsumoto's son), "too many minds, no minds." then the cinematic effect had Algren going through the moves in his mind in fast blurry motion, then he fought and drew with the Samurai with "no minds".

my immediate reaction was, "he was in THE ZONE!"

[BoboTheBadder]

I'm in the zone for computer games sometimes. :D

I suck too bad at badminton to be "in the zone." Even if I was I probably wouldn't do much better heh

[Optiblue]

must revive this thread!!! I always reach this point when I'm very exhausted and tired where I can't even think and everything just works... I think it has something to do with using less of your arms muscles cuz it's so exhausted and you start relying on wrist power... the stronger I got, the harder it was to reach this point!

[iacon]

I remember once I were in the zone. It was a singles quarterfinal, I'd got through to the quarterfinals winning 17-16 in third set.
Well, the quarterfinal started quite nice, I think it lasted 10 minutes getting to 2-2 and then my opponent just started scoring. He won 2-15 and was leading 13-2 in second set, when it happened. Suddenly I just couldn't do anything wrong. I made it to 14-13 and had setpoints but then it just "clicked" back, and he won 15-17..

[Aleik]

That May sounds like a bit of an antagonistic so-and-so! Why isn't she still on the forum?

Aleik.