I received an e-mail that OCBC has lowered it's non-member, walk-in rate to $12.00 on Saturdays! :D

I'll be there this Saturday in the mid to late afternoon. I plan to take a lesson with Halim.

So, if you see a Panda getting run around, that'll be me. :p

And please post yor training video on Youtube afterward, Master NGP :D.

And please post yor training video on Youtube afterward, Master NGP :D.

No way! But I'll post Halim and me playing two others though. ;)

I'll just stay in the front and let Halim blast away. :D

is the price drop due to ABC opening soon? i'm guessing because a comparable gym to OCBC didn't exist prior to ABC .... whatever it is, it would be good news to all badminton players in the LA area.

Is this price drop just for Sat. or all days ?

I received an e-mail that OCBC has lowered it's non-member, walk-in rate to $12.00 on Saturdays! :D

I'll be there this Saturday in the mid to late afternoon. I plan to take a lesson with Halim.

So, if you see a Panda getting run around, that'll be me. :p
..hmm, let me guess, the email must be from the Polar Bear??..:confused::p..Wow, will this be our Master NGP's first ever training lesson from Halim??:cool:;)...That's not a bad deal..Hmm, how abt the shuttles?? Do we still need to use OCBC's shuttles or we can use our own??..:confused:
And please post yor training video on Youtube afterward, Master NGP :D.
No way! But I'll post Halim and me playing two others though. ;)

I'll just stay in the front and let Halim blast away. :D
..ya, ya, ya, please post a video, on youtube, of you getting run around WITH Halim, Master NGP..We'd like to see our Master NGP set up some smashes, ala Tony G., for Halim..:cool::);)

Is this price drop just for Sat. or all days ?

Please read more carefully. :p

My original post says Saturdays. So to my knowledge, it's Saturdays only.

Who knows, they may change it. :)

Come on over and play!

It'll be Mr. Polar Bear aka VTec101 and Halim vs. me and whoever...you! We're gonna get run! :p...:D

Chris, you should come on down and play too. It'll be fun. :D

As for shuttles, I have my AS-50s and OCBC Premiums in my racket bag already so no worries. :p

..hmm, let me guess, the email must be from the Polar Bear??..:confused::p..Wow, will this be our Master NGP's first ever training lesson from Halim??:cool:;)...That's not a bad deal..Hmm, how abt the shuttles?? Do we still need to use OCBC's shuttles or we can use our own??..:confused:


..ya, ya, ya, please post a video, on youtube, of you getting run around WITH Halim, Master NGP..We'd like to see our Master NGP set up some smashes, ala Tony G., for Halim..:cool::);)

Dink it! The action must be recorded and posted on YouTube then! Come on Master Chris, get your Butt over there and do the recording :p:D.

Come on over and play!

It'll be Mr. Polar Bear aka VTec101 and Halim vs. me and whoever...you! We're gonna get run! :p...:D

Dink it! The action must be recorded and posted on YouTube then! Come on Master Chris, get your Butt over there and do the recording :p:D.

Dink it yes! But record it, no! Don't cha know panda's are camera shy. :o...:p

Chris, you should come on down and play too. It'll be fun. :D

As for shuttles, I have my AS-50s and OCBC Premiums in my racket bag already so no worries. :p
:p..i won't come, to play or to record the actions, but please pass my regards to Halim...thanks, Master NGP!;):):cool:

And please post yor training video on Youtube afterward, Master NGP :D.

yeah, but no nudity please. :rolleyes:
we're all prudes here. :D

It's set: Panda and Coach Don vs. Halim and Polar Bear. :D

Dink dink dink dink dink!!!!

Hi everyone, this is to confirm that it is now $12 dollars on Saturdays @ OCBC, and you will still need to used either Yonex or OCBC shuttles to play there. Thanks for coming down on Saturday Mr. Panda, too bad Don didn't make it. Maybe next time.

Hi everyone, this is to confirm that it is now $12 dollars on Saturdays @ OCBC, and you will still need to used either Yonex or OCBC shuttles to play there. Thanks for coming down on Saturday Mr. Panda, too bad Don didn't make it. Maybe next time.

Maybe next time for Coach Don. No worries though, Sergio and I had fun getting worked by you and Halim. :p Thank Halim for giving us the first game; Sergio was so stoked that "we got a game off a world champ." :p:p:p

It was my first time at OCBC and it is a first-rate badminton club, the nicest club I've been to.:) The flooring is the best I've ever played on. Love the Yonex mats, especially playing on the actual mats from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics!

Halim is so nice, humble and unassuming. He's a great coach too. Told me instantly what I need to work on and how to fine tune my shots. Of course he's an amazing player with incredible shots.

It was a great experience, thanks to the Polar Bear for setting it up! :D

The flooring is the best I've ever played on. Love the Yonex mats, especially playing on the actual mats from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics!

11 years on, they're still good? :eek::eek::eek:
Er, was no one playing on them? :confused:

Halim is so nice, humble and unassuming. He's a great coach too. Told me instantly what I need to work on and how to fine tune my shots.:D

How about passing on those tips? :D

Maybe next time for Coach Don. No worries though, Sergio and I had fun getting worked by you and Halim. :p Thank Halim for giving us the first game; Sergio was so stoked that "we got a game off a world champ." :p:p:p

It was my first time at OCBC and it is a first-rate badminton club, the nicest club I've been to.:) The flooring is the best I've ever played on. Love the Yonex mats, especially playing on the actual mats from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics!

Halim is so nice, humble and unassuming. He's a great coach too. Told me instantly what I need to work on and how to fine tune my shots. Of course he's an amazing player with incredible shots.

It was a great experience, thanks to the Polar Bear for setting it up! :D
How about passing on those tips? :D
..you had a blast playing this past weekend, Master NGP..;):D:cool:...Were you in a bit of an awe while playing against Halim?? Did you also play with Halim or against him all the time?? Did Halim rotate & play with all 3 of you guys?? How many hours did you actually spend your time there?? And did the lesson cost you only $12.00?? Or you had to pay extra for the lesson??..:confused:
And yeah, since there are no pics or videos, could you please pass the "tips" Halim gave to you, Master NGP...We want a "free" lesson from our Master NGP..hehe:D:p;):cool:

Dang Chris, so many questions. If you showed up, you would have them all. ;)

Answers:

+Nope, not in awe at all. In fact, I played even better.

+I only played against Halim a few games. Most of the time was spent training.

+Cost: $12 Guest Fee + $65 Non-Member Private Lesson = $77 Total.

+I played from 4:30pm to 10:00pm.

+I cannot pass all the tips because each person is different with different needs. What universal tips I can pass along are things most should know; they are the following:

1) Make sure to get maximum extension and hit the shuttle out in front

2) When pushing/driving the shuttle, meet the shuttle by intercepting it (always try to get to the shuttle early). Try to cut-off the angle and get to the shuttle out in front. For instance, if you are facing the net, you are at the 12 o'clock position, if the shuttle is hit to the side of you, you want to cut it off early, at ideally 1 o'clock or 2 o'clock, not 3 o'clock.

3) Work on making your shots all the same. Mask them so it's hard to read whether you're going to clear, smash or drop.

4) Everyone can work on wrist power. Halim told me not to work with weights or use a weight racket at all. Instead, use an expendable racket, put on one of those half racket covers (that only cover the head) and use that racket to practice pushing/driving the shuttle. When you push and there is maximum air resistance that's when you're doing it right.

That's about it. :)


..you had a blast playing this past weekend, Master NGP..;):D:cool:...Were you in a bit of an awe while playing against Halim?? Did you also play with Halim or against him all the time?? Did Halim rotate & play with all 3 of you guys?? How many hours did you actually spend your time there?? And did the lesson cost you only $12.00?? Or you had to pay extra for the lesson??..:confused:
And yeah, since there are no pics or videos, could you please pass the "tips" Halim gave to you, Master NGP...We want a "free" lesson from our Master NGP..hehe:D:p;):cool:

Dang Chris, so many questions. If you showed up, you would have them all. ;)
..yeah, i know, i know..:p:o
Answers:

+Nope, not in awe at all. In fact, I played even better.

+I only played against Halim a few games. Most of the time was spent training.

+Cost: $12 Guest Fee + $65 Non-Member Private Lesson = $77 Total.

+I played from 4:30pm to 10:00pm.

+I cannot pass all the tips because each person is different with different needs. What universal tips I can pass along are things most should know; they are the following:

1) Make sure to get maximum extension and hit the shuttle out in front

2) When pushing/driving the shuttle, meet the shuttle by intercepting it (always try to get to the shuttle early). Try to cut-off the angle and get to the shuttle out in front. For instance, if you are facing the net, you are at the 12 o'clock position, if the shuttle is hit to the side of you, you want to cut it off early, at ideally 1 o'clock or 2 o'clock, not 3 o'clock.

3) Work on making your shots all the same. Mask them so it's hard to read whether you're going to clear, smash or drop.

4) Everyone can work on wrist power. Halim told me not to work with weights or use a weight racket at all. Instead, use an expendable racket, put on one of those half racket covers (that only cover the head) and use that racket to practice pushing/driving the shuttle. When you push and there is maximum air resistance that's when you're doing it right.

That's about it. :)
..wow, that's awesome, Dan!!:D..(clap3x)..http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif..Wah, 5+ hrs of training/lesson plus getting in some matches; and you're all "cool" playing against Halim...:cool:;)Thanks for sharing more on your experience!!:cool:..And the tips you've shared w/us, i'm sure that'll be an invaluable tips and infos most of us here can use. Esp. the last point abt the "wrist power" training, knowing there have been countless of people inquiring abt the same thing. I know each player has his or her own method(s) of training the wrist, but good to know that it can also be achieved in a "simpler" way.:cool:

So, when is the next scheduled training w/Halim??:confused::p..And a few more of these training w/ Halim and we shall call you NGP................New Grandmaster Panda:D;)

I'm tentatively scheduled to go back two weeks from now. I can't make it next Saturday.

As for training wrist power, who's to doubt Halim's advice? I've seen some strong wrists but Halim's is the strongest. If you play against him, make sure the shuttle is below the net when he reaches the shuttle (drop or smash). If above the net, he'll just snap his wrist and push the shuttle to a corner so hard, you won't be able to make an effective return, if you can even reach the shuttle. And if you float a return back to him, don't bother trying to return the shuttle that will go the opposite of the direction you are travelling. :p And if you stay in the middle, it'll be in one of the corner boxes.

You have to keep Halim on the run or off balance to have any chance. Wait, isn't that what you're supposed to try and do to any opponent? ;):D

..wow, that's awesome, Dan!!:D..(clap3x)..http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif..Wah, 5+ hrs of training/lesson plus getting in some matches; and you're all "cool" playing against Halim...:cool:;)Thanks for sharing more on your experience!!:cool:..And the tips you've shared w/us, i'm sure that'll be an invaluable tips and infos most of us here can use. Esp. the last point abt the "wrist power" training, knowing there have been countless of people inquiring abt the same thing. I know each player has his or her own method(s) of training the wrist, but good to know that it can also be achieved in a "simpler" way.:cool:

So, when is the next scheduled training w/Halim??:confused::p

I'm tentatively scheduled to go back two weeks from now. I can't make it next Saturday.

As for training wrist power, who's to doubt Halim's advice? I've seen some strong wrists but Halim's is the strongest. If you play against him, make sure the shuttle is below the net when he reaches the shuttle (drop or smash). If above the net, he'll just snap his wrist and push the shuttle to a corner so hard, you won't be able to make an effective return, if you can even reach the shuttle. And if you float a return back to him, don't bother trying to return the shuttle that will go the opposite of the direction you are travelling. :p And if you stay in the middle, it'll be in one of the corner boxes.

You have to keep Halim on the run or off balance to have any chance. Wait, isn't that what you're supposed to try and do to any opponent? ;):D
..i hear ya:)...Did you ask how often hrs), say per week, does one need to train for wrist strength??..I assume he said train til the wrist feels like it's about to fall off?..:p..Did he give you any tips on footwork and how to get around the court??..I'm sure that's one of a key elements in the game..;):cool:

Master Chris, why do ya show up and train with Master NGP to find out :D?

..i hear ya:)...Did you ask how often hrs), say per week, does one need to train for wrist strength??..I assume he said train til the wrist feels like it's about to fall off?..:p..Did he give you any tips on footwork and how to get around the court??..I'm sure that's one of a key elements in the game..;):cool:

Master Chris, why do ya show up and train with Master NGP to find out :D?


Egg zachary!

Chris, you should show up and you can ask Coach Halim yourself. :D

Egg zachary!
Chris, you should show up and you can ask Coach Halim yourself. :D

Obviously, he's worried about the $77 part :D

Obviously, he's worried about the $77 part :D

Nope, it would only be $12 because I'm the one who will schedule the lesson.

Master Chris, why do ya show up and train with Master NGP to find out :D?
Egg zachary!

Chris, you should show up and you can ask Coach Halim yourself. :D
Obviously, he's worried about the $77 part :D
Nope, it would only be $12 because I'm the one who will schedule the lesson.
..i'm afraid if i go and train w/ Master NGP, i'll be so excited that i might end up taking away most of the training time from Master NGP's scheduled lesson w/Halim:p...And i don't want to upset our NGP...If that happens, Master NGP will be serving some "lessons" to Master Chris..:crying::rolleyes::D;)

Master NGP will not be upset. Private lesson is very demanding. An extra 5 minutes break is helpful.

..i'm afraid if i go and train w/ Master NGP, i'll be so excited that i might end up taking away most of the training time from Master NGP's scheduled lesson w/Halim:p...And i don't want to upset our NGP...If that happens, Master NGP will be serving some "lessons" to Master Chris..:crying::rolleyes::D;)