I'm watching the XD finals for the All England SS, and Gao Ling seems to have the habit of rubbing her racket handle/grip against her shirt before she serves or receives.

I have heard of people who rub the shuttle against their strings before serving, but not much else.

Perhaps people would like to share their observation of why people found such gestures, and what they've witnessed in their own games with others, professionals, etc.

You sure it's not because she wants to dry up sweat from her grip? Sounds pretty normal to me.

No, because she does it almost every time. I dont think it would be necessary to dry up sweat from a grip. I don't see how that would work. You'd think it'd be absorbed into the grip already. Also, it's not really the portion of the handle where she grips, anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP1Y3gCRqEY&feature=related at 5:00 is a close-up of this.

Just saw that portion, I still think that it's plausible that she did it to remove sweat from her grip. In doubles, you shift position along the grip all the time depending on your court position. Also if one has more sweat glands on the hands and arms, grips won't absorb all the sweat. In addition, the more popular polyurethane grips don't absorb as much sweat as cloth ones.

It could also be a force of habit or good luck routine, but mainly I see the functionality of her gesture to remove excess sweat.

I've noticed Gale Emms has a wierd habit whilst she waits for Nathan to serve, she brings her racket up repeatedly as if waiting for the serve, only to be kept waiting further.... if that makes sense, and she looks round at nathan 3 times before he finally serves. I watched her over the weekend and she does it everytime.

Tell you some annoying habits that really get me angry, at one of my local clubs, the older members have some interesting tricks. One guy will pick the shuttle up off the floor walk towards the T, and serve without looking up once to see where people are or if they are ready, countless time I have had my back to the net when he serves, also nine times out of ten, its an illegal serve too.....
Also, another guy from the same club, waits till you are ready, then stops, asks the score, and just as you have answered he serves, normally before you have had time to reset yourself.

Funny the things people do to win.......

I'm watching the XD finals for the All England SS, and Gao Ling seems to have the habit of rubbing her racket handle/grip against her shirt before she serves or receives.

I have heard of people who rub the shuttle against their strings before serving, but not much else.

Perhaps people would like to share their observation of why people found such gestures, and what they've witnessed in their own games with others, professionals, etc.

GL is signaling her partner, whether is low or high serve to opponent.
rubbing shuttle to string, roughen the cork, better grip to string, better slice control.

Ever seen Sigit get ready to receive serve? :D:D

If you're not ready when the opponents serve just stand still and don't move towards the shuttle. Then just say you weren't ready and you start the serve over.

Regards

I've noticed Gale Emms has a wierd habit whilst she waits for Nathan to serve, she brings her racket up repeatedly as if waiting for the serve, only to be kept waiting further.... if that makes sense, and she looks round at nathan 3 times before he finally serves. I watched her over the weekend and she does it everytime.

Tell you some annoying habits that really get me angry, at one of my local clubs, the older members have some interesting tricks. One guy will pick the shuttle up off the floor walk towards the T, and serve without looking up once to see where people are or if they are ready, countless time I have had my back to the net when he serves, also nine times out of ten, its an illegal serve too.....
Also, another guy from the same club, waits till you are ready, then stops, asks the score, and just as you have answered he serves, normally before you have had time to reset yourself.

Funny the things people do to win.......

If you're not ready when the opponents serve just stand still and don't move towards the shuttle. Then just say you weren't ready and you start the serve over.

Regards

Yeh, I did that to start with, but they look at me like I'm a moron. Then claim they won the point. Its even got to the point now where they get quite nasty about it. Its just old men who's bad habits die hard, doing what they can to try win a point imho.....

Ever seen Sigit get ready to receive serve? :D:D

WHat did he do??:confused::D

WHat did he do??:confused::D

If I remember correctly he used to move his racket a large amount slowly with a very loose grip in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the shuttle.

WHat did he do??:confused::D
Check it out sometime when he's receiving serve :D:D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV7-zBB-MHA

Ok..i got it..hehe..but is it really odd?

GL is signaling her partner, whether is low or high serve to opponent.
rubbing shuttle to string, roughen the cork, better grip to string, better slice control.

Do you know that for a fact? She does it before she or Zheng Bo receives, too. She holds her hand up to signal the opposing team to wait for a second while she does it. I don't think it has to do with sweating, nor do I believe she has a tendency to sweat that much. However, I had indeed thought that it might be for luck, or something of that nature.

Hah! That's actually cheating rather than an odd/lucky routine. We got quite a few folks doing that in our club, incidentally most of them are older folks:p. Usually I would tell them to re-serve the point again... not 'ask' as they're clearly in the wrong. I think one way of deterrent for that type of behaviour is to make a big deal out of it on the spot. These guys like to sneak a few points by relying on our courtesy and sportsmanship, making a big deal out of it would embarass them into stopping this nonsense.



Tell you some annoying habits that really get me angry, at one of my local clubs, the older members have some interesting tricks. One guy will pick the shuttle up off the floor walk towards the T, and serve without looking up once to see where people are or if they are ready, countless time I have had my back to the net when he serves, also nine times out of ten, its an illegal serve too.....
Also, another guy from the same club, waits till you are ready, then stops, asks the score, and just as you have answered he serves, normally before you have had time to reset yourself.

Funny the things people do to win.......

Er... that's not quirky behaviour though:D. The guy is downright intimidating shaking his racquet:cool:.

Ever seen Sigit get ready to receive serve? :D:D

I had one guy who did that to me, he kept asking us for the score and then serve when we try to answer... funny how he has to pick the moment to serve to ask for points. Well, he stopped that sh*i*t after I tapped his serve to his face while replying 'I don't know':D.

Yeh, I did that to start with, but they look at me like I'm a moron. Then claim they won the point. Its even got to the point now where they get quite nasty about it. Its just old men who's bad habits die hard, doing what they can to try win a point imho.....

Check it out sometime when he's receiving serve :D:D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV7-zBB-MHA

Don't get it. What does he do? What time on the video please?

Ye, the old guy who never waits till you are ready before he serves, I make sure now that inbetween points I just hit the shuttle away from him, so he has to go get it, giving me time to ready myself for the serve, and if at any point during the game I get a chance to bury a smash into his chest, I mite just do it....... :o

I had one guy who did that to me, he kept asking us for the score and then serve when we try to answer... funny how he has to pick the moment to serve to ask for points. Well, he stopped that sh*i*t after I tapped his serve to his face while replying 'I don't know':D.

lol! I seriously do find that these old people even here try to sneak these tricks in and to get points. It get's quite annoying for sure.

Haha, only habit that I'm consciously aware of doing during matches is jerking my head to flick my fringe out of my face. I'm a guy by the way. :D

Don't get it. What does he do? What time on the video please?
Watch his racquet. It looks very intimidating, but it's not odd, just unique.:D:D

Ye, the old guy who never waits till you are ready before he serves, I make sure now that inbetween points I just hit the shuttle away from him, so he has to go get it, giving me time to ready myself for the serve, and if at any point during the game I get a chance to bury a smash into his chest, I mite just do it....... :o

might just do it?
i wouldn't even need to think about it. but then again, if you do something like that, it would be sinking to their level of sportmanship...

i honestly would think older people would have at least the sportmanship to play "fair" considering they have been playing for a long time (at least i think so)...

thing is, a few of the people at this particular club, have been playing this way for years, and I think they see me as some "annoying young" player who moans about things like having new shuttles at the beginning of the night, and gets annoyed when people server too early.
When I first joined the club I pulled people up on things, but now I just try to ignore it, as long as I always beat these kind of people I think I maintain the moral highground, which is good enough for me :)



might just do it?
i wouldn't even need to think about it. but then again, if you do something like that, it would be sinking to their level of sportmanship...

i honestly would think older people would have at least the sportmanship to play "fair" considering they have been playing for a long time (at least i think so)...

I dont know why, dont know when started this but I always always always flip my racket and/or twist it in my hand. Also if i receive the serve i'll always wipe my shoes off on my hand (non-racket hand) But only the toe part of the shoes never the heal, just to make my self remember to stay on my toes :p

I remember LHI has a habit of moving the strings of his racket between each rally too. Not a big deal IMO.

Nah, I don't think it's odd cuz the strings move quite alot when the player slice his shots alot. Some strings move alot even when the player doesn't slice much. Personally I think it prolong the string's durability by maintaining the balanced support on the stringbed.

I remember LHI has a habit of moving the strings of his racket between each rally too. Not a big deal IMO.

You'll be surprised how many men never matured emotionally. Alot of them still act like kids when they argue among themselves.

thing is, a few of the people at this particular club, have been playing this way for years, and I think they see me as some "annoying young" player who moans about things like having new shuttles at the beginning of the night, and gets annoyed when people server too early.
When I first joined the club I pulled people up on things, but now I just try to ignore it, as long as I always beat these kind of people I think I maintain the moral highground, which is good enough for me :)

I probably have a lot of habits but this one is very obvious. When my partner is serving and I am standing behind him, I would tap my racket on the floor lightly for a couple times. I don't remember how it got started or why. I guess, looking back, it must be my way to get ready since I am neither serving nor receiving at the time :confused:

I wouldn't tap it too much. :p

I had one guy who did that to me, he kept asking us for the score and then serve when we try to answer... funny how he has to pick the moment to serve to ask for points. Well, he stopped that sh*i*t after I tapped his serve to his face while replying 'I don't know':D.

And that's why I never ask cappy75 the score. Ever. Again.

-dave
Hahahahhahahaha ... :D

Nah, dude. You're a true gentleman and a great sport. People would be crazy if they have problems with you!

BTW, he knew that he was getting on my nerve and yet he kept at it. Well, I had great pleasure returning that pop up serve of his with interest;).

And that's why I never ask cappy75 the score. Ever. Again.

-dave
Hahahahhahahaha ... :D

I think that dude read this forum :D. Not sure but he did ask about BC/BF in the past.

Nah, dude. You're a true gentleman and a great sport. People would be crazy if they have problems with you!

BTW, he knew that he was getting on my nerve and yet he kept at it. Well, I had great pleasure returning that pop up serve of his with interest;).

I'm watching the XD finals for the All England SS, and Gao Ling seems to have the habit of rubbing her racket handle/grip against her shirt before she serves or receives.

I have heard of people who rub the shuttle against their strings before serving, but not much else.

Perhaps people would like to share their observation of why people found such gestures, and what they've witnessed in their own games with others, professionals, etc.

i know a girl who does that too. :)

I've noticed Gale Emms has a wierd habit whilst she waits for Nathan to serve, she brings her racket up repeatedly as if waiting for the serve, only to be kept waiting further.... if that makes sense, and she looks round at nathan 3 times before he finally serves. I watched her over the weekend and she does it everytime.

Tell you some annoying habits that really get me angry, at one of my local clubs, the older members have some interesting tricks. One guy will pick the shuttle up off the floor walk towards the T, and serve without looking up once to see where people are or if they are ready, countless time I have had my back to the net when he serves, also nine times out of ten, its an illegal serve too.....
Also, another guy from the same club, waits till you are ready, then stops, asks the score, and just as you have answered he serves, normally before you have had time to reset yourself.

Funny the things people do to win.......

yeah, i have played with this type of player too but i simply did not react to the serve and told her to serve again because i was not ready.

now this guy is just plain not a gentleman.

Hah! That's actually cheating rather than an odd/lucky routine. We got quite a few folks doing that in our club, incidentally most of them are older folks:p. Usually I would tell them to re-serve the point again... not 'ask' as they're clearly in the wrong. I think one way of deterrent for that type of behaviour is to make a big deal out of it on the spot. These guys like to sneak a few points by relying on our courtesy and sportsmanship, making a big deal out of it would embarass them into stopping this nonsense.

agree. did that too. :)

I had one guy who did that to me, he kept asking us for the score and then serve when we try to answer... funny how he has to pick the moment to serve to ask for points. Well, he stopped that sh*i*t after I tapped his serve to his face while replying 'I don't know':D.

woh!! he had that coming. i just hope he was not injured in that lesson given. :)

If you know he's going to serve right while you're saying the score, you have a mental advantage and you can simply pounce on the serve and drive it into his face.

Barring that, you should just ask for a re-serve if you were caught offguard.