firstly, i don't believe no one other than me followed up to mlvezina's reponse on the similarity between the badminton upper hand motion and golf swing.

http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=75392#post75392

i personally find that to be a great explanation of the mechanics of a badminton stroke and why it is the way it is.

but however at the same time, i find it sad that we see no one doing the equivalent analysis for the badminton stroke as many people have done for golf. casually googling around landed quite a few papers devoted to it. sure, we know that about the only thing that golfers do is that one swing and in badminton, we have many other things to worry about like footwork and formation, etc. but still, the upper hand stroke is so fundamental to badminton it deserves some attention. anyway, perhaps it has been done but i have never seen any reference to it.

so here is a challenge. for those youngsters in the forum who are either planning to attend college, or is already attending college, take up mechanical engineering or a similar major or take some advance mechanical engineering classes. and for your thesis or final project, do a detail analysis of the badminton stroke. it will be a great contribution to the badminton community.

cheers.

Too late! already in BioChem:o

AFAIK Chinese and Scandinavian scientists did these studies.

For the Chinese part, I heard they started research back in the 60's. It is not by chance that they have the footwork and strokes the way they have. Should you have chance to speak to the higher level Chinese coaches/sports institute lecturers, they can tell you the physics behind each movement - from start, usually the feet or toes to end - your fingers. Unfortunately this knowledge you may not be able to find in books. Only through coaches, and if they are willing to tell you!!

Originally posted by viver
AFAIK Chinese and Scandinavian scientists did these studies.

For the Chinese part, I heard they started research back in the 60's. It is not by chance that they have the footwork and strokes the way they have. Should you have chance to speak to the higher level Chinese coaches/sports institute lecturers, they can tell you the physics behind each movement - from start, usually the feet or toes to end - your fingers. Unfortunately this knowledge you may not be able to find in books. Only through coaches, and if they are willing to tell you!!

I now recall a seminar in which I participated. A Chinese scientist working in Jubilee Sports center, HK, did a presentation of a biomechanical study on badminton. He chose to display a few computer produced graphics of the high clear movement. Probably with the right connections you may get a copy of the research.

Originally posted by kwun

so here is a challenge. for those youngsters in the forum who are either planning to attend college, or is already attending college, take up mechanical engineering or a similar major or take some advance mechanical engineering classes. and for your thesis or final project, do a detail analysis of the badminton stroke. it will be a great contribution to the badminton community.

cheers.

Also, minor in kinesiology.

Originally posted by Californian
Also, minor in kinesiology.

Methinks Kinesiology, Health Science, and Sports Science more approporiate majors than mech. eng.