• Better Badminton : The Power of 4

    For any player who plays badminton, its always a dream for him to able to improve how he plays and eventually become a better player. Regardless if you are a beginner, intermediate or an advance level player, improving the way you play is always a continuous and on going process of learning in Badminton that every player needs to go through in order to upgrade themselves.

    Discussing in regards about how one can improve the way he plays is a vast topic and the inputs available are a lot. Since the information available in hand are a lot, it can become dilute to understand what's the core element that the player needs to emphasize first as a starting point before gradually learn more about how he can improve how he plays badminton.

    Like any quality improvement process, without proper guidance, whatever correct input available, the output will eventually will be incorrect. In referring this to Badminton, regardless whatever theory in hands that you have on how you can improve the way you play but then, without the correct guidance on how to transform that information to proper practical knowledge, the results will eventually will be incorrect and you will not improve much. Therefore, having a trained coach, an experienced mentor or a player can help very much.

    In this blog, i want to discussed only the theory surrounding "the power of 4" that are the foundation in Badminton coaching module that all player must comply in the path for him to improve the way he plays. Most coaching information or guide available will emphasize from certain approach but here, i want to simply its concept for easy understanding in order for you to know where to start and what are the priority information in becoming a better player that you need to emphasize:

    1. Better Badminton : The power of 4

    The 4 elements that you need to seriously learn and master are:

    a. The power of Fitness
    b. The power of Proper Footwork
    c. The power of Correct Technique
    d. The power of Strong Mental

    a. The power of Fitness

    Its extremely important in Badminton that you are always fit be it playing or training. The importance of fitness is very important as it plays an important role on how you can improve because:

    - By being fit, you will have the physical ability to continuously learn properly
    - By being fit, you will have the mental ability to continuously learn properly

    b. The power of Proper Footwork

    The role of footwork in badminton is extremely important since every strokes you do, require you to make few steps of footwork FIRST. Without able to initiate a proper footwork, it simply to say that you WILL NOT ABLE TO POSITION YOURSELF PROPERLY TO EXECUTE THE CORRECT STROKES ( and don't blame your racket for this if it happens).

    c. The power of Correct Technique.

    The application of the correct technique while executing any strokes is extremely important since without knowing the knowledge of the correct technique and also the correct application of such knowledge will eventually leads to unsatisfactory hits. The application of such correct technique is so important because by combining it with the proper footwork movements, the impact of the strokes unload will be solid thus making the chance for it to be a winning strokes higher.

    d. The power of Strong Mental

    The psychology in Badminton has an important role as part of the process of learning to become a better player. Having a strong mental in Badminton in very important because:

    - It influence one's self confidence.
    - It influence the thought of making the right decision
    - It influence the way we properly strategies our game play
    - It influence the Physical strength

    Having a strong and correct mental attitude will create a stronger character inside a player mind that able him to impose the will to play confidently regardless with who he plays with.
    This article was originally published in blog: Better Badminton : The Power of 4 started by shooting stroke
    Comments 20 Comments
    1. khmaiboi92's Avatar
      khmaiboi92 -
      This is very informative. With the power of 4, everyone and anyone can strive to be a better player.
    1. Bbn's Avatar
      Bbn -
      Sounds almost like Han Jian.

      Later on you might want to advice on 3 advanced elements ie:

      1) Playing the correct strokes. Misbun Sidek as a player was known always to execute the wrong strokes at the wrong time as a young player without a coach ( he chose to be self-coached).
      2) The importance of recovery after executing a stroke.
      3) Anticipating the return after the stroke has been executed.

      Thanks for the tips
    1. cobalt's Avatar
      cobalt -
      Great article! Thanks for posting it. Some suggestions and observations...

      #2 The power of Footwork: is also important to ensure that you don't pick up any injuries by using incorrect movements or by not getting to the correct position and over-reaching. Correct footwork of course, is also dependent on fitness!

      #4 The power of mental strength: may want to give examples of visialization/meditation techniques to calm the mind and achieve focus with intention.
    1. shooting stroke's Avatar
      shooting stroke -
      Quote Originally Posted by Bbn View Post
      Sounds almost like Han Jian.

      Later on you might want to advice on 3 advanced elements ie:

      1) Playing the correct strokes. Misbun Sidek as a player was known always to execute the wrong strokes at the wrong time as a young player without a coach ( he chose to be self-coached).
      2) The importance of recovery after executing a stroke.
      3) Anticipating the return after the stroke has been executed.

      Thanks for the tips
      For any strokes performed, a player need to complete the below phase:

      Ready ------> Prepare ------>Hit -------> Recover------->Ready

      The definition of recovery here refers to two important elements:

      a. Technical recovery
      b. Tactical recovery

      Technical recovery

      Its the ability of a player to recover his vision, body, arm and racket posture after making a hit before going into the readiness phase. After making any hit, a player must able to recover his body posture quickly, head upright facing towards his opponent and the arm and racket head should be held high or head level.

      It is important for a player able to technically recover well after making a hit because:
      - To physically prepare his body and arm posture for the next readiness phase
      - To increase the responsiveness for the next hit
      - To improve the alertness in order to anticipate the next possible hit
      - To facilitate the awarness for any empty space in the opponent court for the next hit

      Tactical recovery

      Its the ability of a player's on court foot movement responsiveness (footwork) to recover well after making a hit in order to make the next hit. The importance of recovering tactically well are:
      - Would allow a player to gear and momentum his foot movements quickly back towards the centre court.
      - To prepare the body posture to comfortably position himself to do the next hit correctly
      - To improve the responsiveness to position himself for the next hit.

      Quote Originally Posted by cobalt View Post
      Great article! Thanks for posting it. Some suggestions and observations...

      #2 The power of Footwork: is also important to ensure that you don't pick up any injuries by using incorrect movements or by not getting to the correct position and over-reaching. Correct footwork of course, is also dependent on fitness!

      #4 The power of mental strength: may want to give examples of visialization/meditation techniques to calm the mind and achieve focus with intention.
      Below are the summary of the Stress Reduction Technique, adapt from the Badminton of England (BAE) coaching module that i used:

      1. Mental simulation training
      - Simulate the conditions which cause stress and find ways to resolve them.
      2. Muscle relaxation techniques
      - Tense then relax the muscles.
      3. Positive affirmations techniques
      - Say it to yourself, for example, I’m fit and feel good and I’m going to win.

      Meditation wise, i have a few indian students that is hot tempered in nature that says Yoga can bring the calm to them and boost the moral while in game.
    1. bad boys's Avatar
      bad boys -
      yeah agreed with all above..
      that why i need 2 find a coach that can teach me how 2 play badminton in proper way..
      somebody please
    1. knighttrainer's Avatar
      knighttrainer -
      The next issue would smash-outa-yer-mind:

      HOW CAN AN ATHLETE BRIDGE THE GAP of "training and playing?" Any expert advice my fellow shuttlers...? Mr Kwun or anyone...?

      I like the this stuff!!! Great smashing idea!!!
    1. Pakito's Avatar
      Pakito -
      This site provides more info than BadmintonFreak.com will ever have.
    1. aruntaufik's Avatar
      aruntaufik -
      how to tactically recover soon????
    1. Niel Perez 19's Avatar
      Niel Perez 19 -
      could i ask how to detect the opponents weakness during a game????????????????????
    1. shooting stroke's Avatar
      shooting stroke -
      Quote Originally Posted by Niel Perez 19 View Post
      could i ask how to detect the opponents weakness during a game????????????????????
      Hi Niel, you can refer this question to this following thread : http://www.badmintoncentral.com/foru...nents-Weakness.
    1. syhaff's Avatar
      syhaff -
      :crying it was raining cant watch live world badminton tournamnet...
    1. undeadshot's Avatar
      undeadshot -
      Ah, the basics of badminton. Good article. Strokes aren't everything and the four mentioned will help you achieve/perform the strokes that you want to do.
    1. WilsonFXPC's Avatar
      WilsonFXPC -
      I couldn't agree more. Anyway, i just discovered that Fuji Xerox is giving exclusive postcards signed by the SEA medalists Check it out : http://www.facebook.com/FujiXeroxPri...annelSingapore Got free vouchers too.
    1. tiansia's Avatar
      tiansia -
      Moderator please delete my post, thank you.
      And let me try again:

      Hi, I just couldn't help but relate this to the current 4 kings we have in Badminton. Note that I'm not saying they're the best in all time, but what I'm saying it's something you can relate each of the power of 4 to:-

      The Power of 4 & The 4 Kings:
      The Power of Fitness - Peter Hoeg Gade
      The Power of Proper Footwork - Lee Chong Wei
      The Power of Correct Technique - Taufik Hidayat
      The Power of Strong Mental - Lin Dan

      The Power of Fitness, Peter Gade:
      There is no doubt about it, at age 35 and still ranking in the top 5 in the world after his 18 years of professional career, this man is definitely very fit. His trademark tactics and consistency shows that even at an age where many would retire, he's still got it.

      The Power of Footwork, Lee Chong Wei:
      The world No.1 are among the fastest to glide around the around the court and sometimes appear to be a tiger pouncing on net kill all the way from the rear court. He's also excellent on placing smashes and rushing to secure the net play right after. But among the best of players, the one thing he excels better than others is his defensive dives. There was a match between him and LD where he dived simultaneously to clear smashes on each side of the court, bringing utter disbelief to his opponent and the audience. If you say footwork, he is definitely No.1.

      The Power of Correct Technique, Taufik Hidayat:
      Taking his first major title at the age of 17, and then at least one each year for 14 consecutive years, including an olympic gold, this man has got the skills. In the world of badminton, he holds the title for fastest smash in men singles, at a staggering 305kph, and he is the undisputed king of backhand. Looking very relaxed on court, even at the net proves just how confident he is in his techniques, and my God are they awesome to look at. Opening an academy soon, we hope to see the future generation learning their ways from him.

      The Power of Strong Mental, Lin Dan:
      Last but not least, the person that many people consider the true king of badminton, titled Super Dan in China, sole player to ever won all 9 major titles including an Olympic Gold, this man is no joke. Obviously, he would had to have the mental ability to do it. Though he appears to be shy and private to the public media, he possesses a fiery spirit on court. Never giving in, believing he could take on any shot, and winning the rally. One of the many shocking rallies was the one played against LCW where he saved an unbelievable shot at the way end of the rear court where a split second ago he was in net position and was decieved by his opponent. That took extraordinary skill but even higher mental belief to achive.

      So there you have it, my interpretation of the Power of 4 with the 4 kings. Feel free to add anything. =)
    1. Vamp1868's Avatar
      Vamp1868 -
      Good information here. I am a beginner and definitely agree that power of 4 are important. I am joining some training held by club now.. and hope that will help me improve my skill over time
    1. shooting stroke's Avatar
      shooting stroke -
      Quote Originally Posted by Vamp1868 View Post
      Good information here. I am a beginner and definitely agree that power of 4 are important. I am joining some training held by club now.. and hope that will help me improve my skill over time
      Good Luck
    1. snbdebasish's Avatar
      snbdebasish -
      If there are any type of badminton tournament held in saltlake(Single,Doubles,Mixed doubles), Please let me known.I am interested to play the tournaments. My email adress is "snbdebasish@gmail.com" my ph. no. is 8926050140
    1. Mbeth82's Avatar
      Mbeth82 -
      Hi everyone i am still new at the page i really like to play badminton i am not from wolverhampton is anyone here will help me find badminton court near walpole street thansk n advance
    1. krish 11's Avatar
      krish 11 -
      awesome article thanks for posting it it is very informative
    1. PHXBC's Avatar
      PHXBC -
      awesome article thanks for posting