I was poking around on some badminton brand pages on facebook, and came across Yonex USA's Flickr photos of the 2011 Badminton World Championships. There are 8 photos of Taufik, 9 of LCW, and 8 of Peter Gade. Taufik's album first. http://www.flickr.com/photos/65766362@N02/sets/72157627439850751/ LCW's http://www.flickr.com/photos/65766362@N02/sets/72157627439715397/ Peter Gade's http://www.flickr.com/photos/65766362@N02/sets/72157627439528649/ Now, what I'm posting for is their grip as they prepare to swing. Their grips don't look anything like thejym's in his badminton pronation how to clear/smash video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNVC5PVJyPQ If I tighten a bit with the grip in thejym's video, I actually get a grip that sort of looks like Peter Gade's in this specific picture. http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6083/6100419535_591c5ee19d_b.jpg Are they using different grips on purpose, or is it just nervousness making them change their grip? Also, if they are using different grips from thejym's, do they have any advantages, and should I try them out? The only reason I could imagine them purposely having a tighter grip would be for more precise/accurate shots. Thanks, Q
Firstly I think he is exaggerating the looseness of his grip and the spread of fingers a bit at the start of the video, its a good video overall. Secondly even the pros have slight variation in grip. LD is quite closed, Gade is quite open. Taufik on some shots is even more open
I just use Badminton Bible's basic grip. I'm sure thejym's forehand grip is just a basic grip when tightened.
Personally, it looks to me like they are all using something extremely close to a basic grip. I agree with dlp that thejyms grip he shows is a little looser and he spreads his fingers more than the professional pictures you show. However, if you were to move thejyms fingers closer together, I feel you would get something that looked EXACTLY like each of those professional pictures, with allowances for the fact that LCW looks to be using a much thinner grip than peter gade etc. Everyone tends to be a little bit different on the basic grip, just a couple of degrees either way is not going to change much. My opinion is, that if you are using thejyms grip, or the badminton bible basic grip, or something almost identical, then you are ok. The angle it sits in the hand is whats important, whereas the finger spreading and exact placement is quite personal.
Both Lee Chong Wei and Peter Gade have a very good overhead deceptive shot. If you look closely to their game against unseeded player, they have very smooth clear stroke that sometimes misread as drop. My clear (almost) always has better accuracy and stroke path with loose grip. I don't know how to put this, but loose grip allow the racket to follow through with less effort, while tight grip can give uncomfortable strain to the wrist. Taufik and Lin Dan have good clear, but not as deceptive as Chong Wei and Peter. The different is tight vs. loose grip. Anyway, that is base on my observation, C&C are welcome.