2011 Super Series Finals: Day 5 (Finals Day) - Sun 18 Dec

***cobalt*** · 12-20-2011, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Loh

"When it is your turn to hit the bird" - not quite true because you can also limit your opponent's options by where and how you stand waiting for his response.

The net is the demarcation line. So long as you are on your side of the net and not invade your opponent's side, I see nothing wrong how close or far away you stand from the net, but just make sure you don't touch it.

If I stand right up near you and suddenly raise my hand toward your face, will you not flinch?

The flinch, even a teeny-weeny flinch, is enough for a player to mishit the shuttle, or do something he never intended to. Did I not then, unfairly influence the flow of play?

**CantSmashThis** · 12-20-2011, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Loh

"When it is your turn to hit the bird" - not quite true because you can also limit your opponent's options by where and how you stand waiting for his response.

I think in his sense, technically, you have not limited your opponent shots by where and how you stand. You can be standing waiting for a smash, that does not mean that your opponent will not smash. You can stand at the back of the court waiting for a clear. Your opponent can clear if they want to. It is not the smartest thing to do, but there is nothing impeding their way to clear that time.

**CantSmashThis** · 12-20-2011, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by cobalt

If I stand right up near you and suddenly raise my hand toward your face, will you not flinch?

The flinch, even a teeny-weeny flinch, is enough for a player to mishit the shuttle, or do something he never intended to. Did I not then, unfairly influence the flow of play?

Exactly what I have been trying to point out by saying there is hesitation by the player making the shot.

**Loh** · 12-21-2011, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by chris-ccc

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I am going for my Badminton now.

Will be back to read more comments about this matter/topic later.

You'll never know; From this discussion we, BCers, might come up with a new recommendation (to be sent to BWF to reconsider).

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That's the spirit man!

And I thank CST for his last comment.

**Loh** · 12-21-2011, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by cobalt

If I stand right up near you and suddenly raise my hand toward your face, will you not flinch?

The flinch, even a teeny-weeny flinch, is enough for a player to mishit the shuttle, or do something he never intended to. Did I not then, unfairly influence the flow of play?

Of course if it very close you will be affected but not necessarily stumped into inaction. As CST said it could result in a clash of rackets and perhaps tempers.

**visor** · 12-21-2011, 01:18 AM

thanks cantsmashthis for coming in to clear things up

makes perfect sense now

if saina was a foot further back, she probably wouldn't have been faulted

**suetyan** · 12-21-2011, 06:28 PM

But I am wondering, do the players know that, actually that kind of blocking is illegal in badminton? Like what LD (from the video) and Saina (from the picture) did. If they had known about it, why do they still put their rackets up before their opponents hit a stroke? If they had known that it is illegal, they should know they will not be awarded a point even though the shuttle 'luckily' hit their rackets and bounce back to their opponents' side. So, what for they still put their rackets up?

Or is it because they thought that is actually legal so they raise their rackets up and try for some luck?

**CantSmashThis** · 12-21-2011, 06:37 PM

I'm not quite sure, but it could be instinct to protect themselves. I guess for pros, that's how they may protect themself.

As for me, I'd cower down into a ball.

**chris-ccc** · 12-21-2011, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by suetyan

But I am wondering, do the players know that, actually that kind of blocking is illegal in badminton? Like what LD (from the video) and Saina (from the picture) did. If they had known about it, why do they still put their rackets up before their opponents hit a stroke? If they had known that it is illegal, they should know they will not be awarded a point even though the shuttle 'luckily' hit their rackets and bounce back to their opponents' side. So, what for they still put their rackets up?

Or is it because they thought that is actually legal so they raise their rackets up and try for some luck?

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Question: Why do they still put their rackets up before their opponents hit a stroke?

Like CantSmashThis has replied; it could be the instinct to protect themselves.

For me as a coach, I tell my trainees/charges it's illegal to do that. I am sure that qualified coaches would have told their charges the same.

When we players enter tournaments, we need to know the Laws of Badminton; then we can understand how umpires make their calls.

It's silly for players and umpires (and tournament referee) to bring out the book of Laws of Badminton during the match to settle the dispute.

Anyway, it's good that this issue/matter has now been informed for our BC members.

As I have said before, when I see a player holding up his/her racket at the net (when I am at the net to reply the shot), I wouldn't even do my over-the-net stroke (since he/she is obstructing my stroke). And explain to him/her that he/she cannot do that.
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***cobalt*** · 12-21-2011, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by suetyan

But I am wondering, do the players know that, actually that kind of blocking is illegal in badminton? Like what LD (from the video) and Saina (from the picture) did. If they had known about it, why do they still put their rackets up before their opponents hit a stroke? If they had known that it is illegal, they should know they will not be awarded a point even though the shuttle 'luckily' hit their rackets and bounce back to their opponents' side. So, what for they still put their rackets up?

Or is it because they thought that is actually legal so they raise their rackets up and try for some luck?

Most probably do it as a kind of reflex; kind-of "in the heat of the moment."

They may not have actually trained intensively for such a situation because it does not occur often in a match. But it may also depend on the player's style: if he is a touch player and dominates the net, he will train for this because he knows the opposite player will try to attack.

Take a look at these 2 cases, in the same match (SS Finals, round 2); they tell the story of how a player prepare for the net-kill. I notice that Taufik almost always steps back to the service line, giving himself the option to lunge for a weak net return, or to counter a weak net-kill. He has done this time and again in many, many matches. Obviously he has trained for this, as an extension of his net-play.

**Loh** · 12-21-2011, 11:42 PM

I hope one of these days an umpire will surprise us with a different decision in favour of a situation like SN's so that players will not conclude that it is an automatic fault. Visor has given us a credible reason that SN should not be faulted had she stood about a foot further away. It helps the umpire to see the whole incident better.

**suetyan** · 12-22-2011, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by CantSmashThis

I'm not quite sure, but it could be instinct to protect themselves. I guess for pros, that's how they may protect themself.

As for me, I'd cower down into a ball.

lol.. as for me, I will just squad down and let my opponent to kill it. Haha... Just hoping my opponent kill it under the net. lol

So, now everything is clear. eh?

**chris-ccc** · 12-22-2011, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by cobalt

Most probably do it as a kind of reflex; kind-of "in the heat of the moment."

Or, they have been watching much volleyball games (where such blocking is permitted), and have got influenced by volleyball players.

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**chris-ccc** · 12-22-2011, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by Loh

I hope one of these days an umpire will surprise us with a different decision in favour of a situation like SN's so that players will not conclude that it is an automatic fault. Visor has given us a credible reason that SN should not be faulted had she stood about a foot further away. It helps the umpire to see the whole incident better.

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Only if SN is more than 2 feet away from the net.

Loh, the next time when I meet you I shall show you how easily a racket-head can go 2 feet horizontally over the net into the opponent's space.

In a match, if the umpire doesn't fault my opponent holding up his racket near the net (trying to block my stroke as described in previous posts), I would request for the umpire to see a demonstration of my follow-through; to convince him that my racket will clash with my opponent's racket.

Note: In the post before this, I mentioned that it's permitted to block in the game of volleyball (like SN and LD did); This is because a follow-through of the hand of a volleyball striker hardly get to follow-through more than 3 inches over the high volleyball net-tape.
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