Strategy against a superior opponent

Discussion in 'Techniques / Training' started by jackyche, Sep 20, 2012.

  1. jackyche

    jackyche Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2010
    Messages:
    26
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    US
    I play singles games with this other guy. And he's a better player than me. He's superior in a few key areas. 1)More consistent 2)Tighter net shots and 3)Better stamina.

    Here's what I beat him with (although rarely). 1)Harder smash 2)More deceptive shots 3)Trickery

    I'm not looking for some simple answer to find his achilles heel and beat him every time. I am looking for some strategies that I may have overlooked/not using when playing a superior foe.

    Everyone here lost games to better players before. I'm curious to hear what you guys do differently to hope change the outcome on the next encounter.
     
  2. CanucksDynasty

    CanucksDynasty Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2011
    Messages:
    1,465
    Likes Received:
    3
    Occupation:
    Working to pay for badminton stuff
    Location:
    Burnaby, BC, Canada
    1. Try pushing him to all 4 corners.
    2. Pick on his weak points (ie. backhand).
    3. Work on your stamina and consistency to equal his.

    If all else fails...get a busty hot chick to stand next to the court to jump up and down. I'm sure he'll be distracted. Downside is you'll probably be distracted too. :D
     
  3. Footwork_816

    Footwork_816 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2011
    Messages:
    208
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    United States
    Usually when I play someone better than me they are usually better because they can move and play so much faster. Or imo that's why I believe they are better. Honestly when someone can play at a much faster pace than me I don't know how much I can do except attack the net area and try to put them under pressure by playing tight netshots and attacking lifts; pretty much playing the net and getting there faster than him so its easier to do those shots. problem is its hard to get there early when my opponent can play faster and has faster footwork than me...guess you kind of have to anticipate when hes about to play at the net and move your base position a bit more forward than normal.

    If your smash is better than his then playing good netshots and forcing him to lift to you would be really awesome. You could probably just try to do hard half smashes and then follow up to the net and play a good net shot while he is still in midcourtish
     
  4. dffhkhksg

    dffhkhksg Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Messages:
    87
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Pickering
    Be more aggressive, take more risks. Maybe attack his serve a bit harder, or put the shuttle towards his body more.
     
  5. diverdan

    diverdan Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2012
    Messages:
    510
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    graduate
    Location:
    England
    Do something unexpected. Play shots that are not your usual shots. Like Rocky when he fought Apollo Creed.
     
  6. R20190

    R20190 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2004
    Messages:
    2,458
    Likes Received:
    414
    Occupation:
    Chartered Civil Engineer
    Location:
    London, UK
    1. Work on your footwork.
    2. Anticipate/Eliminate corners.
    3. Work more on your footwork.
     
  7. visor

    visor Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2009
    Messages:
    16,400
    Likes Received:
    2,001
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    When I play against someone much more superior than me, I just aim to get at least 10 points. :(
     
  8. captaincook

    captaincook Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2012
    Messages:
    272
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    captain
    Location:
    New York
    practice on more variety of serves.... this is where most players overlooked.
     
  9. maxout

    maxout Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2012
    Messages:
    619
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Malaysia
    Whenever I play against a superior player, I always take it as an opportunity to try new tactics, strategies, etc ... Take it as AN OPPORTUNITY to improve and enhance your game rather than just trying to beat the guy !! FREE "ADVANCED" TRAINING
     
  10. maxout

    maxout Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2012
    Messages:
    619
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Malaysia
    Here is a tactic that MOST PLAYERS today do not employ since the advent of the "attacking" game ala Lin Dan and Taufik - play LONG RALLIES and SUPER STRONG DEFENSE.
     
  11. KayakerSteve

    KayakerSteve Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2012
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    911 Dispatcher
    Location:
    Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada
    One of the things I do is play three people. Somebody better than me, somebody weaker than me and somebody the same level as me.

    When you are playing the better opponent - you are learning
    When you are playing the weaker opponent - practice the shots and movement you saw - you won't be under pressure so your success rate even on new shots should be high.
    When you are playing the player the same level as you do your new shots, movement, pace etc, but now you will be under pressure so your objective is consistency.

    Rinse and repeat and repeat and repeat
     
  12. raymond

    raymond Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    1,251
    Likes Received:
    74
    Occupation:
    Top Secret
    Location:
    USA
    How 'bout this? You video-record your games with him next time you play him. Afterward, analyze it. Find out how you lose. Do you lose because of your own unforced errors? Or do you lose because of certain combinations? Do the same on him.

    With the above data, you then work on removing the element that lose you the most points, and do more of those that earn you points. E.g. you may find you give away too many easy points. Then the question is - can you improve there? Do you have to hit that tight/wide/long?
     
  13. AirStyles

    AirStyles Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2010
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    Student
    Location:
    New Zealand
    Normally... I just rely on my defence and stamina.

    When I play against someone who's more skilled than me... I just resort to complete defense.

    Instead of looking at the game as a match to win. I treat it as a defense practice.

    Keep clearing, and occasionally drop. When they smash, return it, and clear the next non smashing shot. Rinse and repeat. My defense is my strongest game. Eventually, once I'm used to their smashes, I'd even tempt them to smash with deliberate 3/4 clears, just to tire them out from them keep smashing what they think might be winners.. Eventually, when I'm completely used to their rhythm and shots, I'd start counter attacking as they're getting sluggish because of how worn out they are.

    So... yeah... I don't have a counter for better players. I just rely on consistency and defense.
     
    vincemcoupe likes this.
  14. maxout

    maxout Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2012
    Messages:
    619
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Malaysia
    Same here - rally them to death :D "Old style" play as my junior called it !!
     
  15. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2005
    Messages:
    7,170
    Likes Received:
    695
    Location:
    St Helens, UK
    A better player will win so many points by forcing their opponent into going for winners too early or narrowing their margins too far - just look at the "points from errors" statistic when Lin Dan plays a non-top-twenty guy.

    Just be patient and stay in the rally, as said above.
     

Share This Page