Too focused on winning?

[|_Footwork_|]

i can understand you! it's a waste of time to hit some birdies around "for fun". the fun comes from trying your best and trying to win. therefore, it is not funny to play with:
a) players much below your standard.
b) players that don't care if they win or lose.

b) is worse than a).

lesson learned: don't play with that guy anymore...

[Aurora_]

Everyone is willing to lose to a better player, but frustrated when lose to a lesser player ;P Try look for open sessions, more competitive group to satisfy your desire to win. Nothing wrong with that, I have encounter groups like that, and also the opposite, good players fooling around end up losing easy points. Everyone has different expectation of the game.

I guess your partner might have felt the pressure with you, so he went for the safer shot (clearing high rather than hitting the net if he drop/smash). Best advice I can give, is to make mistake yourself. Try risky shots, make mistake, let your partner know it is ok to try for other type of shots and you are not perfect either. Laugh a little and encourage him. You may lose the game faster, and your partner may improve as fast as you lose the games.

Over here, throwing racquet isn't exactly offending or insulting. We consider those who do that as immature player (no offense!)

[thumpsky]

Yesterday evening after the weekend closing session another member of the club I frequent told me he'd rather not play with/against me anymore. The situation that led to it was as following:

I was playing with him against 2 decent beginners. I am a very attacking player while he is as passive as can be. He clears everything even when he can simply drop the shuttle, which quickly came to the attention of our opponents. Halfway into the first game they were already sitting at the rear of the court, ready to kill off the clears. They were clearly having a fun time, while I could do nothing more than just take the smashes. By the end of the first game I told him to attack more, but we lost the second one with 8 and 9 because the clears kept coming.

I was already tensed because he just kept cool and carried on, seemingly not caring what I asked. At the end of the match I was so frustrated with being the bulls-eye at a carnival that I threw my racket to the other side of the court.

So yesterday he told me "it's just a game to me, and I don't like it that you are so focused on winning. I've never experienced this in the 15yrs I've played and I'd rather avoid playing with or against you".

Am I the only one around here who got "blamed" for wanting to win and am I just too much focused on winning games? In the other club I play at (also in the club management team there) I sometimes play with older people who have no hope of improving one bit (and don't pretend to) and I never lost my cool there, no matter how ridiculous it gets.

when people say they play "just for fun" that means they don't train, or do drills, or whatnot.

However, in the spirit of athletics you are expected to give YOUR BEST during the time you are there. If you purposely throw a game for the sake of absurdity or amusement, I find that disrespectful and a waste of time.

I've only been in your situation once, and I was the person who chose not to play with the joker.

In any case, he did you a favor, but if you want to argue who's right i'm gonna side with the person who actually SHOWS UP to an athletic endeavor.

[mindfields]

I was already tensed because he just kept cool and carried on, seemingly not caring what I asked. At the end of the match I was so frustrated with being the bulls-eye at a carnival that I threw my racket to the other side of the court.

If you were at my club and the racquet thrown went anywhere near any players on the court I would have kicked you out. .

I don't care what is happening with your pairing. Don't throw racquets around.

[Nict_26]

Chill dude, it's just a social game.
I have lost countless games even though some with a high chances of winning.

I have lost 21-0 before and i just took it as an experience, i mean how many have lost with nil points!!

I just had a laugh over it and till today no one in my group could beat that score line, me and my partner had become like a record breaker or something.

Don't lose your character in losing your game..people tend to appreciate your gracefulness in defeat than arrogance in winning...Cheers!

[kwun]

many wise words has already been said. here is my two cents.

not everyone come into the game competitively. if it is just a regular club day, i know many people who just walks in trying to have a relaxed time after a long day, or simply to run around for some exercise. often times, that happens to me too. surely no one minds winning a game or two, but sometimes the goals are different.

perhaps it is better idea to step back and look at the big picture, at the end of day, it is just a game. sometimes we lose, sometimes you lose, it is not worth losing friendship over it.

[urameatball]

hey dummy, you're directing your anger in the wrong direction. next time, throw the racquet at your partner.