So in my quest to learn Badminton, I figured I'll try to learn from female players. As I believe the male players are beyond my ability to emulate or imitate. Which female players have good solid strokes that one could copy? In Tennis - I used to look at How Justine Henin style as opposed to Roger Federer - especially the one hand backhand.
Search for Gong Zhichao, Susi Susanti, Camilla Martin, Zhang Ning, Zhou Mi. most of the previous generation top ladies have very good basic. for some reason, the current generation, Wang Shixian, Wang Yihan all look kinda funny. Current generation, Wang Xin, Jiang Yanjiao, Ratchanok, Eriko Hirose are pretty good.
WSX's form has gotten more...normal, but it's still uh, "interesting". I remember her a few years ago, she just did that weird slice allllll the time. I second Ratchanok Intanon. She has very good form and technique; she's definitely more of a "skill" player than a "physical" player. Can I ask why you think the male players would be too hard to emulate? Do you think you can't recreate the swing speed or something? Maybe if your joints are bad, you can't be jump smashing all the time, but for the normal strokes it shouldn't be that much different..
Going Zhi Chao and Ratchanok are very good examples. I once slowed motion Gong on the video on her receiving a drop shot. Somehow, the shuttle had almost reached the net before she moved her body. She was still able to make the shot. It looks to me the current crop of china ladies players do a lot of weight training. I am not sure if it's good or bad but they do seem to get a lot of injuries...
Wang Xin is the best in recent years, but I would recommend male players from the nineties, Sun Jun, Hendrawan, Ji Xinpeng, etc.
Well I watched some videos of Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei, Taufik Hidyat and Peter Gade - they all play at an amazing level in terms of speed, power and skill. While the women - do similar things but at lesser pace. So from a learning point of view - I thought it might be easier to learn from the ladies than men.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Sadly, there is a big difference in the video quality players from the 90's. But it's interesting to watch them.
[MENTION=9436]catman[/MENTION]. I agree with you in picking women players to model. And that contemporary women are esp. good models for the simple fact that their styles are more up-to-date (we don't need to worry about that). Most importantly, video quality of modern games in HD certainly are more watchable. Also, while most top N women players all have "solid" strokes, if we are to pick one to model after, why not pick the most graceful, or the most deceptive ones? Note that some top players (women or men) get the ranking high up because they play a lot of tournaments, not necessarily because they're better than some other. So I won't go to far/large with the number N.
raymond, I watched a bit of Han Li - you're right - she is quite graceful. I like her game very smooth.
Then your OP is very mis worded. The 'basic technique' that you wrote about, you can pick any male or female in top 'x' hundred. The basic strategy/tactics/style that you are implying you want to learn has nothing to do with technique. Which do you actually want to discuss?
I would like to look at a player and try to emulate what they do? Who do I choose. Perhaps I'm confusing tactics and technique - not sure - still in learning mode. I prefer smooth, flowing style. Don't like lot of jarring, explosive movements.
as a beginner, you can literally watch ALL pro badminton players, as they all have solid strokes and basic technique. you'll not be able to beat the women's world no. 300 in the next 5 years (if you ever will...), so no need to be picky... just watch as much as you can and try to learn something from each match you watch! and try to transfer it in your game, that means practice, pratice, pratice......
