Racquet Clash! (Should I pay for my partners racquet?)

**Gin80tonic** · 03-25-2004, 03:00 AM

Hi all, I had a racquet clash with my partner last week

. I was using a cheap $30 racquet (Prince Strobe) at the time, and my partner was using a Yonex MP100. The MP100 broke at the 12 o'clock position, and my partner said it was my fault hitting his racquet and demands me to buy him a new MP100. I am fairly a new player at doubles, and my partner's skill was about the same. It could have been my fault but it was kind of hard to judge, and it's a doubles match, so I expect racquet clash is just a risk that we all have to take. Obviously my partner was very unhappy because my cheap racquet didn't even have a scratch. We argued for awhile and some how it ended up that I will pay him $30 next time, mainly because I don't want to argue with him anymore and play some more badminton. I don't play alot of doubles, what would you do if u r in my position? Pls advise thanx

**Neil Nicholls** · 03-25-2004, 04:32 AM

Depends on who should have been hitting the shuttle, you or him.
Can you give more details of the exact circumstances?

In the past I have had a racquet broken by a clash with someone else, but I judged it to have been my own fault because I shouldn't have gone for the shot, so I didn't expect any compensation.

If it was a 50/50 sort of shot, e.g. you were side by side and the shuttle went down the middle between you, and you'd made no prior agreement on who takes shots down the middle, then you're both entitled to play a shot. If a racquet breaks in a clash in that situation, I wouldn't expect to give compensation.

**bigredlemon** · 03-25-2004, 10:22 AM

don't pay a cent.

there's always a risk of injury/breakage on the court. You go on the court knowing the risks.

same with auto racing. If some guy flips his car over and crashes into a bunch of other cars, no one would expect it the first guy to pay. Same here. He wanted to play so he took the risk.

The only exception is if you intentionally try to damage his raccquet, which is clearly not the case here.

**Gin80tonic** · 03-25-2004, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by Neil Nicholls
Depends on who should have been hitting the shuttle, you or him.
Can you give more details of the exact circumstances?

Thanks for replying. At the time I thought I was covering the front, but I was standing at the service line and a little right to the center line, and I thought my partner was covering the back area(so obviously he was at a distance behand me). I remembered the birdie was about to land to the left service area, near the service line. The result was neither of us hit the birdie back, we both missed it because of the clash. There was no agreement between my partner and I because we just met and it was just a practice game. I can't really judge if it was my fault or not.

**JChen99** · 03-25-2004, 11:56 AM

If he's in the back, he's the one that can see his partner. Not likely you're gonna look behind you before making every shot. If the situation you described is accurate, dont pay him

**sheelay** · 03-25-2004, 02:20 PM

just a suggestion.. why not both of u pay half the amount and continue playing badminton together?

**wood_22_chuck** · 03-25-2004, 02:22 PM

If he has a clear view of what you're doing (since he's at the back), then he's liable for his own breakage. Especially shots to the front.

Shots to the backhand rearcourt is tricky if the person at the back is turned around for a backhand clear, and the net-person backs up to cover that side.

In doubles, each player HAS to be aware of his/her partners location and probability of returns. Otherwise LET THE CLASHES BEGIN!

-dave

**wood_22_chuck** · 03-25-2004, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by sheelay
just a suggestion.. why not both of u pay half the amount and continue playing badminton together?

Probably because half of the cost of MP100 is still maybe double the price of Gin80tonic's racket

-dave

**calvinlgoh** · 03-25-2004, 02:28 PM

don't pay him...
I agree with what most ppl have said... just a little somthing to add...

I feel that the only time you should have to pay for someone's racket is when you borrow the racket from him/her. In other words, you broke it while using it. Apart from that, clashes are bound to happen and whether to offer any compensation or not should be voluntary and not demanded.

calvin

**Gin80tonic** · 03-25-2004, 02:57 PM

Maybe i should get a better racquet. That way during a clash, my racquet will not have much advantage over my partners. Playing with my $30 racquet is like holding a piece of steel. I don't think any good racquet will survive a clash with my racquet. I of course did not get this cheap racquet so that I can easily break other people's racquet in a clash

. I was planning to get a better racquet after I get better in doubles, looks like i should get one sooner, considering the fate of other people racquets.

**other** · 03-25-2004, 03:50 PM

Originally posted by Gin80tonic
Maybe i should get a better racquet. That way during a clash, my racquet will not have much advantage over my partners. Playing with my $30 racquet is like holding a piece of steel. I don't think any good racquet will survive a clash with my racquet. I of course did not get this cheap racquet so that I can easily break other people's racquet in a clash . I was planning to get a better racquet after I get better in doubles, looks like i should get one sooner, considering the fate of other people racquets.

heh.........u want your racquet to break in a clash......u sound rich...why not buy him a new racquet then

**Dill** · 03-25-2004, 04:08 PM

Clashes are accepted as part and parcel of the game - they happen and sometimes rackets break.

No one ever asks for compensation, that's just silly

***kwun*** · 03-25-2004, 04:13 PM

i agree with Dill here. it has always been an unwritten understanding that whoever holds the racket is responsible for the damage. it is one's own decision to swing the racket you hold on your hand and one should be responsible for it.

**other** · 03-25-2004, 04:22 PM

don't pay him/her anything....if that affects their attitude towards you, then just don't play with them anymore. tough luck he was using an expensive racquet

**blckknght** · 03-25-2004, 04:23 PM

kwun, dill, i concur

**cooler** · 03-25-2004, 04:41 PM

since it broke at 12 oclock position, the stringer could be partly to blame. Did u remember hitting his mp100 at 12 oclock position exactly?

**Gin80tonic** · 03-25-2004, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by cooler
since it broke at 12 oclock position, the stringer could be partly to blame. Did u remember hitting his mp100 at 12 oclock position exactly?

I can't tell, it happend too fast. But I am 90% sure that the mp100 got hit around the 12 oclock position. I don't even know where exactly my racquet got hit, I couldn't find any scratch on it.

Thanx all for reply.