I've read quite a few posts where Lin Dan was criticized for have poor technique in both his strokes and his footwork. Following these statements the poster will often explain his speed around the court and general ability to win games by saying he compensates by being incredibly fit and/or strong and/or mentally tough. Whether or not you agree with the above statements, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the quality of Dan's technique and specifically, if you agree with said statements, exactly what you feel are the flaws in his shot mechanics or footwork.
Lin is a counter attack player with an offensive style. He is left handed and often cuts the bird so it's hard for the opponent to predict where he will put the bird. He also has one of the best cross court jump smash of the circuit, I'd say 75% effective. I don't think Lin has poor techniques. Of course he doesn't have wide range of shots compared to Taufik has but saying he doesn't have good technique is a bit too much. It's hard to say what are Lin's weak points as he is almost perfect when he plays well. Against LCW at MO, he really had hard time when LCW would clear in his deep forehand and especially his forehand corner. Against Taufik at WC, Lin couldn't match Taufik at the net. I'm not a pro but I think that if you want to beat Lin, you have to play a technical game whitout exhausting yourself too much, not too offensive not too defensive. Pin him at the net or in corners. But its always hard to be better technically against a guy that is already technically good and with godly stamina.
Taufik destroyed Lin Dan at net at WC. I think that was the most crucial factor to his victory. LD was scared to play taufik at net, and Taufik I noticed, dropped a lot in the first game.
Yes, both Taufik and Sony dominated Lin Dan at the net in SC. I'm surprised his net game didn't improve much in WC because his coaches should have noticed that in SC and done something.
I don't think Lin Dan has poor technique. If he does, how can he is ranked no 1 now and won many matches/tournaments (regardless of small or big), unless other players that he had beaten are poorer than his He is very very quick in footwork, offensive, aggressive and recovery from defence as well (how many times we've seen him diving all over the courts and yet still get the play on, and sometimes he can re-attacks the opponent as well). The thing is if we compare him against Taufik for certain strokes/skill, for example, backhand and net play, of course Taufik is better than him, but it doesn't mean Lin Dan has poor technique, it just comparison between "good" and "better", so I think when Taufik meet Lin Dan in the match, he can take advantage/make use his strengh against LD's weakness, that's why LD had very difficult games during last 2 encounters. So I think, when we do comparison between 2 players, we can say, one is better than the other one for certain area but who will win the match between them, will depend on how they can make use/maximize their strength to exploit the opponent's weekness. Who knows, next time we'll see Lin Dan as better player on the net and he can challenge Taufik again (esp on net play) when he meet him on court, let's hope for that
i am more interested in a taufik vs. Lcw game , which maybe will be held in the coming Indo open but i can't see it anyway
Lin Dan is extremely fast on court... footwork is ok... but fast due to his fitness! His jump smash is the lethal weapon that he use for winning... however I personally think he is not deceptive enough.. its very predictable when he is about to execute his Jump Smah~ very fancy move I gota admid
Absolutley right, footwork ok (compared to other top players actually not very good) but main asset is physical capability (agility, power) which allows to mask those weaknesses under most circumstances. And his weakness is his strokeplay in terms of deception, quality and consistency in his strokes.
BEcause he uses speed and power. His technique is poor compared to other top players. For example, when he goes to the forehand corner, he tends to lean over to the shuttle rather than properly getting behind it.
Yeah I noticed it too! Thats how LCW got him at Malaysia Open. Players should play his in corners especially in his forehand corner. He tends to overprotect his backhand nowadays.
Incidently that is why BCL has a good record against Lin, because his shots are generally well placed into the corners and are quite accurate, exposing his weakness in being able to move completely to corner. He is very very quick in reaching 3/4 full areas of the court, but his techniques do not allow him to effectivley cover the full court and play good quality strokes. If you watch a game of his you will see when the shot reach the deep rear court he cannot get behind a shuttle to control the rallies, and likewise in the extreme front of the court. (Taufik is also guilty of this flaw, but his superior strokeplay covers this for the most part, but again still struggles against BCL)
Yes BCL does have worst record, but in the first instance LD has worse record, LD claims BCL is his toughest opponent. BCL has lost his mental grip on LD though
^ What you on about ? LD has beaten BCL the last 4 times they have met. BCL never had a mental grip on LD in the first place in my opinion.... if he did LD has gotten better !! that's why he is no 1 !!! I think LD knows (or Taufik knows his weakness) that his weakness is his net play and corner backhands.... but he compensates that in his fitness and smashing game. If LD could play every aspect of his game perfect, he would be so highly ranked and everyone else would be no where !! It will be boring watching him play !! just like it was boring watching shcumacher winning the F1 all them years ago. We are only human and as humans we are not perfect. LD is not perfect but that is how he plays, sure his coach is right now probably coaching him netplay shots and disguising his trick shots better but that would mean the other aspect of his game would suffer !! would his smashes still be just as powerful ? would he still be as quick ? I doubt it. The jury is still out on what LD is going to play like next time.... but why change something if it works ?
Lin Dan's weakness is his inability to play the game to his strengths. He's very fast paced and offensive, but for some reason he hasn't used it to his advantage as much this year when compared to last. His netplay hasn't always been the greatest, but he doesn't seem to be improving it or changing his playstyle a bit, such that he doesn't rely on it as much to force his opponent to lift so he can execute his jump smash. Also I agree with previous points: Lin Dan does protect his backhand a lot. If you didn't notice, Taufik has a pretty mean backhand, which means he's able to take the shuttle a lot later (when it's already behind you) vs. around-the-heads where it can be quite a pain to hit. Chinese coaching styles emphasize around-the-head shots and not using your backhands unless you absolutely have to, which kind of evolved Lin Dan into: 1) Protecting his backhand side and 2) Being slower to his forhand/not getting in position/just sucking In fact, Chinese style of play requires superior footwork so they can always get in position for the shuttle, especially on the backhand side. This is because most Chinese coaches teach a grip/hitting style that relies solely on forearm protonation with little to no wrist movement. I've had a lot of people tell me my grip and hitting style is wrong, but I was taught everything in China... it's just really different, though the difference is so subtle that you can't really tell on a TV screen. Lin Dan has a VERY, VERY good around-the-head shot, probably the best on the pro-circuit. The only problem was that his opponents (especially Taufik) are able to exploit his netplay and forehand to force him out of position more and tire him out. I don't care how good his fitness is, but pushing him to 3 sets every match is going to tire him out sooner or later, especially if it happens several days in a row like it did at WC2005. I don't remember if I mentioned this in a previous post, but Lin Dan looked REALLY tired going into the third game against Gade in the semi-finals. In fact, if you didn't notice, his smash winners went down dramatically halfway through the second game (probably due to physical stress). If Gade had pushed him to the backcourt more or smashed more he probably would have taken the match, but instead he resorted to more basic four corners play. And when it comes to that, a tired Lin Dan > a tired and aging Gade. As for the subtle differences I mentioned, Bao Chunlai has the best strokework I've seen on the Chinese team. The strokes he uses are exactly the same ones I was taught. It might be hard to see the whole wrist thing, but the best example would be for forehand crosscourt net drops. If they ever do a closeup of it, notice how he doesn't move his wrist at all, but instead rolls the racket around his palm with his fingers and lets his wrist and forearm movement follow naturally with the racket twist. This is how Chinese players can be so deceptive if they get into position quickly enough to execute a shot. A finger movement is a lot smaller and harder to detect than a full-out wrist one.
Bao Beat Lin in their first three meetings on the circuit, from then on he went downhill. He should be looking to change, because it hasnt worked. His main priority should be to beat Taufik and/or win a major. as this will be the only way he is going to win a Major tournament. The only tournament of note he has won of note so far has been 2004 AE, in 4 years on the circuit for a so called superman isnt very good imo.
