No smashing in doubles?

Discussion in 'Techniques / Training' started by GunBlade008, Nov 3, 2005.

  1. GunBlade008

    GunBlade008 Regular Member

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    I'm a weak player, I've accepted that. My smashes are really quite pathetic so I tend to play a more conservative style, drops, lifts, netplays and drives. Even if I get a kill lift, I'd be stupid and try something with it. But with the way me and my partner's been playing, I don't think I can last long with this style. Anyone think it's possible to become a great doubles team when only one half is smashing?
     
  2. silentheart

    silentheart Regular Member

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    get 2 dz of old shuttle, have your partner feed you mid court lob and you just smash it untill you get it right.
     
  3. jamesd20

    jamesd20 Moderator

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    In answer to your initial question-Yes. It is possible to have a good doubles pair with only one strong smasher. Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian are a good pair, and have been for a long time, and Eng has a terrible smash. When Eng is at the back of the court, they always struggle to win the point, and almost always tend to lose it. You will need to become a master in other parts of the game (eg. Skill, touch, and defense) in order to overcome the weakness however.

    What Silent heart says is true though, you simply need overcome your weakness by practicing the technique and timing until it is right. It will never be a strong point, however if the weakness can be improved, it leaves you less vunerable as a pair.
     
  4. GunBlade008

    GunBlade008 Regular Member

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    I do try to practice my smashes as much as possible, 90% of my warmup time is smashing drills where he clears and I smash. Not only that, in between games, I'd get him up to help me with my smashing drills. On the other reply, I don't want to rely on my partner too much, and most of all, I wouldn't want the burden of the team due to this inability of mine. However, I'll take both your advices and hope to improve, thanks.
     
  5. cooler

    cooler Regular Member

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    only if ur MD team play against XD teams, and i'm not kidding
     
  6. theasiandude88

    theasiandude88 Regular Member

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    maybe your stroke/technique is wrong.
     
  7. Locomoco

    Locomoco Regular Member

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    Yeah, I'd been using the wrong technique for decades... one day while I was resting in the bleachers from a match, I saw some kids getting some lessons on another court and I saw what I was doing wrong... 30 minutes later, I could smash correctly. :eek:
     
  8. Matrix

    Matrix Regular Member

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    weak smashes

    Hi,
    In order to have strong smashing, u need to work on yr forearm,bicep,tricep and also finger power. Hit the shuttle against the wall for 400 to 500 times. Use weights to do bicep curls and tricep curls until u are tired.Strengthen yr wrist using weight rolls.Crumble the newspapers until they become ball shape.Use squash racket to practice instead of badminton racket. If yr techniques of hitting the shuttle is correct, then i dont see why u can a powerful smash now?:cool: Dont give up and keep trying.;) The former Thomas cup double champion: Mr Tan Yee Khan trined this way and he had the most powerful smash then. Once his smash crash through the net in a competition in India. The Referee awarde the point to him despite complaint from the opponent!!:p
    Good luck.:D
    Matrix
     
  9. Azwok

    Azwok Regular Member

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    Aww, his smash isn't that bad. Alright it's no fu-haifeng smash, but he still forces errors of his opponents...... sometimes.:p

    Err in answer to your question, can you become a decent MD pair with only 1 person smashing? I really don't think so, but then again I geuss it's what level you want to take it to. I think if your playing MD at county standard or above you really need to have a good smash. Definetly the shot of choice from the back of the court.
     
  10. DinkAlot

    DinkAlot dcbadminton
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    Absolutely. :D

    As for you, work on placement and angle and rotation. I know a guy who doesn't smash hard at all but he tricks you with his pin-point placement, angle and rotation. He'll do a flat-drop smash, straight smash, , flat-angle smash, head hunter flat smash, chest smash, corner smash, up the middle smash. And he can do all these with 3 speeds with 4 with varying rotations. One is a completely flat smash; Two: a push-chip, Three: moderate slice; Four: string killing full out slice.

    Though his smashes are not powerful, they are effective and he sets up his partner well. :D
     
  11. GunBlade008

    GunBlade008 Regular Member

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    Wow, so many replies :eek: . The truth of the matter is, that I've concluded that I CANNOT become a great doubles partner if I cannot smash. After all, it is one of the most vital shot in MD IMO. Well, badminton club's today, I'll update tmrw or so with any progress, thanks.
     
  12. DinkAlot

    DinkAlot dcbadminton
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    Well, great is all relative. My doubles partner doesn't smash at all and he does just fine. He's great at the net. When he's in the back, he usually just drops then clears deep or clears deep, and we go side by side. I normally wind up in the back. He can smash but chooses not to do so. :D
     
  13. GunBlade008

    GunBlade008 Regular Member

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    Did good in recent doubles game, smashes helped alot, didn't win though. Other team won 4-15, 15-9, 15-6. Must work on it even more!
     
  14. leadfoot

    leadfoot Regular Member

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    Have you taken lessons from a coach before? I think it would be immensely helpful.
     
  15. GunBlade008

    GunBlade008 Regular Member

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    I've had a non-official coach, she was a player in her time, but when she became a high scool teacher, she gave up playing.
     
  16. shawn30_k

    shawn30_k Regular Member

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    are you sure eng hian has a weak smash.ive seen him smashing countless of times in the 2002 ae final and the 2004 olympics md brz match.he sure didnt look weak in smashing.
     
  17. jamesd20

    jamesd20 Moderator

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    Yes I am sure. His partner Flandy has a strong smash, but he does not.

    Likewise Flandy is terrible at the net. Watch a game of theirs and you will see that 95% (estimate) of the time Flandy is at the front, and eng is at the net they will lose the point.
     
  18. __Lam

    __Lam Regular Member

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    i honestly dont think so, eventually they will find the partner that has a major weakness, sorry to say this but their gonna start to pick on you and tire you out, in doubles, you must have somewhere in the proximity on eqaul skill level, not intended to offend anyone but when i play doubles, we usually pick on the weaker player, if you hit it to the stronger player you will obviously get a stronger return, and same with the weaker players, you will get a weaker return. just keep practicing your smash, i find that getting the technnique down is better then weight training and using brute strength to force the bird over the net. if all the smashing is done by one person, his stamina will drop extremely fast.
     
  19. cappy75

    cappy75 Regular Member

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    Lost opportunity...

    What's at stake that's so important as to resort to isolating one opponent in a casual game?

    This kind of mentality and practice is a major reason why advance players seldom bother with newbies and/or intermediates. The better player will never touch the shuttle in a rally as long as the other holds the service. Doesn't take an Einstein to figure out the easiest way to beat others by isolating the weaker half of the opponents. Taking the easy way out won't teach or push you any higher. For those of you seeking challenge by this shameless method, you earn nothing even if you win. Only way to better yourself is to learn to hit the open spots and move your opponents around.

    For those who use this tournament tactic in casual games, you got what you deserved.

    GunBlade, take this as an opportunity to learn to play the flat game. If you can't smash hard anyway, you're gonna give away the offensive even when you got a good setup. Strengthen your other areas and you can resolve the smash issue at your convenience:)!
     
    #19 cappy75, Nov 11, 2005
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2005
  20. Brave_Turtle

    Brave_Turtle Regular Member

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    IMO having a good smash is Vital if you want to be really good in MD
     

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