At a Junior club the other day (*cough*, where I went to for the first time and took first rank for singles play )...Anyway, during the first half an hour or so of the session was a bit of training/coaching...but I couldn't get used to holding my racquet Right at the bottom of the handle (so about nearly, or Half my palm was off the end of the racquet, as they said it should be). I understand why I should do this, longer racquet, more power from smash etc. But it seemed much harder, less of the grip...I was more confident with my hand just At the bottom of the grip but not Off the end of it in my palm and could swing it faster... I guess what I'm asking is, does everyone hold the racquet right at the end of the grip with nearly half their hand off the bottom end of it
I do not and from watching many advanced players, they do not either. In fact, I have yet to see a player of any level with half their hand off the grip.
Good to hear, cheers for the swift replies guys. - I feel I can get a more powerful slam without the little extra length from holding the racquet that low anyway, the more contact of grip with my hand is more comfortable and easier to swing the racquet with. thanks.
I really wouldn't be willing to try an all-out swing with a high-end racquet using this sort of grip. I'd be afraid of it flying out of my hand!
I've been experimenting with this recently, and I definitely notice an increase in power. I decided to try it after I saw it during a China / Indonesia xd match. I can't remember who, where or when the match was, unfortunately. I noticed one of the men used this grip on a jump smash
http://www.badmintoncentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/2040/cat/530/page/1 Lin Dan even seems to shorten his grip!
I think one of the pictures in thread regarding the "knob" on racket butt, shows one pro (taufik?) holding the racket with the butt halfway up his palm while executing a backhand shot. Maybe this is one practical application of this grip; to give more zip to your backhand.
Holding the handle nearer the butt end actually increases the swingweight of the racquet. As a consequence you get more power. This gripping of the handle at the butt is used for back to back shots where the grip's raw power from increased swingweight is put to good use. The weaker you are the more it helps. Just look at the ladies singles players.
Glad this subject seems to be a lot to preference...I like to hold my racquet at the bottom, but not Passed the bottom of the handle at all. But for back-hand, or control, I sometimes move it up a little.
For shots nearer the net, especially in doubles, you grip the handle nearer the cone end, because it is both faster and easier to hit the shot. For shots that you hit from one extreme backline to the opposite extreme backline, gripping the handle at the cone will get you nowhere. A weak lady can out-hit you if she grips the handle at the butt end vs your cone area for these end-to-end clears.
dpc1lhttp://www.badmintoncentral.com/gal.../cat/530/page/1 Lin Dan even seems to shorten his grip! I think the higher you hold the racket, the more control you get. Where as the lower you hold the racket, the more power. I think the higher the level of play , the greater the demand for consistency and control ( i/e hitting smashes right down the line and etc. ) . And power is something most of them have from doing various training. So it would be an advantage for them to shorten their grip if they already have the power.
I noticed Lin Dan changed his way of gripping handle actually. That was a picture of "old Lin Dan"...or Lin Dan 2004. "New Lin Dan" or Lin Dan 2005 holds it towards the bottom of the grip. 1st pic is "old Lin", second pic is "new Lin". You can even see the wood part of his grips nowadays, he only puts half of his towel grips.
The distance a shuttle travels in a back-to-back clear is much longer than in a smash, especially a jump smash. For any shorter distance than a back-to-back clear holding it away from the butt is better.
My coach told me that we must always change our grip in the game, front count hold higher, mid court hold mid and back court hold lower. Because back court we need more power to hit the shuttle..and front count we need more control...also when pushing we hold high cos is faster and if we hold low it willl be v tired.
thanks, in badminton there is alot of griping not only forehand and backhand and we cannot always follow international player becos to be be a champion is to be different
Not just that, a picture doesn't tell much because we don't know when and where the Pro is hitting the shuttle and under what circumstance. Sometimes they don't have time to change their grip because the opponent has him/her off balance. But you ask anyone in the know, the general consensus is up front, you go up on the grip for control and speed, if in the back court, go down the grip for more power. This is very basic knowledge.
