hi guys i need some tips on how to watch yr opponent while playing singles i usually loose sight while playing the overhead strokes any help wd be appreciated
That is a good question. I, too had some difficulties some times. Recently, I attended a clinic for some high sch students which I was helping the coach. Needless to say, I actually learnt something from him. It was my footwork. When I moved to the left rear (I'm right handed) to perform a clear because the bird was going towards my backhand, I usually turn and start with my right foot first. Thus, I had to not only twist my body but I wasn't able to face my opponent. So I actually start with my left foot back (a little skip) about 45degree angle (still facing my opponent) and then follow with my right foot back. I was able to face my opponent all the while and therefore have the options of making more shots. I hope this helps. Some other players might find this akward.
Another way to move to the backhand corner is to make two jumps sideways & back at abt 45 deg angle, then decide if you have enough time to get the rest of the way and hit a forehand. If you don't have time, turn and make yr last step on racquet foot, then hit a backhand. This is what my coach teaches. Shabs, do you mean watching yr opponent when the shuttle is coming to you, or do you mean watching yr opponent after you have hit an overhead shot? If it's the second case, maybe you have the same problem I do. My worst habit is to hit a good overhead, then watch it when I should be watching my opponent. I'm trying to break this habit, but it's difficult. The coach told us "You cannot affect the motion of the shuttle once it leaves your racquet, so don't watch it. Watch your opponent to learn what he's going to do. He'll move toward the shuttle, so you don't have to worry about where it's going to fall. Also, if you watch the shuttle, that's a passive thing, but if you watch your opponent, you'll think about moving and hitting his return shot." What I'm trying to do is practice watching the opponent whenever I do drills. It helps if I remember to do a small split step the same time as the opponent hits the shuttle, because I have to watch him in order to time my step. Does anyone have a magic trick I can use to remember not to stand there and admire my wonderful overhead clear shot? Please?
If you mean watching your opponent while taking your stroke, I usually look at my opponent through the corner or my eye. I don't get a perfect picture, but I know where they are on the court. If you mean that you watch your shot, nothing you can do, but stop looking at your shot...
When your opponent has hit a clear or lift you should have time to get into position. You have two clues about their position. Firstly, you know where they hit their shot from and that they will be attepting to return to their base. Second, you should have time for a quick glance down at them before starting your shot. Any shots that you can take in front of you body allow you to see both the shuttle and your opponent. Marshall, it will come eventually. If you play at a good level you need to practise any changes regularly for approximately six months before they start to show up in your best game.
Thanks, that gives me some parameters to go by, and also will help avoid frustration. I played a tournament over the weekend and 1) my flat forehand drive down the sideline deserted me, 2) I totally forgot to use the tumbling re-drop over the net I'd been practising, 3) my reverse cross-court slice drop I'd been hitting well for weeks landed in only 30% of the time, 4) smash returns that worked before failed completely, but 5) during doubles my serve attacks aimed for the midcourt tramways landed on target all but once. I'll certainly observe the six months of practice rule from now on. Although I scored only 12 points in 4 matches, it was still badminton so I had a wonderful time.
I don't mean to be rude But you didn't even know how to move into the backhand corner and you were helping to coach? I'm trying to visualise how on earth you did it before if you were trying to hit a forehand, ie did you move your right foot around in front of your body (which is the way I'd do it if I was hitting a backhand), or behind (which is kinda acceptable if you are taking small quick steps (though only really recommended if there's only a little way to move)), but I've decided that I don't want to know.
Re: I don't mean to be rude You may not mean to be rude but you are. I didn't say I do not know how to move into the backhand corner. I meant that with the way I move, it wasn't as affective as what the coach suggested. For your info, I am a level one coach and an A player myself playing at the provincial level. The coach didn't say my move to the backhand corner was bad but to try out what he taught. Some people might find it rather akward and some may not. There are no fix way of moving to the back. When we were coaching the high sch students, most of them don't even know how to hold the racquet. That was why I was invited to help. If I do not have an open mind, I would probably not even care ask him what I can do to improve on my footwork. Another reason why I was looking for improvements was to be a better singles player. Because when I play singles, I'm a B player, unlike an A player in doubles. If you are unsure of what I meant so far, pls ask first before you jump to conclusion.
Re: I don't mean to be rude EITHER Pecheur, are you closing your mind to learning something new? In the past, players (even elite players) often turned their back to the net (& the opponent) when executing a BH deep in their court. I still see many advanced players doing this quite often (tho' I doubt that elite international players do it very much, if at all). Not only does this practice make it impossible to see your opponent for a while, it forces you to take an extra step for recovery after making your shot. Currently, players are taught to stay behind the shuttle so that the body does not turn away from the net & the opponent. At the most, the back of your shoulder (of your hitting arm) may face the opponent for a BH stroke. As for watching the opponent... when the shuttle is on their side of the net, you are primarily watching them with only a "soft focus" on the shuttle. As the bird leaves their racket you should be able to see both the shuttle & the player. As the shuttle approaches you, more of your focus is on the shuttle. You should still be able to detect movement of the other guy with your peripheral vision. Immediately before & after you make contact you should not move your head & you should have a "hard focus" on the contact point (notice that I did not say a hard focus on the bird). Too many players move their head AS they are making contact in an effort to see their opponent & intended target area. Even with a hard focus on the contact point, you may still be able to peripherally pick up movement of your opponent. At worst, you may lose this ability for only a fraction of a second (unless you suffer from tunnel vision). Avoid the tendency to move your head in an attempt to follow the bird. Shortly after you make contact (but not immediately after contact) your head can move & your focus opens up. You once again focus primarily on the opponent; the shuttle becomes a secondary (peripheral) focus at this point.
Re: I don't mean to be rude EITHER yes, it would be nice if i can get behind the shuttle all the times for the rear BH shots but sometime if i'm got caught with a deep BH shot, i have no choice but to turn my back completely to make than deep BH return clear. A strong or A player would have more options to make those BH shots like BH smash, drive, attack clear, drops or deep clear.
thanks dan I usually turned and started with my right foot first too i'll be sure to try yr advice thanx
thanx a lot Shabs wrote: > > > hi guys > i need some tips on how to watch yr opponent while playing > singles > i usually loose sight while playing the overhead strokes > any help wd be appreciated
No problemo. Just keep in open mind and you will learn lots! Maybe advise Pecheur. He might learn something.
Re: I don't mean to be rude EITHER Well put Gregr. Many players do not know that some coaches can't even play well in tournaments, but they are very good as coaches. Likewise, some very good players are not good coaches. My humble opinion.
turning your back being rude? Gregr, Your statement about not turning the body for backhand got me running to check out a video. I have to disagree with your statement. Top class players do have their backs facing the net for BH overheads. But on followthrough turn around so that they can face the net (and opponent). I didn't quite follow Dan's (or Marshall's) descriptions. Was it for a BH or round-the-head shot? And the recovery after playing BH being slower for an extra step, I follow the principle of closing down the court. It might not always be necessary to take an extra step to return to base. As Viver alluded to in a past thread, to consider the base as always being in the middle of the court is an error. The player who does this would have to cover four corners all the time(very tiring). In certain situations, the base position can change in order to close down certain areas of court forcing the opponent to play certain shots to the open areas. Since only three corners need to be covered instead of four, the player can alter his centre of gravity such to move more efficiently to these areas. Of course, this is one variation of play. Your alternative opinion is appreciated. FYI, I have no grade in singles or doubles, never played at provincial level and do not have a coaching cert. But I love playing, watching and learning.
Re: turning your back being rude? I have my doubts about being able to watch your opponent during the game, I mean when the shuttle is travelling to your side of the net. There could be exceptions of course, like when your opponent is serving deep or executing a lift to the baseline. I would say if you are able to see your opponent when the bird is coming to your side, you shouldn't have much problem winning the game. As for me, every time the bird come to my side I have to focus on the shuttle so I can make my return efficiently. To where I return the bird to that depends where was my opponents' last position. About the 'base', I assume the 'base' position in a dynamic way. Where I land I will try to adjust and make it my base position. Another thing to consider about the possibilities of the return shot is the quality of your stroke. The better the quality the clearer the possibilities of the return - or better, fewer options to return and making your anticipation easier. To do a BH clear in the baseline I have to have my back facing the net. Using backhand without having my back facing the net is during smash or flat returns. If there is a way to do a BH clear deep in my BH corner without having my back turned to the net, I'm all ears. One saying that I always hear is 'learning does not occupy space', so why not learn more!
I Watched Ra Kyung Min the doubles specialist from Korea, play singles at the US Open. Her foot work is so good she could probably hit the bird blind folded. She only looks at the shuttle twice for very brief moments before hitting. For example if her opponents lifts from the front court, she will look at the bird once really quickly to figure out the trajectory. She will then move to the spot where the bird will end up while looking at her opponent the whole time. Right before she is about to hit she will look up for the bird and hit it, then take her eye off the bird as soon as contact is made and continue to look at her opponent. I was amazed by this since I could not believe her footwork is that good and she can gauge the trajectory of the shuttle so well that she does not even need to look at the bird until she is about to hit.
Unfortunately, most of us don't have that training background to that....if there was something like the Matrix in real life with transference of badminton skills...
Re: turning your back How old is that video? I know that turning the back to the net for a BH overhead was very common for top class players in the not too distant past. It is my understanding that this practice is less common now & that it is discouraged for the most part by many coaches of elite players. Lee Jae Bok has a very good video he did when he was coaching club players & the national team in Great Britain. In the video ("... Play to Win"), he speaks of this very thing. Since learning the technique, I have found that I can hit most of my BH overheads w/o resorting to turning my back to the net very often. Not only can I recovery much quicker, I have more options available to me when get I back far enough to to take the shuttle in the preferred manner. You are correct in stating that the home base is dependent on the shot just made & is not neccessarily in the middle of the court.
Re: turning your back Arthur: Did Ra Kyung Min win her US open game? My guess she probably won it the way you described how she played. Gregr: How do you do a overhead BH in the baseline without having your back facing the net, assuming your base position is the centre of the court? I'm interested to learn.
