Dear BFer, I've tried 3 dedicated badminton clubs in the bay area this year, and one thing troubled me: my footwork that works well on hardwood floors seem lethargic if not 'dead' on court mats (Taraflex, Victor etc.) The explosiveness in my footwork is gone. I used to play in places with good hardwood floors, and they all give a nice bounce to steps, and my doubles opponents fear my forecourt/midcourt speed. But the dedicated clubs use court mats that seem to absorb impact energy to various degrees, and there was no bounce to my steps. I have tried to bend my knees more to push off the floor, but that doesn't do it. Do you have a similar experience on court mats? How do you adjust your footwork on court mats that gives no bounce to your steps?
Yes, playing on mats definitely forces you to move your feet properly. Hardwood courts are more forgiving in that they allow you to 'slide' alittle bit. You can't get any more authentic footwork than playing on mats since you truly have to be light on your feet in order to move more efficiently. If you have to rely on the ground to give you bounce, I think it's time you start working on your lower leg muscles (footwork drills or skipping rope).
I guess this is a good thing for me since SGVBC is all matted. No wonder I feel like I move better when I play elsewhere...but the lights are another thing.
Dynamics of good footwork Thanks for pointing that out. Does moving lightly involve more 'starting/landing on toes' so your footbed adds power, or something else?
hmm... when i was coached footwork first of all we were shown the steps.. next thing we were shown which shots to do.. next thing was how to do it fast. then the final thing was how to do it quietly. the last step was the key.. if you can do it quietly your entire body is in balance and all the muscles including ur abs and hips, quads, hamstrings, calves and feet work in harmony to generate that explosiveness. do your drill, and focus on doing it quietly - this will guarantee the lightness of foot your require, and generate speed in the meantime. you wil be surprised.. Coops
No, like coops241180 mentioned, it's about coordinating your movement so that you move in sync with every parts of your body. When the sound of your footwork is loud, that means you're overcompensating for certain muscles. Work towards cushioning every step with your whole body.
hardwood floors have spring to them. concrete is about as springy as... well... uhh... and egg?... lol MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I find the opposite, if using hardwood or concrete floors it makes you use the correct technique, since you cannot afford to be sloppy since you will slide. So then when you move onto the better friction surfaces (albeit with better absorption) the efficient technique you have learnt combines with the power developed in strength training to make you move faster.
Good pointer. Thanks to coops241180 & cappy75. Now I know quiet footwork is due to balanced coordination of muscle, not they wear more expensive shoes and socks than I do ;-)
Watch Hans' copy of the OG QF betweeen Chen Hong and Shon seung Mo and you can hear the difference between CH and SSM. SSM sounds like he is stamping, whereas you can barely hear CH. CH has probably the best footwork around today.
