playing against a fast opponent

**doris160260** · 01-24-2006, 01:06 AM

Looking for advice on how to beat an opponent who seems like he can get to anything. I am a far better badminton player than him and I am also fast but it seems as if he cna get to anything. His footwork is Peter Gade like. He is everyhwere on the court and is always in the right position to get to the bird. I am an offensive player with a variety of shots but I find myslef losing so many points based on errors due to frusturation. He is definetly a defensive player but his smash is also a huge weapon. This is why one off my original strategies, waiting for him to make a move, was not working well. I am by no means a slow player. I just cant seem to ever put away the bird. I run him front, back, side to side, and vary the pace and quickness I put on the bird but more often than not he puts back a very well executed defensive shot. Any pointers would be great.

**Dave18** · 01-24-2006, 06:39 AM

You just stated your own problem. Your frustration when you can't put away the shot. You need to learn some patience and just keep playing how you play. Eventualy, he'll give in if you keep it up.

**calfunz** · 01-24-2006, 01:58 PM

calm yourself down and get better footwork...?

**taber** · 01-24-2006, 02:15 PM

Obviously, you aren't a "far better badminton player" or you would destroy him. If you can't kill the bird, and he doesn't make errors, I suggest you just go do some drills or something else instead.

**badrad** · 01-24-2006, 02:43 PM

would i be correct in making the assumption that you are female (doris....), and that the opponent you are playing against with a level of frustation is male?

without sounding sexist, there are differences in the physical strengths between genders, and these do skew the ability scales. in short, a crappier but physically faster and stronger player can still likely beat a more skilled, but slightly slower/weaker(strength-wise) player.

given those premises - you will need to do some homework! you can either decide to try to beat him at his level - physically faster and stronger - which would mean doing strength training. when you increase your physical abilities - coupled with your current level of skill - you will be able to handle this fellow more easily.

or else you could play smarter... typically players that are physical do have good agility and quick reflexes. not really classified as badminton skills (such as stroke) these do have a frustrating factor to them, since they will seem to be able to get everything back.
more often than not, you should be able to identify patterns and routines. your homework will be to concentrate on his physical movements and patterns. be patient and work on a number of set-up strokes that will force your opponent to give you the advantage. in other words, there will be combinations of placements that you may be able to determine will wind up getting this player to give you the shot you want to put away.

think of this as a little puzzle. once you crack it, you will have the solution to handle this fellow (until he wises up and changes...)

**calfunz** · 01-24-2006, 04:00 PM

fake him out...

**lindanfan** · 01-24-2006, 04:19 PM

when i have a player like this who i have to ply against i just try to play tehm as many times as i can to find out their weaknesses

**DinkAlot** · 01-24-2006, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by taber

Obviously, you aren't a "far better badminton player".

Agree. You may have better skills, but your opponent is better at winning.

**cooler** · 01-24-2006, 08:05 PM

offer them free chocolate as a friendship gesture

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/buyinprivate/exchoclax.html

**smash_master** · 01-24-2006, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by cooler

offer them free chocolate as a friendship gesture

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/buyinprivate/exchoclax.html

lol nice one cooler, but you would kinda have to do that some time before the match or if you just want some revenge i guess aftre the match.

**storkbill** · 01-24-2006, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by taber

Obviously, you aren't a "far better badminton player" or you would destroy him.

Hey I remember a similar post like this in BC, the chap claimed that he was a far better player and his opponent couldn't even perform a basic stroke like a clear properly, yet he was losing to him.

I'm more interested in knowing how lousier players beat far better players than how a far better player can beat a lousier player (after all, the latter should be obvious)

**doris160260** · 01-24-2006, 09:59 PM

haha im a guy. i jsut used my moms ebay name as my name so id remember it.

**lindanfan** · 01-25-2006, 02:15 AM

Originally Posted by doris160260

haha im a guy. i jsut used my moms ebay name as my name so id remember it.

you just confused us all

**GunBlade008** · 01-25-2006, 06:59 PM

If you were superiour, you'd be winning. Or perhaps everytime you go into a game, you're far too overconfident and underestimate him.

**lindanfan** · 01-26-2006, 01:20 AM

how close are the games between you and him, scores etc.?

**doris160260** · 01-26-2006, 11:21 AM

normally i win comfortably 15-10 or around there. but i should be able to beat him worse. And wen i play other fast guys who are better than him i get squashed

**lindanfan** · 01-26-2006, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by doris160260

normally i win comfortably 15-10 or around there. but i should be able to beat him worse. And wen i play other fast guys who are better than him i get squashed

well as long as you ARE winning, then it doesn't matter as much. one thing i find is the worse standard person i'm playing the worse i play