Smashes are fast, steep, and definitely a stroke thats tougher to bring back across to the other side, although we can do it but it still takes more effort than returning clears. In other words its definitely an effective stroke to get a point. HOWEVER, before you know how to smash, you're told that smashing is only a part of the game and not the key to pandoras box or something. During that time you might feel that its ok for the lack of smashing skill since its not the ultimate move. Gradually you start to learn how to smash, and soon you can do fairly good ones or even great ones. Do you find it fun? I do. Some people basically try to smash all the time after they know how to do it, of course it wins them points but there are times where a more tight drop will do it but the smashing goes on? I mean smashing feels great but will it get us addicted to smashing and make us do unecssary smashing?
as a beginner, smashes can really win you points... but as your level gets higher, almost all of them are gonna return your smash by either a drop or clear... you see, you have a disadvantage stamina wise... you jumpsmash and use much effort, while they just stand there waiting for the smash... i'm not saying not to smash (because it's my main weapon).. you just need the right timing when to do that.. chance balls, opponents out of position/ balance, etc...
i think both... haha smash really win you points... and it's really fun to see your opponent diving to the ground trying to return your smash.. very addictive.. lol
if you're smart, and technically good, and you know hów to get a weak lift...then smashes are winners... the "smash at every lob"-players will get stuck at one level or another...I think...
Depends on the person and the level they are at. Further, I'd say it depends on the success of your smash. If a beginner with a new found stroke (smashing), it will be used all the time. As the person gets better, he will find other shots and the smash is not as effective. So it will be used less. I'm working on this, "Respect my smash, but fear my drop."
should work...especially for you...I can imagine your opponent take 3 steps back when you're about to smash, then fake-smash/drop, or some stuff like that, that's the stuff that wins you points...
My friend and I have been analyzing this stage of badminton development lately too. We've come to call this stage the "smash happy stage" where people start trying to smash at everything. It's usually after they learn how to smash and have been influenced by other players who happen to be in the "smash happy stage" and so the circle continues. I personally think that a lot of the smashing and wow effect related to it is an addiction. I mean they are cool to watch and hit sometimes and when used in MODERATION, the key word here, it's effective. When used too often it becomes a liability to that player.
BTW, just forgot to ask..are we talkign about the fully-blasted, eyes-closed ( ), hammer-shot? or the sharp, steep, placed, less-powered smash? because they're different shots, I think, for different situations (singles/doubles, type of opponent, opponents skills, form of the day) say: example one: I'm singleing against a fast opponent who does a lot of placement, and have a good day, I go fully-blasted and aim for the sides...wich then works for me.. if I have a bad day I tone down the smashes, and focus of placing it...
Does this mean dink will soon turn to a more balanced racket? Defineatly true about learning different strokes and a persons style of play. I think to sum up the discussion I had with my friend there are 3 stages that are common, 2 of which are almost always true. You have the clear happy stage, which is when we all learn to play since clearing is all you can do. From this most people go into the smash happy stage because it's like their first weapon in the game, this is the stage where it seems a lot of players are stuck at. Then after this (or possibly at the same time) is the drop/technical stage where you have the fancy racket flying in 20 directions while dropping or cross court drops back into the opponent because cross court looks cooler. This is also when you get a lot of people trying to do jumping slice drops and etc. before they have the fundementals down. Finally after all this you hit the stage where you learn to use everything in a simple down to earth way when playing and developing your own style without copying every cool move seen on tv or by that guy at the club.
erm..yeah I believe Dink uses a cab-20 now...But I still think rackets don't determine a playign style...the player is still you, only with a different shiny stick...that might not be made for you... wow, reading your analogy...There're indeed a lot of players like that...Though my coach was determined to do it differently..After the clear-stuff I went into the drops, slices, crosses (not excessive), and most important: around the head... Only since, well, mid-last season I started smashing...wich made me a dropper for about 4 years..maybe more..
i guess a good, clean hit smash is one of the ultimate feel good's as such, if you win a point with a crisp clean smash, it does wonders for your confidence - well for my confidence at least but yeah, the smash is a great shot if used in the right manner, my smash is something i'm quite proud of - but a lot of people have started to figure out that i smash a lot, so now, i end up playing a lot of drops mainly because people stand ready for the smash - last minute i pull back and drop it, my drops are ok, but because they are set up to receive a smash thery're totally conffizled when i dont smash so i usually get away with it. but i think its the shot that can win points,but you can't win a game smashing, sooner or later you'll get figured out
If you can smash sucessfully all the time against an opponent, have you ever wondered that most of your successful smashes are hit from distances short of a full length? Or if your defeated opponent is of a level lower?
I think that a racket is an extension of you. An example of this would be a mountian biker with his nice full suspension bike. He decides to change to road biking, which is a similar, but very different sport. He could take his mountian bike over or get a road bike. This is how I picture singles and doubles in badminton and the styles that go with each. So to take a smash heavy doubles style to a balance play double style might require some change in equipment. Not really sure where I'm leading with this at 3am in the morning, but yea, I'll admit to being in the random stage of "gear envy" where you want to try every racket out there and find it's place. When I started playing badminton, I unfortunately did not have a well experienced coach so I did a lot of mimicing of the older players. This left me with a hand handle grip for a season, then smash happiness for half of the following season. This just shows how important a good coach is.
well, I think using one racket, for all games, only benefits you in the long run. as you get more consistent with your shots, and eventually improve more.. back to rackets/styles: If you are a deceptive, smart and assertive/offensive player, no racket in the world will change it...Though some rackets make you feel uncomfortable, and some might not yield the same result, the player stays the same.. as for switching doubles-singles, yes, then you do become a different player, because singles/doubles are apples and pears...like road biking and mountainbiking btu woudl that require changing a racket? for some it might, not me though..
I forgot to add a few things. I think we use what we newly learn, especially if it's successful. Way back in the day, I would do only one drop, a standard cut drop. Why? Because I didn't need anything else. My standard slow cut drop was good enough because my opponents were waiting for my smash. Now, against the advanced players, I realized, I need every shot in the book to be competitive so I incorporated the reverse drop, fast and slow standard and reverse drop, rainbow drop, over-the-top drop fast and slow, and at least 4 other variations of each, dinking, slicing, snapping. Now when I play against opponents I know that cannot beat me with their attack, all I do is drop and clear, I don't attack them. I try to beat them with my drop. Of course if I play against advanced players, I use everything I got and hope they lift to me.
Agree but for me, since I exclusively play doubles, my favorite shot is one that gets both me and my partner involved, that's the most rewarding. That shot for me is a smash, set-up for my partner to put it away. Basically, when the opponents lift to me, I smash hard, high and heavy in the middle. This way, it will be very difficult for the opponents to flick back my smash. As a result they have to drive the shuttle low, usually in the middle where my partner is locked and loaded and ready to put the shuttle away. This does wonders, it gets both partners involved in winning the point, saves my energy because usually one or two will do it. Saves my partner's energy because his expenditure putting the shuttle away will be minimal and also deflates the opponents' confidence if we can continually do this.
About 2 weeks ago. I ordered 10 Cab 20 Tour Specials and they are great. A great balanced racket. Good enough for bombing and good enough for defending. I think I'm going to order 10 more.
Wow agian . This just makes me wonder, do you like shop for food at the 99 cent store to afford all these rackets (no offence intended, but that is like 1500$ for rackets). Does this also mean that we can start ninjaing your house for old sotx rackets? note: dinks OTness is contagous.
