muscle power

Well, you can't backhand smash unless you mastered the step before it, the actual backhand.

Since you mentioned you're lifting it. It seems that you aren't getting behind the bird and you're contacting the bird from underneath. For drives you have to hit the bird as soon as possible and as far out as possible. If you keep it close to the body you're going to pop it up at least a bit.

 

Muscle power has VERY little to do with it. Successful stoke production is a product of good technique.

 

Well said Ever wondered why a flail (wooden sticks linked by chain links or leather thongs like some Chinese martial arts weapons) generates more striking velocity than a straight stick of equivalent length would with an identical effort?

The answer lies in natural Laws of Physics:

1\ Transfer of momentum occurs as the segment closest to your body (your upper arm) decelerates. Unless you interfere with this natural transfer, say by playing with tense muscles or tendons (i.e. by muscling it or using a tight grip), velocity will increase on its own.

Remember that momentum = mass * velocity and notice that the mass involved diminishes as momentum transfers from arm to forearm to racket.

2\ The radius of gyration also shrinks as the fulcrum of rotation shifts from shoulder to elbow to wrist. This also contributes to higher velocity.

Cheers,

Mike

 

it is all about arm pronation. if you get the pronations right, you'll be able to execute most of the shots you couldnt do. Once that happens, start finding ways to increase your strength. Btw, coaches usually emphasise to use around the head instead of backhand. Except for drives ofcourse. So try it out.

 

Well, muscle surely important, but I think the following rank way above that:

1. foot step: u need to get to the proper spot

2. hitting spot: hit the bird with ur racket at the sweet spot, at the right angle.

3. timing: not too early, not too late

4. ur opponent position: u don't want to clear right to him, and let him return u a deadly smash

 

Muscles are trained by repetition. Since the load placed on them by hitting a shot is fairly light, the muscles will not become large, but they will become more efficient.

 

If you have the muscle power to open a can of beer, you also have the muscle power to hit perfect clears -- if you have the right technique.

 

You mean the muscle will contract faster... Kind of like how the leg muscles of sprinters can flex faster than ours. Though anyway it takes minimal effort to hit in badminton so technique is the key. When I switch racquets, it takes me a game or two to get my timings right. Otherwise, the racquet produce very little power.

 

Technique is important, but in order to execute proper technique, he has to practice it over and over. That's where the muscle training comes from. He can enhance this by increasing the load with weight training or swinging a heavy racquet

 

My point is, excercise muscles on court, under badminton-lik circumstances with racquet (badminton/squash/tennis), rather than in a gym using weights.

 

I personally believe that resistance (weight) training away from the court can be used for improving the performance of muscles used in badminton, and the more the excercise can simulate the motion used in playing, the better. I would also insist on including drills and playing as part of the all-around program because the way all the muscles work together to produce good results cannot be simulated.

Using a heavy racquet for training is a good method, but I don't think using weights needs to be excluded.

 

I was writing in response to "Some Person", who has problems executing backhand clears and drives. I was suggesting that the solution to his/hers problems lies in technique training, not strength training. Let's stick to the subject, OK? Of course, if one wishes to play at a high level, off-court strength training is a necessity. But that was not really the issue here.

 

The benefits of proper weight training apply to everyone, from the raw beginner on up, including Some Person and his backhand.

I never disagreed about the importance of technique.

 

It's easier to train the muscles, though i think you'll get much more out of learning the right technique