i believe consistency of shots is the most difficult shot to master... everyone can make a brilliant shot from every angle from time to time... but it takes huge amount of consistency to keep mastering shots in a way the are like you want them to
Imo it is the back hand smash, getting the smash across the net is hard enough for me, hitting it with power and where i want it is almost impossible. Preety useless in doubles acctually if you can hit an overhead smash instead.
How about "double motion" shots ? Think about it. The most difficult shot to master is the "double motion" types of shot. Most players have 1 or 2 in their game but to execute them effectively, I have only known of 2 players who did those shots very well. One such player is Punch Gunalan of Malaysia and the other is Bandi jeyan of Thailand. Check it out.
peter gade had some good double motion/action shots, lots of other players do too the only thing is there not always point winners though. its something that has to be learned and developed by the player though since its hard to teach that kind of stuff, you have to be creative and mske sure its a good shot and deceptive to the opponent.
Based on the consistency of getting good results, I would have to say any short net shot. Cross court net shot is relatively easy to keep close to the net and stay in the court. Near (straight) net shot is much more difficult to return while keeping it low to the net, i.e., not hitting the net, and not going too high and receive it smashed back. All the other shots are no problem, including backhand smash and crosscourt backhand drops, clears and smashes.
The most difficult shot for me is reseaving a smash on my forehand side and trying to return the shuttle cross lob. It's not really a shot, but more a situation most of us will experience. On the backhand, a twist from our wrist would be enough, but the forehand is too slow compared to the backhand.
They should put backhand clear up there. I think that is by far the hardest shot for most people especially cross court.
cross court drop... ugh.. i suck badly.. i never actually successfully pulled one of these off yet.. ive always been a back court drop shot pro lol
I think its the straight net. The crosscourt net has a lot of room for error, you can make it slightly higher and it might not get killed. But a straight net, if its not tight enough it'll get planted in your face. Not enough spin and your opponent can do a lot with it.
The most difficult shot you havn't though about - returning the shuttle when it's just dropped down the face of the net. The greatest returner, that I've ever seen of this was Ray Stevens, UK National Champion, back in the 70's. Make sure the nets are tied at the bottom, or you won't be able to achieve it.
For me back hand clear court is the hardest. I want it all up to the base line.. damn is just not for enough. if it is far, it is not hight enough.
Ray Stevens (England) could do a triple motion smash. First two was enough to bemuse you, and how he hit the shuttle before dropping too low, defied the laws of physics.
There are a couple of others: Beetween the legs (facing forwards or backwards) careful !! And when facing backwards - a clear from the side of the body. (Racket sweeps down as if swimming freestyle, hits shuttle at ground level, then clears to the back of the court). Only ever saw that done once (Mike Tredgett, England, at the All England 1979) He also played county cricket, so had a heck of swipe shot.
my hardest shot and the shot i'd most like to master is at 3:34 of this vid (hidayat diagonal clear when shuttle is behind him) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hedxjQ23Rk&feature=related i think the footwork to get back behind (or parallel to??) the shuttle and timing of contact + technique is incredible. I believe he lets the shuttle drop to just below shoulder height before contact?? damn that shot is hard to pull off! looks like Gade was expecting the push to the net! edit: i'm now thinkin the hidayat shot is more of a cross court drive?
IMO, I think that smash is hard to master but it is more about the jump smash, there is the full body coordination but when you make a crosscourt net, it is more about the work of the wrist and precision. So I think that the jump smash would the the hardest shot to master.
Straight backhand smash now no problem, but not too powerful, and leaves me open to the reply because my back is turned.