At our large badminton club here in Montreal our adult members play only doubles on a regular basis. I am hoping to setup a continuous and quantitative way to give each player a rating similar to the handicap in golf. The purpose is to encourage everyone to improve their game and to offer a sort of continuous competition. For example, players could choose before any single game, any time during the season, to record and submit a result to the club database. All four participants would sign off on the game report. In this way after enough games, with a wide enough range of other club member, some sort of analysis could be done to rate players. The handicap could potentially be used as in golf, during club tournaments, to even up players chances of winning. Has anyone ever seen such a system used in badminton before? If not have you any suggestions about how this could be accomplished? Thanks
Well, there're plenty of ranking systems to use; pick one you like (or already use). Then assign a handicap based on ranking difference. EG: A player + A player plays against an A player + B player. total ranking difference is one level. handicap per level is 3 points, so start at 0-3. There are plenty such systems in use already, so there's no need to reinvent the wheel.
I've dabbled with an Elo-based system in the past. I used old internal club competition data to set handicaps for future competitions. Not perfect & has limitations, but would be continuous and would update itself as results got entered. There are several old threads about it. Searching for "Elo" and "rating" should dig them up.
The main thread was called "Using Elo rating system to rank players within a club". Didn't come up in the search window. I originally posted it in 2010, so perhaps the search doesn't go that far back.
Which club in Montreal? At the Pierrefonds club we just use relative strength levels represented by coloured stickers next to our name. I don't think our system really encourages growth though as most people tend to stay in their levels and not move. I think our members are mostly there to get some exercise and have fun though, because very few seem like they're actually trying to improve their game or even care to.
Is that normal behaviour? I think so. Most people want to get exercise, have fun and socialise. Not everybody has a burning desire to improve or play competitions. Some recognise that improvement only comes from systematic training which does not fit into their lifestyles. For this group, it is nice sometimes to play a higher skilled people for a change but improvement is not the overwhelming priority. Some are just happy to get a workout rather than be physically exhausted. I mean, if you are in your late thirties, have a family, just taking a couple of hours a week to meet friends, chat and have a bit of exercise away from work, improvement becomes of secondary importance. More important for this group is not to go down in playing level. I.e. Maintain their level.
Sure, it's normal. I was just commenting that our system/club is not one that's competitive or encourages growth. Though I'm not sure any system will make people care more if they're just there for a bit of light exercise and socializing. You need the mindset to want to improve. I mean, maybe if everyone around you takes the game more seriously the peer pressure will make you care but I don't know. There are definitely some competitive people at our club but only in the sense that they like hard games. As far as I know none of them get any coaching (most have quirks in how they play that are technically incorrect). I heard a lot of people came to our club from another local club because it was too competitive there. So it's probable that people will naturally migrate to clubs that cater to their expectations. That said, if a handicap system could be developed, it might encourage more mixing of various strength levels. There's no challenge playing against weaker players to 21 because you'll obviously beat them. If some kind of handicap system started the weaker team at like 15 or something, you'll have to play harder (though I don't know if that's always a good thing because sometimes the difference in level is just too big and it might be more unpleasant if the stronger team has to go all out because of the handicap).
Shrinking the court size of the weaker side. Or slowing down the movement of the stronger side by adding weight to their body likes horse racing.
Idk if it would help you as my club might not as big as you guys, but maybe/hopefully you can have an idea from it. In total its 22 member if i count my Whatsapp group just now, but in actual only 9 active & the rest is a ghost player. Due to many reason they come or skip the day as they please. So mostly only 12-15 player in a day. The skill level is pretty much vary from beginner to intermediate or advance. Ofcourse im trying to makes everyone enjoy the games but ofcourse it never been an easy task. Player come & go coz its not fun enough for them which i think pretty normal. Rarely we play single unless all is tired & only few little that is less than 4 player still want to play. So assume double play all the time. We use old game 30 point, twice serve as we had colorfull skill & having today 21 point will end the game quite fast if partnered with lower level. So what me & my friend do is to team each person with everyone & had a score. I mean unlike pro championship that Kevin alway with Gideon or Endo with Watanabe. For example 4 player A/B/C/D, the team would be A/B, A/C, A/D, B/C, B/D, & C/D. I know even with 9 player combination its alot, but actually not all combination, just to balance each other team. So i had my best team with my own friend, then i had few team format with different lower level to match the balance. How we match it? We just did it naturally, but mostly me & my friend that lure the other for it. For example: 1. Hey, how about me with those man agains you & him. That the 1st day the team form. Next day, naturally me or the other 3 will say, lets have a rematch, it payback time. 2. We how about you & him agains those 2 man sitting next each other, that might be interesting. Ok lets have a try & the rest repeat by itself. 3. Some new group, coming & rent other court. We look at them playing & then we say, how about me & you agains those 2, dare to try? So far its what makes all of us have fun. Tho mine is kinda messy & sudden team creation, maybe you can use the same concept but with more structured system especially with big number of player. Do some match where to enter they had to fill specific team point. So they cant choose team with stronger only but to lower their choice with some lower level.
