I also play for the competition. But as I see more senior players losing steam quickly or making more errors than they used to (few years back) Or may be i have improved/adapted to them, it has forced me to think that I would also go through the same.
the more you used to play with someone over & over, you kinda had some foresight & predict what they would do thus it seems they are easier to handle. Afterall all player always had some kind of habit where they move in repeatitive pattern, like Kevin who had tendency to rush forward leaving his area open. If you could read the pattern, it would be easier for you to deal with them.
Playing with a handicap and winning has been fun for me too but i have realised that it has also lead to a few bad habits.
yes if you play to much you unconciously become lazy, your shot quality getting bad as every mistake not to punishing.
But mixing it would be good. I could practice some trickshot or my bad shot & even if i make a bad return, its not quite punishing so the rally can keep going. Or i learn to play with more brain than brute as i cant be reckless with my shot. Doing a shot that to difficult for my partner to handle would mean i had to cover it myself.
I have given up head heavy & stiff racquets 5yrs ago owing to elbow/shoulder pain and now on bad days my right knee limits my movement.
So I was wondering if i should keep striving for a fast/attacking game or improve more towards a defensive gameplay ?
as long you didnt aim for a pros, any path you chose is totally up to you. As long you enjoy it, just do it. For example if you had bad shoulder, can your shoulder handle agresive games for whole games? Or maybe doing less aggresive could makes you last longer? Its a choice to makes, 10 minute all out or 30 minute long fight. No answer are the right or wrong. Just a choice of life to take
Or looking at pros player, Chenlong playstyle are more defensive while Lindan are pretty aggresive. Both are amazing, so play fast or defensive, both still looking cool.

so doesnt mean giving up HH stiff racket mean you are getting weaker. What really end for us is when we give up to our life difficulty & stop trying.
