This is what SimonCarter asked me:
@Kento when you said to be more deft at the net and cut the shuttle did you mean to kind of slice the shuttle like I tried to do so at some points because it feels like slicing at the net makes me lose a lot of precision (is it only because I am not used to it?).
Simon, before I answer this point, may I just ask you what racquet, string and tension you are using in match?
By deft I meant more nimble by using better footwork and by being more aware of what your opponent is likely to do with his return, preempting this by correctly positioning yourself in readiness for the shot you will then play next. He caught you out a few times with his own disguised cut shots after a series of drives from both of you and you were mainly unable to return these adequately.
I am going to say that from watching the video, it is true that you did slice at the net but I believe the fact that you are not used to it is only part of the issue here, though of course, you will need to keep on practicing this by boldly incorporating this into your matches until it starts to feel 'right' and 'clicks' into your game plan..
More importantly, from the video evidence, I do not believe you are using the correct string (at the correct tension) that allows you to do this with the best precision.
As can be seen from my words above, I am advocating practicing playing the slice until it clicks but the 'this' I am referring to it is the point SimonCarter is making about the loss of precision (control of the placement of the shuttle) viz: it feels like slicing at the net makes me lose a lot of precision.
I have said that he will need to use the correct string at the correct tension, by which I mean that if the 24.5lb tension he is currently using is not allowing the sort of precision that he needs (as suggested by his words) then up it to 30lbs and have a go at using that whilst of course, still practicing the physical aspects of the slice shot over and over again.
In this way, not only is he getting adequate practice but is also using a higher tension on the strings for precision of placement.
In my honest opinion, by doing both things in tandem with one another, i believe he will be able to overcome his deficiency in this area of his game.
So you see, I never did recommend an increased tension as a fix for a technique problem
They dominate because of numbers playing. Absolute numbers of kids playing are high and if there is an injury, then another player takes their place. Their burnout rate is high and earlier than other countries.He went on to say that this is precisely what is happening in China where children as young as 4 or 5 are taught to play in this manner and it is really no wonder that Chinese badminton players dominate the world scene in the way that they do
once people get good they tend to care less about these things than the new players who are learning the game.
Good to know Borkya.This is totally true. Young, fit late teen/early 20's players couldn't care less about their equipment. An ex-national team (Chinese) coach once played with a child's racket (the small ones with like 18 pound tension) and he kicked everyone in my clubs ass, haha. Young people would rather practice smashes, footwork and improve their abs because they are young and energetic and broke! So they take when they can get with equipment.
Meanwhile it is the older players that obsess about racket tension and whatever latest gizmo Yonex or Victor has come out with, thinking that technology can improve where the body is lacking. Also, only adults can afford to restring rackets every few weeks and buy brand name stuff!
You know you are good when you can borrow a no name racket from the courts that haven't been re-strung in so long that no one knows what it was originally strung at and STILL win a club game. If you are so concerned about a few pounds making or breaking your game, your head isn't in the right place for the kind of improvements you really need to make.
Also, I concur with Cheung. I live and train in China and see lots of kids. Chinese kids aren't playing with rackets strung at 30 pounds. While they do start playing at age 4 and 5, parents and coaches are WAYYYYY too worried about the kid injuring themselves young and denying them a chance for the national team. Most kids (the high level ones who are future national team material) use 24-27. Whatever that coach said to you sounds like "urban legend" more than fact.
Competitive juniors usually get sponsorships from equipment vendors; they get to pick best rackets they want.This is totally true. Young, fit late teen/early 20's players couldn't care less about their equipment. An ex-national team (Chinese) coach once played with a child's racket (the small ones with like 18 pound tension) and he kicked everyone in my clubs ass, haha. Young people would rather practice smashes, footwork and improve their abs because they are young and energetic and broke! So they take when they can get with equipment.
Competitive juniors usually get sponsorships from equipment vendors; they get to pick best rackets they want.
As for the ex-pro beating up everyone at club level, would he use the same child's racket to play competitive games? If not, why not?
I'm not talking about pro's, I'm talking about normal club players who have ti buy everything themselves. I see there is an advantage to pro's using the best/most suitable equipment because everyone is at such a high level and even an quarter inch of an advantage will help.
I first have to admit I haven't read all posts on this thread in detail. OP first post seems to ask for analysis/advice, and then suddenly the thread turned to rackets and strings.
I've some observations w.r.t. the discussions in this forum. From time to time, topics are trivialized. E.g. when it's appropriate to suggest not to play too many clears, cross-court shots, the suggestions some time turn into never play those shots at all.
As to equipments, I feel we could have some properly qualified discussion, as opposed to be dismissive. Of course, equipments such as rackets, string tensions, and string gauges are important considerations, at least to some extent. I also agree that everything is relative. If one is making gross errors, or don't know how to play, the improvement his equipment could provide would be buried by those gross errors. Same can be said about mental, physical, and tactical aspects.
Importance of rackets (and by extension other equipment related topics) could be highlighted as follows -
1. When the pros compete at their levels, they use (much) better rackets, if not the "best". Tensions and types of strings are also considered.
2. If you want to talk about amateurs, we could look no further but the kid in your example. Proper choice of racket (kid's racket, with shorter shaft, and lighter) clearly is important. Otherwise, he'd be using a regular size racket at the very least.
Coming out of this rat hole, I realize that some people do like to keep buying new/latest rackets (or so it seems). That would be an obsession. Having said that, I do believe gradual changes in technology could produce noticeable improvement to many club players, if they want to replace their rackets once every 5 years or so. Technology over the last 20-30 years after all made much faster and deceptive games possible [consider those wooden/graphite rackets as well as nylon vs gut strings years ago].
Then, of course training could improve one's games. I understand that, but not everyone is interested in being a perpetual student. Time and money could come into play. At whatever levels they choose to stay, just like the pros, proper choice of rackets/strings/tensions could give their games a boost (limitation as stated above notwithstanding).
Finally, as you're in China, I'd like to quote a favorite Chinese saying, something like: "If you want to do an excellent job, you need to first sharpen your tools."
Hello guys,
I am still working on most points you gave me but here is a video of my Lost finale two days ago.
I dont think i played very well but it is a typical game of tournament. I usually i have one like that one every four or five matchs. I think it is because my opponent is pushing me to the rearcourt a lot. I then play way too short imo.
Quality is not too good. I got crushed 21-10 21-18. I feel like if i have Bad habbits you should ses everything here as it was a game where i did not "thought" about my technique at all. I was just trying to hit his backhand side at some point.
I feel like my stance is a tiny bit better but not great. And my serve is still terrible... I will hop on a small leg injury to rest and work solely on my serve and net game.
About the discussion on string tension i found it interesting but this post is also to try to Come back to the subject of this thread trying to make me a less Bad player! Which i feel you already made me better in a short Time! (People told me that i was pkaying better and that's hearth warmi g) thanks guys for the advices.
When you have a good high serve, a smash by your opponent is the answer that's easiest for you, you just have to serve to the middle and high and long enough (consistently between 10 cm in front of the line and right on it), then your opponent has to get out of the court to smash. That's the point @s_mair was making. Furthermore, a smash gives you an the pace you need to work with and start the really controlling the pace. When serving not too far away from the center, it's easy to cover all the angles.I can still serve high forehand and I do it sometimes but I do not feel confident to switch during the match plus I was scared from his smash so I did not want to give him any opportunities for that.
I agree with and right now I don't have enough faith in my long high forehand serve.When you have a good high serve, a smash by your opponent is the answer that's easiest for you, you just have to serve to the middle and high and long enough (consistently between 10 cm in front of the line and right on it), then your opponent has to get out of the court to smash. That's the point @s_mair was making. Furthermore, a smash gives you an the pace you need to work with and start the really controlling the pace. When serving not too far away from the center, it's easy to cover all the angles.
If you don't have that confidence and consistency for your long, high forehand serve, work on it.
I've been in your exact situation while ago. So maybe my old thread regarding the issue might help you a bit as well:I agree with and right now I don't have enough faith in my long high forehand serve.
I think my defense is pretty good (helped by a light small frame racket) so I am going to work on that long serve.
Thanks for the advices. I am resting for a good two weeks (but I can work on my serve while resting my legs). Next tournament is start of March I will try to be ready with a better serve by then. Hopefully it will end better than a loss in finale (level will be higher than last one tho).
Thanks again for your time guys !
I've been in your exact situation while ago. So maybe my old thread regarding the issue might help you a bit as well:
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=63434&share_tid=175310&url=https://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/index.php?threads/[Singles]-Re-learing-the-deep-high-forehand-serve.175310/&share_type=t
In a nutshell: The biggest improvements for me brought dropping the shuttle farther away from my body and gripping the racket ever so slightly towards a backhand grip. The keep your wrist relaxed before the stroke and perform a relaxed follow through in the desired flight direction. It's all about gaining control of the serve shot.
In the meantime, I feel really comfortable with my forehand serve. And it's still the serve that lets me enter a really in a neutral position and gives me more chances to control the pace myself. If I get pushed around by my opponent with the return of serve already, it's not the way I want to start a rally by standard.