Quick disclaimer: Obviously, a lot of the same attributes are going to be useful no matter what discipline you are competing in, and many players are successful in multiple disciplines, even at the highest level (usually level and mixed doubles, although some, such as the Popov brothers, compete in both singles and doubles). And some men prefer to play mainly at the front in mens doubles, and yet also play mixed doubles, where they obviously are mainly at the back. However, I think it's fair to say that despite all this, there are still some player attributes that are more beneficial in some disciplines than in others. For example, singles players typically cover a greater distance during a match than doubles players, so stamina/endurance is probably of greater value to them. On the other hand, they probably won't be playing as many fast and flat rallies. "Attributes" could include physical traits (eg. height, endurance), technical skills (eg. footwork, defense, deception), specific shots (eg. serve, smash, backhand clear), and mental skills (eg. tactical awareness) - or anything else you can think of... And please don't just consider elite players - think about ordinary club level players as well. How would advise someone unsure which discipline will best suit their specific strengths and weaknesses (other than just "play them all" or "play what you enjoy")? Here are a few of my own thoughts to get us started... Singles: - physical fitness / endurance - efficiency of movement / footwork - deception - backhand clear (at lower levels, a fast doubles player with good 'round the head shots might rarely need to play a backhand clear, but it's an essential shot for singles players at all levels) - consistency (more points are lost through mistakes than won through clear winners) - height? (there are exceptions, but height seems to me, to be generally advantageous) - is there a difference for mens and ladies singles? Level Doubles: - power - racket speed (fast and flat rallies) - defense / precision (with less open space on the court, there is less margin for error) - all-round ability? - is there a difference for mens and ladies doubles? (it seems like ladies are typically stronger in defense than attack, so stamina and consistency are more important) Mixed Doubles: - tactical awareness (I may be biased, but I'd argue mixed doubles is the most tactical discipline) - for the man, speed of movement (he has to cover a lot of court) - the third shot / around-the-head shots (unlike in level doubles, even when the man serves, he is still responsible for covering the rearcourt - at lower levels, a fast return to his backhand corner might force a weak reply or clear, instead of a 'round-the-head smash) - for the lady, serving, defense, netplay What do you disagree with? What would you add?
pretty much all the things you mention are gained from training the question you're asking is circular, because some of the attributes you mention, have already been defined by the discipline someone plays. you're not going to put extra work into your flat fast game and doubles defence if you're playing only competitive singles, and you're not going to put extra work into your late backhand and efficiency of movement if you're mostly playing doubles. the point at which physical attributes come into it are relatively high (beyond lower county level at least) unless you're an athletic outlier. you can still be a good club doubles player in your 60s. in your 20s and 30s there's no physical barrier to any discipline if you're generally sporty and put the work in. for most people what they choose to get good at depends on their character and environment. lots of people play doubles and mixed in the uk for example because there's a limited singles scene. the attributes to be a good player in any discipline are general athleticism, disciplined attitude, access to facilities, the desire and determination to be a good badminton player. i'm not sure why anyone would advise anyone to specialise in a discipline unless they're a competitive junior and have some kind of desire to take it to a very high level, and that's a whole different ball game which will have flushed itself out at an early age through competition. i've never come across a player who who's unsure of what discipline to choose and asking for advice about it, who would ask that, and why would someone to tell them to specialise?
As I have got older, I play mostly Level and Mixed Doubles now. I am a qualified coach and league badminton player for some years now. Here are my thoughts: Singles Endurance: Singles matches often entail long rallies and a lot of court coverage. Players need great levels of stamina. Speed and Agility: To reach shots across the court, quick footwork is crucial. Tactics: Players must tactically arrange their shots and movements in order to gain winning points. Precision: A well-placed shot may cause the opponent to make an error or move out of position. The court is narrower so this is crucial. Mental Toughness: The capacity to remain composed and concentrated under pressure is essential. You do not have a partner to bail you out. Level Doubles Teamwork: Effective communication and mutual understanding are essential. Reflexes: Playing doubles frequently calls for quick reactions because of the fast exchanges at the net. Positioning: Keeping your partner in the right formation and providing effective court coverage is essential. Smash and Defence: It's crucial to use strong smashes and efficient defensive strategies. Consistency: Keeping the shuttle in play and committing fewer unintentional mistakes. Mixed Doubles: Chemistry: Partners should possess talents that enhance one another, such as a strong backcourt play by the male player and a strong net play by the female player. Rotation and Positioning: The ability to move between defensive and offensive formations with effectiveness. Communication: Because of the variations, it is much more important to communicate clearly and consistently throughout the rally as formations change more than level doubles. Adaptability: The capacity to quickly adjust to opponents' various playing philosophies and tactics. Patience and Strategy: To outmanoeuvre the opposition, a more strategic approach is frequently used. All things considered, I believe common attributes and skills all players need is a combination of mental toughness, technical proficiency, tactical awareness, and physical fitness. Above all, enjoy the journey Kindest regards, -Ajay- Quote of the Day I can live without money, but I cannot live without love.
The netplay in singles is very important and differ from the doubles disciplines. While you want to keep it as flat as possible in doubles, you want in singles that the shuttle fall as close as possible at the net down, while height is not as important. Singles players need also to return these shuttles at low contact points. Not only the backhand also the deep forehand and lower contact points at around shoulder height is a must have skill. Also the ability to play different types of clears, and neutralizing are things which differ from doubles discipline. Also the defense while you cover the whole width of the court is an ability which differ from the doubles disciplines. Serving variations and consitency, return of serve, third shot are the parts in doubles which are very important. I think that the clear has more importance for women doubles than for men doubles as you mentioned that the defense is stronger than the attack, so you see in WD more clears. What about communication? What about the same understanding of the game and playing for the partner? In Doubles you also cover common and more likely spaces for your partner without hitting. So you don't just move to the shuttles, you also move away from the shuttle. For the lady I would add game reading/play maker skills. I agree with the good defence. It's a common tactic to smash at the lady, and she has to be comfortable to deal with male smashs and also be able to return them with tactical intentions to turn them into attack. That the male player need to cover a lot of court depends on the level and let me slightly disagree. I play with a lady who can intercept much and don't have a weak smash. With increasing level of play, XD lean slightly towards level doubles with added rotations for the prefered formation. There are also XD where the ladies park at T all the time and the male runs around them, but this is IMO not XD. As male XD doubles player I would add that the serve from standing behind the lady is very tough to have a good serve and also beeing capable to play the third shot, when it is a push past the lady. Also if you rotate on the return of serve situation when the male player receive it can be very tough to play a quality shot and return the third shot. The lady needs to have a good cross court clear. You can see that it is a common tactic in XD that ladies do cross court clear battles. Also the lady need to be capable to return flicks. Also common tactic by the opponents to disturb the prefered formation. Both players have to have tactical awareness and you need to play with patience into gaps. I think patience is also a must have skill. IMO XD is more tactical, need more communication and more specific rotations than level doubles. I think trust is also very important. The lady must have trust into the male partner that he plays with quality to not bring her into the situation to get hit from short distance while she is at the net. The male player als need to have trust into the lady to give her on situations the rear court and take the front.