badminton klub BIT

I would like to highlight four "fundamentals" in badminton which I think are very important, especially for young players. A good understanding of these fundamentals and performing them correctly will go a long way to achieving maximum capabilities.

These four very important fundamentals are the grip, footwork, stamina and the service.

In singles, there are three main styles or patterns of play. They are:

1. The fast attacking style
2. The deceptive stroke play
3. The defensive cum straightforward style

Nearly all top players play a combination of two patterns of play with one style dominating.

1. The fast attacking style

Here most of the shots played are smashes, fast drop shots and net shots, attacking lobs, more low services than high services, quick low pushes/flicks to the backcourt from the net, and fast running on the court.

Now that you have graduated from backyard badminton, you can no longer rely on physical ability alone to win games. It is time to develop tactics and strategies a game plan to out-think and beat your opponent. By identifying and focusing on his or her weaknesses, you are beginning to use your mental acumen to win. If you play without thinking you will lose without realizing why you lost.

"The best form of defence is offence." True, but only if your offence is so overwhelming that you won't have much to be defensive about. Far too many players, as well as some courtside coaches, do not pay enough heed to the art of defence. Young ones are usually mesmerized by speed and power, and are prone to neglecting other aspects of the game in order to display their ability at net rushing and jump smashing.

One point I have been wanting to raise with all you clever clogs is a basic difference in style between Europeans and Asians. This basic difference in style seems to have been reasonably constant throughout the last 20 years in mens doubles.

Your average European seems to be hell bent o­n trying to attack the shuttle at all times. Now whilst this is a noble task why is it that the Asian does not try to do the same.