There comes a time when we all decide to move on. You just know that you’ve come to the end of the line and that new challenges are required.
Since the beginning of the new season in September, one or two things were not right, unsettling and remained so throughout the season. This years All England Championships provided a chink of light regards what needed to happen. I learnt a lot at this tournament and made a lot of new friends.
As a result, this week I made the biggest change of my badminton life…
On Thursday, 16 May 2013 I resigned as a sponsored coach with Yonex UK.
I’ve used Yonex products since 1982, and been sponsored for a number of years as a Yonex Coach. We have many great years together and I’ve witnessed the immense growth of Yonex brand during our years together. We’ve had so many highs and throughout the years I’ve really grown to love the brand. To all the staff at Yonex, I’d like to say a big thank you for your support over the years. I’ve been tremendously proud to say I’m a Yonex Coach. And, I’m very sad to leave such a wonderful brand.
However, situations change and I decided that Paul Stewart Badminton needed to continue growing. I also wanted fresh challenges. My courses at Lilleshall continue to grow and I really enjoy the changes I’ve made over the years to make them even better. This year is proving to be our best year ever following the decision to run separate intermediate and advanced group coaching weekends.
This website continue to attract more readers and I’m so thankful to you for visiting every month to see what changes I’ve made. Whilst I haven’t been as active as I’d like, I do ensure the forum is up-to-date so please register if you haven’t do so already and add to yours or others badminton knowledge by asking questions and giving your opinions.
I have more plans for this website, so expect a new look over the coming months. Also expect a number of new articles including a 3 part article on tactics. Of course I will continue with racket reviews and you may also get a taster for what is to come on video shortly.
For now, I’d like to end by saying THANK YOU to my new sponsors VICTOR. I am looking forward to working with you over the years. We are both ambitious and looking to grow our brands. Together we will be a great team and I’m so looking forward to telling my readers what we’re doing, what’s new in the Victor range and much more as the season commences.
Hi Paul
Congratulations on your new sponsorship with Victor.
So I take it that your current raquet now is the Victor Meteor X 60?
Herbert
Herbert
My contract commences September when my current contract with Yonex expires.
I haven’t chosen a racket yet. I am currently testing BS LYD and BS12 so will write reviews on both. However, there are a number of rackets I haven’t tested such as Thruster 8000. Additionally there’s a new batch of rackets being sent for testing in July so I think I will have enough to keep me very busy and provide sufficient time to choose before the season commences.
All this testing will also help me understand the range and the capabilities of each racket. So, it’s well worth it.
At the moment my favourite racket is the Lightfighter 7400 – very nice indeed. I will be posting a review of that very soon.
Paul
Hi Paul,
Thanks for sharing this information of your decision with us, I am sure it was a massively difficult decision but this new challenge I am sure excites you!! Here in SE Asia Victor is a growing brand but maybe not the biggest yet, however many of my Malaysian friends recommend Victor to me.
All the best in this new season of life and I hope to meet you sometime at Lilleshall!!
Graham
PS. I have always admired Victor apparel for their constant creative designs and comfort. I am hoping in a few years I will have raised my game enough to enjoy playing with a top Victor racket…that is really is code for IF the wife lets me buy 🙂
Graham
Many thanks for your comments. It was a very hard decision to leave Yonex, a brand I really love after so many years. However, the world is changing and I had to consider the brand that will support me and what I can then do for my reader. I found Victor far more willing to work with me than any other brand and therefore I thought it was the right move and the right time to look ahead.
I am aware Victor is huge in Asia compared to UK. I love their short designs, rackets and can’t wait to get started with them. If you continue to promote the Victor brand to a high level, you never know, you could find at some point in the future Victor will be interested in you too.
Good luck
Paul
Congratulations Paul!
You will continue to do great regardless of who sponsors you.
Great news about Victor as I absolutely love their racquets. I recently acquired a BS12 as well and it’s a league of its own!
And you already know how I feel about the Thruster!
Looking forward to your new coaching articles as well as reviews….
No doubt a tough decision after over 30 years, but any change brings along new ideas. I wish you all the best, Paul, and look forward to your new postings. Cheers, ED
Thank you Ed.
There is still a lot to share and I will slowly begin to release the information.
Interestingly we had our first player from Belgium on my coaching course recently. I hope this will open the doors for many more to follow. He is hoping to return in October.
Paul
Hi Paul,
Was good to see you and everyone else at Lilleshall! Its sad to see you step away from Yonex, but a great opportunity to work with Victor!
To your success 🙂
That is a big change after so long a period. Yonex have held court for so long but “newer” contenders such as Victor, Li-Ning and now Adidas are stepping up to the plate with innovative ideas and equipment. Yonex still remain a great brand but, as you have decided, sometimes a change is required; it’s all too easy to get settled into a rut without noticing it!
Really looking forward to listening to some in depth Victor racquet and equipment reviews (just bought a pair of Victor shoes on impulse…) so that we can get a feel for their stuff.
Best of luck with the new relationship. Here’s to the future and your continued success!
John
Many thanks for your good wishes.
Whilst there will be changes on court, everything else will remain the same. I have lots of articles to write, more racket reviews on the way, a trying to get into the video footage to release some of that too.
It’s just hard getting the time to fit it all in.
To your success.
Paul