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2:15 pm
February 14, 2013
Offline
I have been upping my game with maximum practice over the last few months – but still have 1 main weakness I can easily put my finger on.
People who smash or drive at me, directly at my face, shoulder or hip – if it’s a fast/powerful shot my instincts tend to take over and I just block the shuttle, often straight into the net.
When I get time to react I am fine with it, and redirect the shot as I know I should, but my instincts for self-preservation aren’t tuned into being winning ones at the moment.
Has anybody faced and overcome this? I know if there’s a weak lift it’ll be smashed, and to avoid it at all costs – which I do, but sometimes it’s going to happen. I am not actually worried by this, and if smashed round me, or at my feet, and often when smashed at me I’ll get it back, but every so often you can just tell it’s going to be a belter the moment its hit, and you know it’s coming for your head.
Is there something anybody can suggest to try and get over my default reaction and play a decent shot? I know keeping my racket up and out front is the best way to avoid this, and have been working to remember this, but I still get caught out a maybe once or twice per match on it, and I’d like to cut it out if I can.
Thanks!
Ben
4:45 pm
January 7, 2015
Offline IMO you’ve mostly answered your own question. Instinct is hard to change and self preservation is in all of us but ensuring lifts are deep to the back line thus eliminating the chance of un-returnable angle or speed of smash and keeping your racket out in front of your body will defiantly keep you from needing those instincts …Also, staying alert and ready for any type of shot and not favouring one defensive stance over another so staying neutral (backhand/forehand) will help.
However, you mentioned the fact that the shuttle is coming at your head/face a few times. Any smash coming to you at head height should be an opportunity for you to counterattack with a drive defence. Keeping your racket well up and preparing for the smash and driving the shuttle flat back over the net to your opponents court into any space or straight into his/her body. You might find stepping into the smash will help you achieve this and this might take a few weeks practise as it’s hard to find the courage initially but it’s an extremely effective way of over coming powerful smashers. Turning defensive back into attacking play and often catching your opponent out. Practising the block OVER the net is just as effective at keeping you in the rally however!
6:57 am
February 15, 2011
Offline
Great question and nice to be able to discuss a completely different aspect of the game.
This topic is about mental conditioning. If you have a weakness like you have described then how and what you think about it makes a difference to the outcome.
The good news is that you can train this. With focusing and repetition training you can completely change the outcome.
Paul
1:42 pm
February 14, 2013
Offline Thank you for the thoughtful replies!
I am going to start training for this – over the off-season which is now looming I plan to work on many things to hit the next season at a better level than I did this time round!
Speaking of mental conditioning, I had a match last night, and physically was fine, but mentally drained from a 3 hour drive is lashing sideways rain, so my brain was just running on slow. That doesn’t half make for a frustrating evening!
1:30 pm
March 10, 2013
Offline Hi Ben
Good to see that you have taken on board the importance of self assessment in your game.
I think that if players can identify areas for improvement themselves, sometimes with prompting from a coach or fellow player,rather than just being told, they tend to work harder to improve.
As Paul says a good mental attitude is vital for a good defense.
He has an excellent video on his coaching club site covering block defense and turning it into attack.
To defend well you have to be relaxed and confident.
Quality training is the key.
Make sure that your stance and racket carriage are correct and practice with players who have a good smash in both speed and accuracy.
This video may also help.
Good luck with the training
Roger
4:08 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline Interesting video. I tend not to watch other coaches videos on the basis that it may steer me to copy their information.
I have a lot of time for Coach Lee although he seems very scathing of the league and recreation player, when in my opinion this should be saved for county and international players.
Mental and physical strength are vital and this must go hand in hand with good nutrition. Driving three hours to play a match would suggest the tank is almost out of fuel before the first shuttle is hit. This in turn affects the mind and creates a downward spiral for the evening.
You can never get enough good nutrition into your system and therefore you really need the quick, on the go, good stuff which will help you. That’s what I personally use and recommend as I’ve tested it over the last year or so. If you want to know more than PM or email me. I’ll make it clear that I do not sell, but recommend through experience.
Paul
5:45 pm
February 14, 2013
Offline That coaching video actually was quite a help, with that firmly routed in my brain I set about my last match with confidence, and what a difference!
Although I didn’t actually win any of the mixed games I played, I was part of the 3rd pair against a team we previously lost to 9-0.
This time we setted twice out of 3, and nearly won those, the final one going 22-24!
My partner was much weaker than the opposition, so I was run pretty much all over, but I kept at it, and came out on top in a number of exchanged where it was bashed at me. Waiting until it’s struck really helped me, I am looking forward now to next season starting and us having hopefully a chance to do better!
I get to be captain next year in this team… so need to work out pairings which I would like to set in stone for the season, rather than have the chopping and changing we had this time.
A related question but slightly OT is do you pair the strongest 2 players together to mostly ensure 3 wins each time, or do you mix people to have 2 stronger pairings, to possibly get more wins, but also more defeats?
12:43 pm
VIP Coaching Program Members
August 12, 2010
Offline evilchap said
A related question but slightly OT is do you pair the strongest 2 players together to mostly ensure 3 wins each time, or do you mix people to have 2 stronger pairings, to possibly get more wins, but also more defeats?
It always surprises me how many players try to move before the shuttle is struck. At a professional level in singles, retrieving a smash, professional players have not even completed their split step before the shuttle passes the net! Thats how late they move!
Anyway, to answer your question:
In my experience, it is always best to have a pair you can bank on. Its much better going into a match knowing you have already won 3, and need two more, rather than worry about maybe winning with using two slightly weaker pairs. As always: if first pair wins three and everyone beats the opposing third pair, then you win the match. The benefit of this is that the slightly weaker players will quickly learn to up their game, which will lead to having more strong players.
I also think it is quite a good moral boost to be able to rely on a pair to win matches and learn how they went about beating the opposition.
Therefore, that would be my suggestion: create a pair that will win every match, then create the next strongest pair, which leaves the weakest two to play together.
1:27 pm
March 10, 2013
Offline I think Matts right.
Don’t split up your strongest pair.
This is a good topic so I’ll try and broaden it a bit.
The choice of pairs and who plays with who is a matter of some debate at all levels Putting your best individual players together does not necessarily make for the best pair.
Although technical ability is very important so is the ability to gel on court.Creating an understanding that will bring out the best individually, and collectively as a pair, is vital.
The key is communication, both on and off court.
If you can establish and open and honest relationship from the start then you will be well on your way to solving problems in the future.
If you loose a game or match, telling someone “your game was rubbish” or “you did too many bad shots” isn’t going to solve anything.The person knows when they’ve had a bad one and negative remarks only compound the misery.
So what to do in a tricky situation that I’m sure we’ve all been in.
A good way of giving a frank assessment of a partners game is via what coaches call the praise burger.
It may go like this. “Your smashes are really coming on but you seem to be struggling a bit with the cross court returns. Your movements pretty good so maybe we could do some practice on the cross courts and see what we can sort out”
Praise first, then the point you want to make, praise again and then, if possible, a path to resolve.
Anymore thoughts out there.
12:43 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline Good comments from Matt and Roger.
I agree with these comments. The only time you split up a good pair is when you play a weak team and need to bring in less experienced players who need steadying. The international teams do this too rather than play a couple of inexperienced players together.
Paul
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