I have started playing again Pete,   but sadly I still dont enjoy it and leave most nights boiling with rage. Not sure why I actually play badminton, and I am hard pushed to remember when I last played and actually enjoyed it.

I think my mental state before, during and after will stop me from progressing as a player. I have thought about hypnotherapy etc,  but its far too expensive, and possibly a little drastic. I worry about the stigma surrounding it etc

Peter Warman said:

Term, that does seem quite extreme for a reason to give up badminton to be fair. But then fair play for stopping if you are no longer enjoying it. I don't know if I have come across that I get really angry with myself as I don't, it's just a little thing on the back of my mind. As a person I don't seem to accept positive comments from people, often question why are they being so nice to me?! lol

 

But I do still enjoy my badminton and I certainly don't let it stop me from enjoying playing. I guess I just have a secret desire that maybe if I had taken up the game sooner or more competitively then I would be a better player than I am now. But if I am honest, like Paul said, no badminton player plays without thinking “could do this better or that”, I think this what drives us on to do better or try and do better. And to be brutelly honest, I am always going to be handicaped compared to normal players as hearing the shuttle and what not helps their game.

 

I have been trying to be more positive on court and whilst I haven't improved a lot in terms of play, it has help a bit. I have been mainly using the mental thinking of playing each point in the same frame of mind regardless of the score and forget any mistakes from the last point and start afresh with the next point. I think this has helped me a bit, especially in singles (which I haven't played for a while).

 

I think you should try playing again Term, if I had given up badminton, I wouldn't visit this website any more, so maybe you haven't given up as much as think you have. Why not play again and take some of Paul's advice? I think you should try playing for a different club or against different people. Maybe it was that group of people that made you feel like this? Or maybe you played too often? Just my 2p, just don't like to think that your not playing any more, I play once a week (matches aside) and can't wait to play the next week, whilst part of me would like to play more, another part doesn't as this makes me enjoy it even more.

 

Hi Paul,

I’d certain be open to any help you can offer,  and I think you are right,  this is a negative mindset that crosses over into every aspect of my life, not just badminton.  Badminton just seems to make my blood boil more often than other things,

you already have my email and are welcome to contact me, or how do I setup a call ?

thanks

I have recently spoken with Paul about various mental issues in the game that were troubling me. Paul's suggestions have helped me no end. One phrase that was very helpful to me was to try to 'earn' one point from the opponents. Not a point gifted or from a loose shot or mistake, a point where we have crafted the right shots to set up and kill off the shuttle. In fact just setting up the shuttle ready for the kill is a success in itself! This helped me focus more and channel my thoughts in to either setting my partner up or killing off the shuttle myself.

Having started playing league this season before talking this over I had had two pretty heavy defeats but yesterday we came away with a good win which was very pleasing. It is amazing how much we get effected by negative thoughts on the badminton court be that from our own frustration or that of our partners washing over on to us. Once we can clear this cloud of negativity we start to give ourselves a chance to shine. Almost like driving out of the fog in to the clear daylight. 

Thanks to Paul for your generosity in taking the time to talk things over with me and everyone's helpful comments here. I do now feel armed with the tools to start moving in the right direction. I will keep you all posted on how things go.