Paul, that sounds wonderful! I look forwards to seeing what you have to say on your videos 🙂

As a player (and a coach), the split step is something I am very “big” on. I get annoyed when players work on their footwork, but make it “easy” by using their split step to “help” them reach a corner, in particular players practice moving to their forehand rear corner with their feet starting angled towards that corner! How useless is that practice? Surely most players wait with their right foot forwards? But they practice from a position they won't use.

The other movement issue i am “big” on, is, as you say, recovery. You highlighted recently the importance of recovery and how lin dan is the best exponent of this. I agree completely. Too many players take so many steps getting back to base, they are often caught out in the wrong place. I recently wrote to you regarding using a scissor kick from the back forehand corner, and how practising without it makes me lazy: This is because i tend not to rotate my shoulders (hence my hips!!!) into the shot and THUS I don't recover properly. For this reason, I will ALWAYS turn my shoulders (as a result of hips!) before every shot. I agree with you completely regarding the hips 🙂

What interests me is the differences between the four players Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei, Taufik, and Peter Gade. For example, when Taufik goes to the net, he sometimes uses bad technique and doesn't lunge with his foot in alignment (see the 2010 All england QF with gade, first game). Lee Chong Wei tends to take one HUGE lunge when going forwards. Gade tends to “hang” in the air for a long time in the rearcourt, where lee chong wei and lin dan have excellent recovery from the rearcourt, and Taufik hits most of his smashes whilst falling backwards (but he didn't when he was younger).

One thing I have noticed regarding Lin Dan, is that because of the difficulty of recovering from the deep forehand corner, he rarely attacks from this side except off a short lift (and a jump smash!). However Lin Dan is extremely aggressive from round the head, and his One left step and then hit attack wins MOST of his points or creates the opportunity to win the point (the one i roughly described for when I dont have much time).

Obviously I have only touched on a few key points i find interesting, but they are all quite interesting to note.

I can't wait to hear what other people have to say 🙂

Its interesting how everyone is different in their approach 🙂

The most interesting difference between us Marc, is that I tend to use a Hitch at the start of a movement, whereas you describe using it at the end. However, we both use it for the same reason: to better adjust ourselves towards the shot. Typically I will use hitches when I need to quickly adjust my line of travel, allowing me to move quickly but get the direction/timing right.

You are correct in likening how I practice to that instructional series by Rasmussen, because that is where I learned the drill! I imagine you have read the Badminton Bible site? You are the only person to describe a “hitch” to me, other than that website!

I love the fact you picked out the distance your foot is from the ground as an important point, because it IS so very important 🙂 I feel in particular a pro's use of “hitches” makes them look like they are gliding, and thats how good movement feels.

I also find it interesting that you move at different speeds and in different ways depending on the current desired pace, and shuttle trajectory. I have been very strict with myself, moving as if I have virtually no time to do so, even if I intend to play at a slow pace. I enjoy getting there early and having a “look around”, and it keeps me practised for playing against those fast opponents who play at a fast pace. Sometimes i DO get lazy, but this is just me being naughty and normally results from a bad warm up – see Pauls latest article 🙂 a little bit of visualisation normally gets me back up to speed (imagining the look and feel of my normal fast footwork)

I recently got the opportunity to play singles against Peter Knowles. Any English player should recognise him as a commonwealth gold medalist, former english no.1 and world top 10. Very enjoyable experience, losing 21-16 (he was going easy on me as he had a slight injury – good fun though). His footwork does not look fast, but thats why it IS fast, and when you get in the perfect position every time, the good shots start to flow. Thats my goal this season, to constantly get into the right position – resisting laziness!

I like your nominations for fastest player and best movers 🙂 i look forward to hearing everyones thoughts on this issue.

Thanks for your post marc 🙂

To paul:

which to train indeed. I found the most important thing to develop was balance during my split step. When i was truly balanced, everything started to work nicely thereafter, be it explosive power, grace, jumpiness. I think I order my preferences as balance/grace/posture first – this i feel gives the most “efficient movement”, and then explosive power, and then the crazy jumps 🙂

I love watching some of the videos on youtube of morten frost and zhao junhua. Zhao is probably the playing style I wish I could copy most. When i watch the older videos, i can't help but feel those players “flowed” more than current players, as players nowadays want to rush back, stop, jump forwards (as they smash) and then carry on, but with fewer jump smashes, everything just looks so effortless!

And Marc:

I believe that match you are talking about with Peter Rasmussen and Sun Jun, lasted for about 2 and half hours. I THINK it is the longest match ever played, and the videos on youtube only show the final hour or so, being played at that tremendous quality. But they had already been going at it for at least an hour before!