AlexLaw said

Thanks for the input.
Aww…But come on, I still feel badminton isn’t that complex.

These situations Matt mentioned above don’t exist enough so I didn’t think of them when I wrote that (except rotation).
If it’s a lab manual, then I won’t write why rotation is necessary since it seems obvious but I’d say when. I did not include alternatives.

Mind games/alternative options not covered that I wrote above generally occur as a result of picking an inferior option by one side, and can be easily refuted if it’s done more than once during a game. So, I felt that wasn’t necessary.

E.g For service-my manual says keep it down. The alternative is the flick, which hands the initiative over on a platter if done too frequently. Service return is the same-keep it down. As long as you made him lift, then your job is done well and good.

Haha you did have a good go! And I agree – it is completely possible to play good badminton with a simplistic view of the game – from that sense, badminton is not complex. However, I am a details man – I want to know of all the options and when to use them in every situation e.g. against opponents who are very solid in defence then introduce a small degree of slice on all your smashes etc etc…

These things matter to me – I would want to read them in a manual. In the same way, I am sure a chess manual can be simplified: here are the rules, thats how the pieces move, now make sure that you don’t allow your opponent to put you in check mate within the next 10 moves from any given point. I mean, technically it is a simplification but it wouldn’t help ME – because I don’t have enough knowledge to make it work properly against an intelligent opponent who knows more.

However, as for the things I mentioned not happening enough to mention, at my club, these things are discussed and implemented every rally. Thats pretty frequent! I rotate differently with every partner and attack the net differently in different situations and all will occur countless times within a game. For me, it is very simple to understand, but to explain it in a manual would involve writing in several years worth of badminton related knowledge.

Another example is the serve manual – you say keep it down. I would be explaining how, within 5 serves to any given opponent, I can make them lift the shuttle, or play it to an area I want. For me, your guide is too simple. For you, my guide might be too complex

And then there are all the other things – how choices of shots and rallies can affect the mental state of your opponent e.g. demoralise them or deprive them of confidence – example is how to play in mixed doubles such that you demoralise the male player to then create a rift between him and his partner.

I think badminton is very complex game to explain in detail, even though my own understanding seems very very simple

Good discussion.

AlexLaw said

It’s kind of hard to compare chess and badminton strategy.

I agree – but you started it

You have said some interesting things in your post:
1. I agree that, for the majority of players, focussing on the simple side of the game would be far more beneficial than learning the complex underlying tactics. Its only when you reach upper divisions against players with good technique that you will need to start understanding the more complex principles.

2. I agree we should aim to achieve the optimum tactics. However, you and I disagree about what those are – the optimum tactics for me involves lots of subtleties, all of which can be countered by opposition playing with good technique and sound tactics.

3. What you say about strengths and weaknesses is only relevant in social badminton. At a top league level and at a professional level, all tactics revolves around exploiting the weaknesses in your opponent. Perhaps this is our main difference? My badminton (even at club nights) is very competitive – perhaps yours is more social? A lot depends on club atmosphere. I agree that I want to improve my skills to nullify my opponents strengths, but competitive matches is not the time to learn that stuff – thats for training (and one day it filters into my game – once I have practised enough). During matches, my goal is to out play my opponent. Having said that, I am rarely in a situation where I can easily avoid an opponents strength and exploit their weakness – its more about trying to impose my strengths against them.

4. Its interesting what you say about only having to worry about the next couple of shots. I do not believe this is viable against a top class county player. Pulling a team like that out of position before being able to win the point often takes many shots – its much more complicated than outmanoeuvring a singles player, because you have so much less room to exploit. My strategy is normally thinking about the next 5 or 6 shots to play – and trying to lure them into patterns of rallies, not just a couple of shots. e.g. your point about smashing – yes I am going to use my smash to try to set up a win, but the sequence that I am trying to exploit is often a big smash at their chest to make them stand up slightly in their defensive position (making them less mobile as their balance shifts onto their heels), followed by a stop drop or net stun block (to make them stumble forwards – having previously put them on their heels), followed by a punch clear or fast lift over their heads, resulting in a net kill opportunity or a short lift which can be put away into the tramlines. If I didn’t use a sequence of shots to affect the movement of my opponent, and then exploit his movement, and then do something unexpected (the lift) and THEN go for the winner, I probably wouldn’t win many points. These guys are far too good to just fall over when I smash the first one – meaning its necessary for me to think several moves ahead.

5. I will agree to drop the psychology aspect for now – but I think the mindset of player is very important in all professional sports.

Thanks for the discussion Alex – its interesting to read your views on these things. I used to have a similar mindset to you. I found that receiving coaching from an ex-international and joined a new club changed my perspective on the game completely!