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9:20 pm
VIP Coaching Program Members
August 12, 2010
Offline
I just wanted to make some players stop and think about what makes an opponent so intimidating to play against.
Here are a few key candidates for me:
Serve: Obviously someone with an impeccable serve is VERY VERY annoying.
Speed: Someone who is fast around the court can be a nightmare to play against. If they are very aggressive, or very defensive, doesn't really make a difference. They are still a pain.
Smash: The BIG killer smash. Very frightening indeed! But perhaps not so much if I can outmanouvre him?
Defense: You just can't get it past them! And they don't make any mistakes! What is with this guy?!
Return of serve: This is probably the only one I am worried about. He is the reason I continue to practice my serve even when think its going ok. Imagine you came up against a player, who buried every serve you did, short or flick. This is a nightmare. Fortunately, I haven't ever encountered him, and I hope not to by increasing my variety and accuracy on serve. But consider if you will, what is more frightening: having a guy put every smash on the floor? Or put every one of your serves on the floor? I know which it is for me! (this is similar to the guy who would put every net shot ont he floor – the net kill king!)
The reason I wanted to bring these up, is for those of you who are considering how best to improve your game to give you a psychological edge over your opponent. We need to look at what we have problems with, and then work on bringing those skills to OUR games! And its this kind of thought that really pays off in the end.
I can't wait to hear Pauls advice on returning serve at his next residential coaching weekend. People will tremble in their boots when they have to serve to me from now on!
What do you all think?
Matt
11:56 pm
June 16, 2010
Offline My most intimidating player is that guy that reads the game, or my play, and anticipates like he can read my mind.
11:57 pm
June 16, 2010
Offline 
double post sorry
10:55 am
October 25, 2010
Offline I totally agree with Marc, any player who can read my game easily and react accordingly, I tend to find its the older clever players who know what I'll do. I think I am actually quite easy to read as in certain circumstances I am over reliant on particular shots meaning its easy to assume what I'll do in a given situation.
Other than this, I tend to fear players
who I have played before, and have (for some reason or another) a low
opinion of my abilities, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and I live up to their
low expectations and play badly against them.
2:09 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline Everyone in the division my team has just been promoted to, mainly cus I don't know any of them.
After next season, hopefully everyone in the division above that.
10:33 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline
Bearing in mind I don’t play and only coach, anyone younger and fitter than me (not much difficult to be fitter) gets me worried..
Seeing as I coach county juniors, that means I now terrified of 9 year old Rachael. You just wouldn’t want to play her at singles!
Fun aside, this is a good topic. What’s interesting is that this is an inward facing question. Does this therefore tell you where you are weakest or does it tell you the areas in your game you need to work on in order to become stronger (not necessarily the same thing).
What about changing the question and asking “what skills must I develop to strike fear into my opponents?”
The main area of intimidation I work on with players is the net. Learn to dominate the net. Be totally fearless at having a go at the tightest of net shots with the view to killing the shuttle. It doesn’t matter if you miss the first as you’ve already sown the mental seeds to your opponent. “Play anything loose and I’ll be onto it.” Usually by the second or third time you’ve buried the shuttle, it’s rare that you see the shuttle in the net area again. Get it right and it doesn’t take long to dominate.
Paul
11:17 am
VIP Coaching Program Members
August 12, 2010
Offline Paul,
I think thats the perfect quality to have as a player: dominance at the net. Perhaps moreso in doubles than in singles, although looking for those opportunities in singles is something not enough players (including myself) do!
Interesting that some of the players here are worried by opponents who anticipate their shots so well. I think it might be funny to turn the tables and add some extra deception to your games! Because then, you might ACTUALLY become the most feared opponent for YOUR opponent, as they won't be able to read your game anymore.
Matt
2:32 pm
VIP Coaching Program Members
August 10, 2010
Offline I think the worst Players to play against are the 1s you cannot read!! For example, in Pauls 1st residential weekend, there was a young chap stuart who was 1 of the best there. I had a quick game of singles with him. I cudnt read him, his overheads al looked the same and if I moved to soon, he seen it and hit the shot eslewhere every time!! He had very good perception of where I was on court and was therefore able to pick his shots.
This al meant i cudnt move at all until he hit the shuttle and if his shots were good which his were, I was struggling!! lol
2:58 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline Phil
Stuart is returning to Lilleshall in March with 4 other past attendees. He’s a very tricky player although I suspect you gave him too many clues which made life easier for him.
With players you cannot read, the length in your game becomes even more critical. After all, you’re then responding to a shot played rather than being able to read and move early.
Paul
8:31 pm
April 15, 2010
Offline My team captain when serving to him! He just stands on the front line and if you're a fraction high with your short serve you get a shuttle to the face. Flick serving is an option but you get that in the face if you get it wrong as well.
In terms of the trickiest opponent I'd say it would be someone who serves well and controls the net, I feel like I run out of ideas quickly and just end up lifting the shuttle putting myself and partner on the back foot straight away. I'm very interested in Paul's ideas on returning serve to try and get some new tactics in this area.
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