A new (ish) member to the badminton fraternity to say 'Hi' and a huge thank you to Paul and to all who have contributed to the various discussion forums over the past year, without knowing it, you have all helped me.

I returned to badminton just over a year ago after a 40 year break, I'm 55 this year, to help be stop smoking, 40 a day habit and to start to get some exercise and boy, am I loving it!

I last played at school level when I was 14 and I always enjoyed it, I did play for a couple of clubs at that time, but it was so long ago, plus many stones lighter in weight, that most of it was simply a lovely memory.  As the painful weekend spent on the couch at home after my first evening being re introduced to badminton will confirm.  A work colleague was (is) a member of a small club and kindly introduced me to it, been there ever since.  Although, I've now increased from one session a week to three:

Session one (Friends) – One hour doubles with Yonex Mavis 370 Blue Shuttle

Session two (The Club) – Two hour doubles with Yonex Mavis 370 Blue Shuttle

Session three (Close Friend) – One hour singles with either, Yonex Mavis 370 Blue, Red or Aerosensa 40 Feather to vary things a bit for fun!!

Approximately evenly spaced over the 7 day week and never a ciggie in sight, brill.

Your Forums and in particular Paul's Reviews have helped me select the rackets that I love, Yonex Armortec 50 and now Voltric 5, with only one wrong purchase along the way, Yonex Arcsaber 008, loved the 'feel' of it in the hand, but prefer the more 'heavier head' in actual play, still not a loss as friends have borrowed it from time to time.  Have tried a close friends Voltric 80 and like it, but it is just too price prohibitive especially as I like to carry a spare, so have two Voltric 5's and being aware of the cost of the 80 I tend to be overly careful when I've used my friends, so, I'm not really using it, if that makes sense?

In badminton shoes, your forums helped me to select Yonex SHB 200 and to vary things a bit and 'rest' the shoes, Yehlex Fleet FO2, yes, the bright yellow ones.  Strangely, of the two I actually prefer the Yehlex FO2 for comfort and fit, they have a little more give without being loose, where as the Yonex are very 'snug' and that's ensuring a 1/2 size larger than required.

The one thing I have found a challenge, is dealing with tennis elbow, a result of 40+ years of flyfishing, the movement is very similar to badminton although more forearm and not wrist, either way, it can get painful.  I no longer do the flyfishing as I prefer my rediscovered badminton.  However, discussions around this have greatly assisted.  I use an arm band, overwrap (2) on my racket handle and have learned, from the forums, not to grip too tightly when playing and I have to say, it only occasionally occurs and, normally, I can identify why it's happened, arm band not on properly, grip too tight, normally cause I'm trying too hard!!

Am I getting there, well my close friend, who was county level, singles, in his youth, says my game has improved beyond all recognition from a year ago and that he's proud of my development, much of it thanks to him, believe me.  I can now make him break a sweat and work for his points, some of the time at least.  Others no longer send the shuttle to me assuming they'll get a point from it, I can 'fight' back for the point.

To sum up, thank you all, especially you Paul, whilst it is one of the most frustrating games on the planet, a lot of the time that shuttle just will not do as I want it to, I'm loving it, jezzzzz I even found myself at the Scottish Internationals in November watching how it should be done.  Boy can they make a court look small.

Apart from that lot, I would finally say the cigs have gone, the weight levelled out, started losing a bit now and getting fit (ish), but more importantly, loving every minute of it, so thank you  

Keep up the forums and 'see you' online.

Allan