Badminton commentators - what do we think of them?

Discussion in 'General Forum' started by Mini Me, Aug 21, 2008.

  1. whatAHassle

    whatAHassle Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2019
    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    46
    Location:
    Canada
    I like : Gillian Clarke, Morten Frost, Steen Pederson, even if they do repeat themselves and use the same expressions.
    Like Gill's : "How did he/she get that ! ", "Plum on the line", etc...
    It is still interesting to listen to.

    Charmaine Reid is a bit cringy sometimes but she is alright.

    I think that guy...Paul Hand (I think his name is) pretty bland. (no offense to him)
     
  2. ralphz

    ralphz Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2016
    Messages:
    1,200
    Likes Received:
    242
    Location:
    london
    I think if it is to have commentary, it needs a commentator like John McEnroe but that knows badminton..

    I find Tennis has some very poor english commentators similar to badminton.(I understand "david mercer" does both sports). I once heard during Tennis Commentary John McEnroe and some boring old English guy, and the boring old English guy starts trying to fill time by rattling off some stats that he either memorised or read off a sheet. McEnroe questioned him on that, and succeeded in stopping him.

    As for the female commentator that keeps saying she can't believe it, I have to mute it. (I don't care whether she is being honest and is really caught by surprise all the time, not expecting them to get it, or if she is just saying it to play the audience, or both. I find it too annoying)..

    In America everybody has a gun so I don't know if they have this problem?

    But I see these English commentators seem to be popular with some even on this forum.

    The best badminton videos are the ones where the camera is still, and the stuff between shots is cut out. And it's action. And you don't need somebody hyping it or trying to hype it.
     
    #162 ralphz, Sep 24, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2019
    scamp likes this.
  3. Phonjomtien

    Phonjomtien New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2017
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Pattaya
    I think that the badminton commentators that have had long term connections with the game, such as Gillian Clarke, Morten frost, Steen pedersen, add value for the viewer when watching a match. The so called sports commentators have little understanding of the game, tactics or even the rules, and seem to be fixated on providing a non stop commentary full of unnessary hyperbole and irrelevant and often incorrect statements. It is very annoying having to listen to Morten frost explaining the service rules or the Hawkeye challenge system to his fellow commentator. Surely the professional commentators should be required to understand the rules, even if they have no idea about tactics, before going on air. These commentators tend not to announce their names with any clarity and it would be sensible for BWF to have a commentary feedback page where the public can give their views. The female Charmaine has a good understanding of the game but her commentary style is grating, some guy called Paul has little idea about the game, tactics or rules, with commentary filled only with exaggeration and hyperbole. So for me get more experienced commentators who understand to add valued commentary periodically rather than those that seem to think verbose irrelevant commentary is key.

    Sent from my vivo 1807 using Tapatalk
     
    nizze, LenaicM, Fidget and 2 others like this.
  4. scamp

    scamp Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2018
    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    26
    Location:
    UK
    I just watched the semi-finals of the Spain Masters. It was great because the commentator knew his job, i.e. commenting! A nice contrast to those double act commentators who like to have long ongoing conversations with each other during the match and at every break talk over the coach's words so we can't hear what tactics they're saying. really annoying.
     
    Sumanth99 likes this.
  5. shadishv

    shadishv Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2018
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    doha qatar
    Gillian, Morten and Steen are quite good. Steen tends to mumble at times and so gets lost. But all the above three, in my opinion are good.

    Sir Paul- is plain verbal diarrhoea.
     
    Phonjomtien likes this.
  6. Ouchie

    Ouchie Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2018
    Messages:
    426
    Likes Received:
    244
    Location:
    UK
    I wish the Gillian Q&A moments she has with Morten and Steen were easier for us mere mortals to play along.
    - Which mixed pairing lost in the final in the 1987 Indonesian open?
    - UUUHHHHHMMMMMM

    - When was the last time a non-left handed, European with a pet dog won the ladies singles at the All England?
    - UUUUHHHHMMMMMM
     
    Dangho and Fidget like this.
  7. yuquall

    yuquall Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2018
    Messages:
    11,119
    Likes Received:
    3,047
    Location:
    AU
    nizze likes this.
  8. AYearOnTour

    AYearOnTour Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2020
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    147
    Location:
    Denmark
    I had commentator Steen Schleicher Pedersen as a guest on my latest podcast episode of A Year On Tour With Vittinghus. So if you want to know more about him, his coaching career, his view on international badminton and his commentating experiences, you could give it a try:

    You can find the episode by clicking here.
     
  9. Fidget

    Fidget Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2008
    Messages:
    3,664
    Likes Received:
    330
    Location:
    Canada
    It's going to be a sad day when Gill Clark hangs up the microphone. She is not perfect. (Who is?) But her voice has been associated with badminton, in my head, for so long that it has the same calming, hypnotic effect as the ocean lapping the shore.

    Steen Pedersen is like that quiet guy from your school days who might seem boring but has a way of letting lose a line that makes you laugh.

    Morten Frost is like that really smart acquaintance who is full of insight and is friendly enough at a BBQ -- but you're not sure you'd want to have as your professor or your dad because of the super-high expectations he'd have.
    ______________

    BTW, is it not rather freaky to have Hans-Kristian Vittinghus on BadmintonCentral as @AYearOnTour? :)
     
    Cheung, nizze, decoy and 4 others like this.
  10. CaesarZ

    CaesarZ Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2003
    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    UK & Malaysia
    Gill is as close to perfect as we will ever get to a badminton commentator. Her profound knowledge of the game and her priceless expressions is what I come to expect to hear when I watch a game. Steen and Morten are also great commentators in their own right and great when paired up with Gill.

    The cringiest and worst commentator I have ever heard is Charmaine Reid. For someone that is an ex-professional player of the game (and not a very good one), she can't commentate to save her life. Hearing her shallow and amateurish commentary, you would never have guessed she knows anything about badminton - it is that bad!
     
    #170 CaesarZ, May 14, 2020
    Last edited: May 14, 2020
    Fidget likes this.
  11. yuquall

    yuquall Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2018
    Messages:
    11,119
    Likes Received:
    3,047
    Location:
    AU
    Video interview of Gill with Badminton talk.

    Part 1 :

    Part 2 :
     
    Fidget likes this.
  12. Baddyforall

    Baddyforall Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2015
    Messages:
    8,039
    Likes Received:
    2,679
    Location:
    Chennai
    How could we digest if Gill Clarke retire from her job..?
    We used to hear her voice for so long that even when we sleep and dreamt about a rally with a fine winning shot, our mind voice talks in her tone..Lol
    Such a dominant figure in Badminton Circle.
    Talking about her , i thought of posting a video about some of her famous phrases while commentating.

     
    #172 Baddyforall, Jan 19, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2021
  13. nizze

    nizze Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    Messages:
    1,232
    Likes Received:
    151
    Location:
    SG
    Steen's interview



    Sent from my 2201123G using Tapatalk
     
  14. ralphz

    ralphz Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2016
    Messages:
    1,200
    Likes Received:
    242
    Location:
    london
    I lose patience with Gill Clark, she just seems to want to fill the air with her voice. Somebody once put her commentary on another sport and it worked the same. Any random old lady could do it , going "oooh......".. I think a lot of the people that like her just like the sound of an English accent. She's identifiable for being a broken record. I only know of her 'cos I looked to find out her name 'cos if I know what games she commentates on then I can watch other ones or mute it in advance..

    From the sound of things at least Charmaine Reid sounds amusing. Can you link to any clips of her commentary? How do you even know who the commentators are. When I watch a game on youtube they don't introduce themselves.
     
  15. scamp

    scamp Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2018
    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    26
    Location:
    UK
    Too many commentators (of various sports) talk to much and it sometimes becomes a nonstop narrative. The hallmark of a good commentator is knowing when to COMMENT and when to SHUT UP !
     

Share This Page