I had a coach tell me not to because I wont have time to change grips back and forth, or backhand-forehand-panhandle, during the actual game because it is so fast. But other coaches or people tell me about the different grips. I never really changed grips much, except for serving but otherwise no.
I always change depending on if I'm at the front or back (short vs long grip), or if I'm anticipating a backhand or forehand shot.
You probably don't have time to change grips under certain conditions, esp. in Doubles, when you're in fast exchanges at the net, or defending against thundering smashes. In that case, backhand grip is the most ideal one even to your forehand side (up to a certain extent). When you move to become front player, or rear player, you'd need to choke your grip up/down the handle. In other cases, e.g. when you play backhand shots, you'd need to change your grip.
As a generalization, it is always better to change your grip depending on what shot you're trying to execute. But as mentioned, often you will not have time to adjust it back and forth. Having said that, I personally play mens doubles (arguably the quickest tempo amongst the five disciplines), and most of the time I have enough time to make tiny adjustments to my grip shot by shot. Some of the time, I anticipate the shot well enough to make a full adjustment. And some times I just don't make any adjustments.
there was a series of vids on utube about this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p1JdOwwhgU&feature=player_detailpage#t=4s
I second that , cant put it in a better context myself. Nice to hear from someone who knows much about badminton
How do you play backhand cross court when the shuttles went behind you to the baseline? bet you can't do that with a classic forehand grip
I personally would chose to change my grip for every shot I play (to some degree or other). There will be the odd occassion where a very well placed attacking shot catches me out and i try to "dig it out" with the wrong grip, but I then get annoyed with myself for using lazy technique and sort it out so I don't get caught out again so easily in that game (I try to at least ). Not sure I would ever say to someone not to change their grip... and not sure I know of any coach who would say the same. Hmmm....
If you think about the shots you play, try to realize the most probable returns for your shot. This comes with playing other people and experiencing it. This will create a mental map for what shots you will have to hit after your opponents reply and as a result, you have tons of time to change your grip. Even in doubles after every shot you have the potential to change your grip. Even in fast drive wars, unless you are gripping the racquet as hard as you can, which decreases your ability to change grips and creates inefficient strokes and shots.
It's possible, you just need to practice changing grip by rotating the racquet. The change between forehand and backhand is usually around 10% of a turn or even less. You shouldn't have to feel consciously where your grip should be during a rally. Think in terms of where you want to hit the shuttle and where the face of the racquet head should be in order to hit to that location. The face of the racquet should be pointing to the shuttle's target at the moment of impact. Practice hard enough, your next step should be to have a relaxed grip. Tension will limit your speed whether if it's footspeed or grip change, so stay focused and relaxed if you want to maximise your speed.
Was this a coach from a long time ago? That coach may have been teaching you as a beginner and trying to simplify things.
I don't know the OP's coach. Interestingly, a coach of my from long time ago, would teach me/us to (try to) change grip every time. This coach had high world ranking (#2 in the world) but he was from the mid-70's. These days, my kid is taking lessons. Two of her coaches, both Doubles specialists, instructed her to use backhand grips on defense, as I described earlier. They were players from contemporary eras. One from China with many International tournaments top-3 ranking, while the other got World Ranking as high as #17 with Howard Bach in 2008, and #8 with Tony Gunawan in 2002. With this grip, you can cover most of the angles (approx. 75% of a "clock" around your proximity), much faster, and more powerful. In Singles, when you need to do more running, perhaps you can change your grip while you run.
Raymond, this defense started appearing in the late 90's. The modern doubles game has changed quite a bit. Short, quick strokes are in force for doubles. However, you'd still need to change grips on other situations - even in doubles.
This coach played back in the 1970's-1980's he was a great players and was well respected. He said it may cause the skin to peel off too. But I by no means am a professional player so I am asking you smarties! Also, not to sound rude or anything but I am actually able to backhand overhead cross drop and straight drop with the forehand grip. It is actually efficient. I think its the fact that I have used it for a long time since the coach told me not to change. I can't backhand clear; so not a issue for me. But for me if I try to use backhand grip now on some parts; I tend to slice the birdie on accident. Is this due to a change of angle? I feel like a completely new beginner when I try backhand grip for drives and some shots.
You might be using the panhandle grip which is fine for some backhand shots. If you want to do drives or lifts on the backhand side, you would need to rotate the racquet in your hand to an orthodox backhand grip.
BTW Cheung did anyone tell you you are like awesome? Like one of the awesomest person alive? I do backhand drive well with forehand grip. Everytime I try to rally w/ a friend w/ backhand grip I suck and miss; so I get embarrassed and retry. I might do private training and have them work on me only for backhand grip drive adequately . I have no idea why I start slicing as my brain tells me I'm not, but I am.
unless someone is net killing you, i dont understand how you dont have time to change your grip. it should be instinctive. you almost do it simultaneously as you move the racket into position to swing. id say if you can get to a shot, you should have changed your grip. the only time you dont/cant change your grip is if it was a pure reflex block.
I was thinking the same. It is really rare that you don't have time to adjust your grip especially when you have to move to another location in the court.
In my opinion: bad players dont change their grip good players change their grip to cater for the shot great players dont change their grip until the half a second before hitting the shot for deception internationals dont change their grip and can play a shuttle pretty much anywhere with any pace