no, i still wear shoes. But if you want scientific literature to support barefoot playing on a soft mat, where's the scientific literature to support playing in shoes on a hard surface and its effectiveness in transferring power and reducing injury? At best, it was arbitrarily decided.
that's right, so you need a large body of well designed scientific evidence to support your claim of a 'revolution'. Big words and big claims need better proof to change people's behaviour - for which you haven't yet shown proper evidence.
That's a philosophical argument, though it did create a revolution For your 'revolution', standards have moved on from a hundred or two hundred years ago. Present day claims have to stand up to greater scrutiny than the magical elixirs of the Wild West.
let's not be silly. If we waited for FDA style testing for everything, as opposed to relying on anecdotal evidence and reasoning even a simple rubberized grip would remain in the "concept" phase indefinitely. I really think this badminton player is trying to make a point by playing barefoot here [video=youtube;KNftdk7DWZo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNftdk7DWZo[/video] obviously you have more control, but you can't do it for a sustained amount of time because the floor is hard. You would have even MORE traction if you played on a mat which is DESIGNED for bare feet.
I agree there is no need for FDA style testing. There is nothing to stop you from installing such a floor with such equipment. Are you ready to put your money where your mouth is? More to the point, can you guarantee fewer injuries and better play across the whole spectrum of players? You'll need better evidence to prove it. Most people want to know the pros and cons especially if the cons (i.e. injury) may be significant.
Going by that logic, shouldn't football (soccer) also be played bare footed? There would be no problems with studs etc.
You could always wear (grossly overpriced) Vibram's if you wanted to get closer to playing barefoot http://www.vibramfivefingers.it/products.aspx
this from you who defend barefeet badminton with ridicolous statements?! lol i can imagine playing soccer barefeet (actually i have done it oftentimes, as many ppl certainly did on beaches and on grass) but i absolutely cannot imagine playing badminton without shoes wtf
I am surprised with the hostility in the replies, especially Cheung's whose previous posts I have always found reasonable. Granted that the title is provocative, but that should not make it an argument instead of a discussion. If one can get used to barefoot running, I can imagine getting used to barefoot badminton on good floors. And btw, India played barefoot soccer at the 1948 London Olympics. Peace!
[MENTION=13151]VegiSmash[/MENTION] We're more poking fun than being hostile. You have to read his previous posts and threads started to fully understand.
Where's the evidence of a revolution? We are in 2014, not 1948. I don't use a 1948 phone. I don't use a 1948 racquet nor a 1948 type shuttle... Sometimes, things are obviously good and useful. To claim a revolution is ..... But again, the original poster should be a convert himself but notably had avoided saying that he is playing barefoot. Shouldn't he practice what he preaches to persuade others?