Hi, I usually hit drops using slices. But my friend hits drops using wrist and with full face of the racquet by just varying the force. Her drops are way faster. My drops are slower than her. Question:- Is it me hitting with improper technique or slice drops are always slower than drops using wrist with full face of racquet. When to use these two techniques? Which one is better?
In general, anything hit at an angle will always lead to a less efficient travel of power so slower in general. That's why proper contact is taught so early on. That being said, slices aren't a wrong technique. Instead that principle is used to our advantage, typically a fast swing speed is shown to make the opponent think a fast smash is coming, but the slice takes off the pace leading to confusion. Also, slices are typically done cross, so a change of direction is another added element or surprise. Neither are wrong. Drops with the full face are however more fundamental, and lower levels of doubles and singles you could have a competent game without slices IMO. It's best to learn both, but master the proper full face contact first.
Got it. So slices are only good if I have the racquet speed to generate the deception. And should master the proper full face drop first and later on work on the deception part as I get better. Thanks.
This is my recording from yesterday's game. Few things I was able to observe is: Struggle against high serve. Returns are mostly to center. Struggle to reach the side line in right front corner( is my base position wrong?) Lack of explosiveness in footwork. Please let me know the feedback. Regards, Ankur Vashishtha
Try to use all of the court in singles. And try not to play a clear straight down the middle, your opponent can aim at either side of you when returning it. Footwork, footwork, footwork! If you struggle with returning a high serve, you just need to get behind it quicker. Directional split step > chasse or a cross over step > china jump or play the clear at that point. If is it still a struggle to you, you can start half or a whole step back than you normally would. Use both tram lines when returning shots. And get comfortable performing net shots. I think you are doing a weak "split step" see next point. For fast footwork, a strong split step is required. It is a mini squat, loading your legs to explosively push off in a direction. Furthermore, make your lunge at the end as wide as you can so you cover more ground. From the footage, it appears your split step does not give you much of an increase in speed.
I will work on explosive split steps. Clear on both sides not just in center. I will try a new base position. Perform net shots with more confidence and use the width. Thanks a lot for the feedback. Let me work on them for a month and add a clip again here. This community is lovely. Thanks, Ankur
You're not bad But you're standing still! Try to time the moment you get to your center position, with the moment you need to do your split step When you do slices, do a full range of movement with your racket. It's very obvious right now, when you're doing a slice. Slice it, but move the racket like you would do with a power smash. A "stick slice" is really tough to master, and only a few players use it (Chen Long does), Use your upper body when playing. Whenever you're on the back of the court (very visible at the round the head side), your body is completely still. You need to rotate it, if you want power in your clear and smashes. It will also make it way more efficient for you to play, as the energy you would use, would be spread across the entire body. It would also make every shot more deceptive. Dont forget: We play badminton on the front of our feet, not our heels. By having our weight on the front, it allows us to be more explosive, and it's so much easier to a sudden direction change We use our heel, when we land on our very last step before we stop the movement, to avoid damaging our knees. Focus points: - Use of upperbody from the back court - Don't be afraid to use full range shots from the backcourt - We move around on the front of our feet, land on our heels. (you do this right most of the time, but it needs to be all the time) - Time our split step - Please do a scissor movement, when you're at the round the head side
You're not bad Thanks for the kind words . Such a detailed feedback . Thanks a lot. I will work on the following: - Use of upperbody from the back court - Don't be afraid to use full range shots from the backcourt - We move around on the front of our feet, land on our heels. (you do this right most of the time, but it needs to be all the time) - Time our split step - Please do a scissor movement, when you're at the round the head side -Do a full range of movement with your racket while slicing as well. -Use body rotations. Cheers.
Now a list of to do:- Shots: - Use of upperbody from the back court.(Use body rotations) - Don't be afraid to use full range shots from the backcourt -Do a full range of movement with your racket while slicing as well. -Clear on both sides not just in center. -Perform net shots with more confidence and use the width. Footwork: - We move around on the front of our feet, land on our heels. (you do this right most of the time, but it needs to be all the time) - Time the split step - Please do a scissor movement, when you're at the round the head side - Work on explosive split steps. I will work on these for 1 month regularly and will do a self review and if I feel improvement, I will add clip as well, else continue the improvement. Thanks a lot to the entire community. You guys are awesome.
Thank you. Remember to set yourself S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, realistic and timely) goals and don't try to learn too much at once. Be realistic and focusing on one or two things to learn or get better at. Otherwise you might get annoyed at seeing no progress. Eg, first 3 sessions or first week focus on split step and moving to the deep forehand corner Second week focus on movement in and around the net. A fun thing to do is half-court singles and it should get you more comfortable going back and forward from rearcourt to the net and back again. Week 3 - Returning flick serves Week 4 - Footwork for "round the head" shot, including scissor jump that badliker suggested. I made myself a template at the end of last year to help me with my development. Rated myself out of 10 on things like; Drop Slice drop clear smash Drives Backhand clear Backhand drop Net shot Cross court net shot Backhand lift Forehand lift Serve Drive serve Flick serve Spin serve return of serve Speed Tactics Accuracy Reflexes Deception Still have it on my fridge and need to review it sometime
Yup you are correct. I will take these points 1 by 1 and embed in my training till it becomes second nature. I will also make a similar list for the shots and would monitor myself. I have been recording few of my games to visualize the progress/mistakes as well. Cheers
