badminton anyone?

musicman · badminton anyone?

Seriously ... anyone here play? I've played at a fairly high level since school and have moved on to coaching now I'm "older".....

MM

tonyW

Yes, have played squash and `Badders` since early teens but not for about 1 1/2 years.

Now is a good time to play me for a Fiver!

I still wear one of my favourite T shirts that has a picture of a racquet on the front and states "For your own safety, please do not feed the forehand"

Love it!

Pam7

Whenever I played - my racquet handle would lengthen and shorten throughout the game

Nuffink to do with me missing the shots!

madsue

Pam that is really weird, that is exactly what happened when I played

Pam7

OOOOOO Sue!!! Maybe we could have a game one day???

shorty

I used to play years and years (and years) ago but never competetively.....loved it though

tonyW

Girls and hand-eye co-ordination...........never going to work is it?!

Pam7

madsue

Oh Pam that would be soooo funny!!!!

To actually play with someone whose racquet did the same as mine. My mates used to get so cross with me, cos they didn't believe I could never hit the cockleshuck!!!!

And Tony,

shorty

tony, even with my knackered bits I bet I'd beat you at table tennis, I am WICKED!!! (and modest

)

Pam7

If we both make Nottingham...you're on Sue! pmsl!

musicman

Glad to see I’m not alone.

Mind you the stats say badminton is the most popular racket sport in the country (judging by the people booking courts in leisure centres, registered private club members and so on). Just try booking a court for an hour’s play … no chance. Not in London, anyway.

The UK even has a world champion paring in mixed doubles and some of our players are highly ranked. I coached Toby Honey when he was a junior some years ago. So … he managed to get good despite that

http://www.nationalbadmintonchamps.co.uk/07dasyone.htm

(Toby is about 2/3 of the way down the page).

Still not much TV coverage although it’s improving.

I wonder how many club/social players are using the new scoring system? Out of interest …. anyone here use it?

MM

tonyW

Ermmm.....didn`t even know that there was a new scoring system as haven`t played for a while.

Please enlighten us as to the changes.

PS, guest, you can`t be Wicked as that user name is already taken.

musicman

The new system is optional at lower levels so many clubs and social players aren't using it. The group I play with have decided not to use the new system (even after I showed them how it works) so now I have to play using the old system and coach the new one. Does my head in sometimes.

The new rules are called "rally points"; basically ... when the rally ends someone gets a point (unlike the previous seem where only the serving side could win a point).

Basic advice here ...

http://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/text.asp?section=0001000100030010

More here ...

http://www.londonroadbadminton.org/rallypoints.htm

It looks difficult and I suppose it is if you try to follow it in text only. It's much easier either with court diagrams or actually doing it on court.

Like I say .... it's optional only at lower levels but, once you got the hang of it, I think it's easier than the old system.

Good luck.

MM

tonyW

I like the idea of scoring points whoever serves. It can be a blooming long game with no score if you are all fairly equally matched.

It ends up being a game of stamina more than skill after a while!

The rest seems to be much the same so it is easy. I like it!

PS on the Table Tennis....haven`t played tha for about 20 years but still willing to have a go at whooping yo` ass for a pint Pam & guest!!!

Pam7

I know that you can get a dent out of a table tennis ball by dropping it in boiling water. That's about all I do know

HOWEVER....I did beat a Greek waiter at table tennis one year on holiday

tonyW

Carol

Pam7

Rope in another one like us and we can do doubles Carol!

musicman

Pam ... I'd be interested to know if you manage to book a court and how difficult you found it. I think my bosses, Badminton England, are doing some research into this as the lack of provision for our sport is disheartening at times. Especially when it's supposed to be so popular.

Thanks.

MM

tonyW

Musicman, I think the conversation has drifted into Table Tennis regarding the meet at Nottingham!

Badminton facilities in the Salisbury Area are quite good and I have never had a problem booking, apart from the obvious very busy times.

For many years I have been in a position to play sports during weekdays as I have worked very late nights so perhaps my experience is not typical.

musicman

Thanks for the clarification, Tony. Your comment noted.

If we're drifted into TT maybe I should start up a debate about the types of glues not allowed in the construction of bats (some adhesives make the balls travel faster).

Yes, I also play TT but I'm next to useless at tennis & squash.

MM

Pam7

Pmsl Tony....no..Musicman is right...it's now me, Mad - Carol if she is of the same abiliity at badminton as us..and ANO. I can guarantee there will be no wasps, flies, etc etc left alive in the court...and an unscathed shuttlecock!