Welcome to another lesson in badminton strategies. I've read some of the stuff on the internet, tried them out and added my little touch to it for your perusal. I've even added in names to make them easier to remember!
This is part three of the Badminton Strategies segment. It'll be 6 parts in all, sans the overview.
If you read the overview you'll understand that I term Defensive Strategies as a way to really drag the game on and make the opponent give you the points through unforced errors or sheer impatience.
Not to say that this mode of playing isn't fun! When you've got control of both your opponent's mind and physique, it gets really interesting.
Today we'll touch on one of those brainless, but strangely wise, strategies - the Punch Clear.
Taking into account the triangle principle that I've covered briefly in the previous strategies articles, the Punch Clear employs the almost exclusive use of back-court clears to move your opponent.
For this to happen, you'll firstly need to be able to send the shuttle accurately to the left or right of the court without giving the point away either with a short clear or by rocketing the shuttle out of the court.
There are two kinds of clears that we'll touch on for the Punch Clear - the Flat Clear and the High Clear.
High Clear - use this to buy you some time to recover to the middle when you've been caught in a fix by a good back-court smash. Once you've got the hang of the game, however, the high clear is used to deceive the opponent in thinking that the shuttle's outward-bound. It sounds risky, but trust me it'll come easy once you've got the right feel.
Flat Clear - this higher-risk move takes your shot into the offensive, used to force faster movement from the opponent in order to reach the shuttle in time. This kind of clear is just out of reach of check smash interception and travels at a considerably faster speed than the lather.
Take note however, that because of the straighter trajectory, the shuttle tends to lose control and sail out more often.
Now that you've got a little knowledge of the two kinds of clears that we'll use in the Punch Clear, how do you use them?
Easy! Use High Clears to tempt the smash or establish a rhythm, use Flat Clears to move the opponent and create a little pressure. Left, right, left, right, right, right, left, left, right, left... you get the drift. Oh, and clear centre when in trouble.
Once your opponent gets bored of your ineffective offensive he'll start raining them smashes or playing the drop shots. Block with Defensive Roulette or punch more clears to the back court after the drop.
Trust me, he'll get bored and end up handing you the game. This strategy takes patience and very good judgement to keep the shuttle in play. Two things should go through the opponent's mind when they're at the mercy of the Punch Clear:
1. How come his shots are always inside the backlines?
2. Maybe I can smash this one down to win the point.
I'd recommend this strategy at the beginning the game to set a slower pace and to test the accuracy of your opponent. It'll be a nice way to hide your smashes and net shots too, what with you going in with nothing but clears.
Coming up next, Defensive Strategies - The Chisel.
Number One
This one's for D.
1. Pick one
2. Finish the one
Variation
1.1. If one is tired, play with one
1.2. Switch places when tired
1.3 Net player to kill or force lift
1.4 Back court player to minimize cross courts
On Defense
a. Don't stay stuck in the middle
b. Lift or drive
c. Never block
Conditions
a. First shot drop
b. No lifts
c. Front to kill or drop
d. Lock non-target in place
1. Pick one
2. Finish the one
Variation
1.1. If one is tired, play with one
1.2. Switch places when tired
1.3 Net player to kill or force lift
1.4 Back court player to minimize cross courts
On Defense
a. Don't stay stuck in the middle
b. Lift or drive
c. Never block
Conditions
a. First shot drop
b. No lifts
c. Front to kill or drop
d. Lock non-target in place
The Collection - December 2011
Hopefully the last shot for the year. I've had my eye on a Sintec Trinity 70 (it's a very well-made clone of the Yonex Voltric 70), so let's hope the will power holds out.
They're placed in chronological order, bottom up:
APACS WREX Punch; Yonex ArcSaber Z-Slash TH; Carlton Fireblade FX8; Carlton Air Rage Tour; Carlton Vapour Trail S-Lite; Carlton Vapour Trail Vanquish; Yonex Voltric 80; Yonex Voltric 60; Prince Black Pearl XP; Yonex Armortec 900 Power LC; Carlton Powerblade 9902; Yonex ArcSaber 10 PG; Bekia Twister X8; and Fischer Speed 33
Badminton Racket Review: Fischer Speed 33
This is a weird one. I've not had a racket feel like this so I thought I'd do a write-up about it. The Fischer Speed 33 is a fine-looking specimen - black and white with silver accented with a matt finishing. Beneath the solid exterior hides a peculiar characteristic, which is a love-or-hate thing with me.
I just can't decide to love or to hate it.
This review is form from my own opinions of the racket, and of the game of badminton. Take this with a pinch of salt, unless of course you're my exact duplicate in which case trust every word with your life.
I'm a low-intermediate level player who enjoys the occasional smashing game, but more entertaining is to see how you can move the opponent around to get that smash. I'd much rather see the shuttle drop to the floor after a well-placed rally than zoom through the air at amazing speeds.
Ok, now on to the review.
Fischer Speed 33
Dry Weight: 87g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Head-Heavy
Max String Tension: 28lbs
Flex: Stiff
Strings: Tolsen Fire 66 @ 24lbs
I've only used this racket for singles play.
Technology
Fischer Stability System (FSS)
Defense
I got this racket because I felt it had a good weight. I'm going through a phase in my game which involves more smashing and attacking play so the heaviness of the Speed 33 caught my attention.
The weight of the Fischer Speed 33 seems to be distributed all along the racket, culminating at the head, instead of mostly at the head (like in the case of my good friend the Voltric 80). This characteristic gave it an odd feel after the strings were tied, and I can't for the life of me figure out what to make of this.
Being so freakishly heavy, defense basically took a stumble. Although returns from defensive shots were pleasing and controllable due to the weight, getting the racket head there is the main problem.
With the bulky frame, the Fischer Speed 33 feels a tad slower than my other head-heavy rackets when it comes to delivering the block. I found myself with more frame hits and slower reflexes.
Attack
Again, the strange weight distribution of the racket comes into question here. I'd expect something to heavy to deliver a pleasant smashing experience, but the shuttles tend to lose speed really quickly after leaving the string bed.
Drives and check smashes were satisfactory, but the full-on arm-breakers were sorely lacking in power. I could to much, much better with a Yonex Voltric 80 or my Carlton Powerblade 9902.
Seems to me the Fischer Speed 33 is made more for fast wrist motions than the long swinger. If you're able to generate enough power off the wrist, then I'd dare say that this racket won't disappoint. The stiff bulky frame lends to the stability needed to crack the shaft like a whip without too much flexing to take away the power.
Control
So far so average, but this is where the game turns.
I've experienced a lower level of control with my head-heavy rackets. I love the accuracy of my even-balanced ones (Yonex ArcSaber 10 and Carlton Vapour Trail Vanquish to name a few) and found it difficult at times to control the path of flight with my head-heavys.
But the Speed 33 changes the game a little by offering me a level of control previously seen only with the even-balanced ones. It feels right when I hit the shuttle, my arm guiding the bird where I want it to. Clears from back to back felt really easy, and drop shots were coming off the right spots on the string bed.
I know I like a racket's control when I start doing trick shots and they come off ok. The Fischer Speed 33 tested out fine in my singles games, leaving me baffled as to whether it's worth keeping.
Looks
Primarily black with white accents, the Fischer Speed 33 looks elegant with silver streaks down the shaft. The matt finish kind of seals the deal with me - not many rackets decide to do that now. I've got on black strings to complete the look. It's not the sexiest of rackets, but it's pleasing enough on the eyes.
I just can't decide to love or to hate it.
This review is form from my own opinions of the racket, and of the game of badminton. Take this with a pinch of salt, unless of course you're my exact duplicate in which case trust every word with your life.
I'm a low-intermediate level player who enjoys the occasional smashing game, but more entertaining is to see how you can move the opponent around to get that smash. I'd much rather see the shuttle drop to the floor after a well-placed rally than zoom through the air at amazing speeds.
Ok, now on to the review.
Fischer Speed 33
Dry Weight: 87g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Head-Heavy
Max String Tension: 28lbs
Flex: Stiff
Strings: Tolsen Fire 66 @ 24lbs
I've only used this racket for singles play.
Technology
Fischer Stability System (FSS)
Defense
I got this racket because I felt it had a good weight. I'm going through a phase in my game which involves more smashing and attacking play so the heaviness of the Speed 33 caught my attention.
The weight of the Fischer Speed 33 seems to be distributed all along the racket, culminating at the head, instead of mostly at the head (like in the case of my good friend the Voltric 80). This characteristic gave it an odd feel after the strings were tied, and I can't for the life of me figure out what to make of this.
Being so freakishly heavy, defense basically took a stumble. Although returns from defensive shots were pleasing and controllable due to the weight, getting the racket head there is the main problem.
With the bulky frame, the Fischer Speed 33 feels a tad slower than my other head-heavy rackets when it comes to delivering the block. I found myself with more frame hits and slower reflexes.
Attack
Again, the strange weight distribution of the racket comes into question here. I'd expect something to heavy to deliver a pleasant smashing experience, but the shuttles tend to lose speed really quickly after leaving the string bed.
Drives and check smashes were satisfactory, but the full-on arm-breakers were sorely lacking in power. I could to much, much better with a Yonex Voltric 80 or my Carlton Powerblade 9902.
Seems to me the Fischer Speed 33 is made more for fast wrist motions than the long swinger. If you're able to generate enough power off the wrist, then I'd dare say that this racket won't disappoint. The stiff bulky frame lends to the stability needed to crack the shaft like a whip without too much flexing to take away the power.
Control
So far so average, but this is where the game turns.
I've experienced a lower level of control with my head-heavy rackets. I love the accuracy of my even-balanced ones (Yonex ArcSaber 10 and Carlton Vapour Trail Vanquish to name a few) and found it difficult at times to control the path of flight with my head-heavys.
But the Speed 33 changes the game a little by offering me a level of control previously seen only with the even-balanced ones. It feels right when I hit the shuttle, my arm guiding the bird where I want it to. Clears from back to back felt really easy, and drop shots were coming off the right spots on the string bed.
I know I like a racket's control when I start doing trick shots and they come off ok. The Fischer Speed 33 tested out fine in my singles games, leaving me baffled as to whether it's worth keeping.
Looks
Primarily black with white accents, the Fischer Speed 33 looks elegant with silver streaks down the shaft. The matt finish kind of seals the deal with me - not many rackets decide to do that now. I've got on black strings to complete the look. It's not the sexiest of rackets, but it's pleasing enough on the eyes.
Fischer Speed 33
Defense: 6
Attack: 7
Control: 9
Looks: 7
