| To become a good badminton player, beside Physical | | | | strategy. If your opponent is weak on his/her |
| Skill, you also must have a Mental Strength. Mental | | | | backhand clear, then you should hit the shuttle towards |
| Strength is very crucial especially when come to the | | | | his/her backhand more. To go one level higher, it is also |
| tournament. Besides these, Sport Nutrition is also | | | | important to make the correct choice for a series of |
| important especially for the player preparing for the | | | | return and to lay out a game plan for whole match. |
| tournament. | | | | This is so called the strategy of a badminton game. |
| 1. Physical Skill: | | | | 2. Mental Strength: |
| Let's start with the most fundamental of badminton skill, | | | | Besides physical skill, a good badminton player must |
| ie: Strokes, Steps/Footwork, Stamina, and Strategy. | | | | have good mental strength as well. Mental strength is |
| Strokes: | | | | the ability to make the correct decision even when |
| The basic technique of badminton strokes includes | | | | under pressure or at the crucial moment. For example, |
| Overheads forehand and backhand clear / smash / | | | | when one is down to 5-19, or reaching the match point, |
| drop, drives, lifts, net shot. You are higher | | | | 20-20. The player must stay focus to the game |
| recommended to learn from the badminton demo | | | | regardless whether he/she is leaving behind, leading, or |
| video(see link at the bottom of this page). With the | | | | under huge pressure due to the internal or external |
| video, it will save you a lot of time learning all the basic | | | | factor (eg: audience). A good badminton player must |
| strokes. | | | | also be able to change strategy during the game on |
| After you have learn the basic strokes, the next step | | | | different situation. A good badminton player will not go |
| you have to do is practice and practise. Without the | | | | down without a fight and should be able to keep his |
| ability to execute all the different strokes, one will not | | | | pace and the accuracy of his shots until the very last |
| be a complete badminton player. | | | | point in the game. A good example would be the |
| Steps/Footwork: | | | | game in between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan during |
| Steps/Footwork is always comes together with | | | | the Malaysia Open 2006. Lin Dan was already leading |
| stroke. A good badminton must have a good | | | | 20-13 in the rubber game and this was a really difficult |
| coordination of footwork and strokes. This includes | | | | situation for Lee Chong Wei, But he handled the |
| foot, body, arms, swing coordination. | | | | pressure well and showed a great fighting spirit, slowly |
| Stamina: | | | | clawing back in to the game. And Finally, he won the |
| A badminton can last anything from 15 minutes to 1 | | | | game by 23-21. |
| hour plus and there can be more than one game within | | | | You also have to keep yourself calm in the court and |
| a day. A completed badminton match is best of 3 | | | | with high EQ. Many incidents, good or bad, can happen |
| games, that means you got to play at least 2 games | | | | during a match either outside or inside the court. For |
| continuously. Without good stamina, a badminton player | | | | example, bad line calls, umpires decisions or insulted by |
| will be unable to successfully execute his/her desired | | | | the audience or even opponent coach. See The |
| strokes or even cannot finish the game. Again, stamina | | | | Athlete's Mind Guide(refer link below this page) . |
| need to be build over the time via regular training, | | | | 3. Sport Nutrition |
| workouts or exercises. Regular workout will also help | | | | Beside physical skill and mental strength, Sport Nutrition |
| to improve your game by increasing your arm strength. | | | | (refer link at the bottom of this page) is also important |
| Strategy: | | | | especially for the player preparing for the tournament. |
| With good badminton skill and stamina is not enough, | | | | On a day-to-day basis, you have to take care of your |
| you must also have a good strategy to win a game. | | | | nutrition by consuming a well balanced diet comprising |
| you have to make the correct shot at the correct | | | | carbohydrate, fat, protein, electrolytes, vitamins, |
| time, either a drop-shot, smash, or clear? This is also | | | | minerals and water. A Nutritionist can extend help in |
| important to identify the weakest point of opponent. | | | | achieving this. Water should be consumed in just |
| This is especially crucial for doubles game, you should | | | | adequate amounts before, during and after play, ideally |
| identify your opponent weakness and attack the | | | | at the amounts required to quench the player's thirst. |
| opponent who is weaker. This is the most simple | | | | |