Hitting the wall

I have been playing badminton for more than 4 years already. It started out as an aerobic exercise that I can do together with my wife and some of her friends.

From the moment we started having lessons with our trainer, I immediately got hooked on this fast-paced game. I myself play about 3-4 times a week now, which is more often than my friends who play perhaps once or twice a week.

I'm beginning to notice that it's as if they've peaked as far as they're willing to go. Their games are usually successions of lifts and lobs, with the occasional smash or drive directly to the opponent that can easily be countered with a smash or a drop. The problem is that even after playing with them for some time, though they have improved a lot, it's as if their futures in the game will be marginally better.

I've, then, come to ask myself the question: why are we playing badminton? It has dawned on me that we're all playing badminton because it's an easy way of spending time with each other, all of us, that gets our blood going. And we can all share a laugh and sweat it out for a couple of hours. A playmate of mine even quipped that the only times he forgets his problems are when he's asleep or playing badminton.

The thing is that most recreational players want to play better but not quite enough to make them want to take the time to think technically or practice - one's basic play strategy at the moment is to get the bird over the net by any means possible and hope that the opponents make the mistake. And, given the current skill level, this strategy seems to work more often than one would like. One of my friends wanted to learn how to smash and clear harder, but he insists on holding panhandle and hurts his shoulder on certain angles - and my insisting that "if it hurts, don't do it" has just led to him hitting mostly underhanded shots, period.

So I'm not sure if I'm really asking a question here for all you "baddicts" to answer, or if it's more of a sighing observation - the obvious suggestions would be to try and get them motivated, but that's easier said than done. As someone who is very close to them, most of my advice on small technical improvements that might easily improve the game might get passed off as fanaticism and being too serious, but even so, it's not that they don't believe what I tell them, it's that fundamentally they don't want to go through the "trouble" it seems.

Having been in the lowest pits of the beginner pool before, I understand all the trouble that my betters went through to "put up" with me until I caught up a bit... but I don't know, in reverse, if the same situation works when playing against people who don't seem to be making the same progress.

I've just come to accept that me and my friends play for slightly different reasons. One might be more interested in improving his game more than others. This is shown by one's greater commitment to practice and strategize.

My friends probably see badminton as more of a fun social activity.

So what can I do about it? The answer is - not much. All one can do is encourage others to learn to play better; help them learn by offering technical advice, by suggesting they play in a club, or recommending some coaching. If they want to learn, one can make the process easier for them. But I cannot force my friends to adopt a different attitude and be more dedicated to the sport. An ambition to improve, and a positive attitude to support that ambition, can only come from the individuals themselves.

This is the predicament of becoming a better player: you can no longer play with your friends in the way that you used to play. But as time passes, you will play with them more to have fun. Which is exactly what everyone needs to do to enjoy and relax from a busy and stressful schedule. (Please don't get me wrong... I enjoy playing with my friends more than playing competitively) If you want to play more competitively though, you have to look for other players that are your level. And what better way than to join tournaments.

The Adidas Badminton Challenge

Speaking of tournaments, the Adidas Badminton Challenge started last Saturday at the Portside Badminton Plaza at the Mandaue Reclamation Area.

I have partnered this time with Alice Ty and entered the Class C Mixed Doubles. A lot of teams from different clubs from nearby provinces joined.

Birthday Greetings

On a personal note, I would like to greet my beloved mother Arcelita Yu and my childhood friend Joel Yap of Metrobank a very Happy Birthday! Joel turned a year older on the 4th of this month while my mother's natal day was last Saturday. Hope you both enjoy God's blessings all throughout the year. ([email protected])