Let me start with a regret that I didn’t start earlier. Yes I have been playing since young, but i wasnt sent to learn properly. It’s a big regret.
January 2014 : Bishan sports hall, with Woody family. Looking back at my calendar, this was the time where I had time to do what i love. Before that, I was just busy with so many work commitments, church stuff etc. I couldnt see how i could have committed to Badminton anytime before this.
Soon after, in April 2014, started regular sessions with uncle QM and some churchies would join us. In July, we went to ACJC barker to play, because the courts are free, jiayan can book, we bought 2 nets just for this. Didnt last more than 3 sessions.
Ever since 2014, Uncle QM, Rong En, and I ( sometimes Yixin ) have been having regular training sessions. Basically just hitting to baseline.
4 October 2015 : Uncle QM’s group asked me to play with them on Sundays. Was really humiliated, trashed talk, and seeded a deep thought into my chasm of revenge. I want to learn, and come back one day, and beat them. It requires hard work, a long game plan, and determination. They tried to put it into nice words, but the most hurtful things were said on court, when you miss a simple shot, when you try your current best, and you just couldnt perform. This motivated me to get better. I shall not subject myself to those kind of position. Where I’m vulnerable, weak, lousy.
Basically, just to note down what they said, while it’s still fresh in my head : “you should go learn basics steps”, “your steps are wrong”, “no backhand”, “your positioning is not good”
I went to ActiveSG, and signed up for beginner class. I vowed that i want to learn as much as I can and from ground up. Yes I can play, but it’s not good enough. I must know my position, know where i stand when I play with seasoned club players. Not stroking for fun.
16 December 2015 : Beginners training with Augustine on wednesdays. I was the only male, people ask me what i do for a living, why am i free on wednesday mornings. It became my motivation of waking up. At this point, I am doing badminton twice a week. I feel stronger, yet, i know i still lack the doubles playing styles.
With Augustine, I learn basics : Right foot in front, drills ( net, clear, net clear etc ), and i get to try different shots with the rest. I play 2 hours non stop. I try to push myself till I’m sore.
This was where I knew Jane, Amy, Alice, and a few other chinese names.
We had our last session end march, because Bishan is closed from then till late April. And I won’t be able to join them in the next one, because of Samuel. I feel that I can join them again next time, to learn more basic moves. At this point, Augustine has a loose step-by-step moves which he will teach. Once i stop, i will need to start all over again i think. No problem, i will just start afresh.
2 February 2016 : Started tuesdays and thursdays with Ben Badminton Group (BBG)@Bishan. From Bishan, I got to know some people. When i’m early, I joined others to play. This is when my network of Badminton friends expanded.
3 March 2016 : joined the hougang activesg singles competition. trashed, as expected.
10 March 2016 : joined BBG doubles competition@YCK sports hall. Got into semi finals. All participants get a free restring, and next restring 50% off.
3 March 2016 : As i needed to fetch yixin to Prive Grill at Keppel for Shuwan’s birthday dinner, I didn’t want to wait somewhere, and I didn’t play much that week, therefore I went to meetup, and joined some group. They play at Jurong East sports hall, directly in front of Eugene’s house. The group was good, but was vulgar, and I didn’t like it. Anyhow, I enjoyed myself.
Mid March 2016 : the string on my Armortec 30 finally gave way after i smashed. I truly believed that after 2 years of playing, learning the basics of a smash, I finally am able to deliver the power completely to the shuttle.
3 April 2016 : OCBC Arena “Badminton lovers” group. Got this coach called Gary, and he will assign players of similar skills to play together. This is to ensure everybody gets to play, and also, everybody gets to enjoy the game. It sux to play with players which are total beginners. As anyone can sign up on Meetup.com, they also rejected 2 players after they played. haha. basically, they are really low beginners. Wow, what a group. And they use Yangyang shuttles which are good and heavy, unlike BBG group :/
4 April 2016: I feel like I have been on an adventure, and I am pausing this for another one. I will be back, and I hope that I can continue improving my skills, physique, and tactics. It’s been a great few months, with 2 new identical rackets bought at 30$ on promotion from sunriseclick. I lose 4 kg, and I feel so good wearing my clothes with extra space around. I lose two toenails to the Yonex shoes which I’ve given to En.
21 July 2016: Back in routine to play weekly badminton.Playing with David Yu and Uncle QM are block 473. There’s no water supply, so i gotta bring 2 bottles everytime.
The environment is super warm with 0 wind. Free parking, but they’re installing gantry. but sundays should still be free?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIBts1s-HE0]
Learnings : ( last updated : 30 August 2016 )
- Never hit midcourt.
- If in doubt, lift to the back, reposition.
- Change to backhand grip when defend.
- If opponent is in front of the net, dont net back, hit to baseline.
- If drive, drive hard.
- When in front, always on standby to intercept.
- When you return, either make it high ( baseline), or make it fast.
- Objective : Press the shuttle forward+low.
- When smash, remember to press down with wrist at the last stage, so that the shuttle will go lower.
24 july 2016 : After partnering Uncle Qiming today, i feel like i’m FINALLY able to pull my weight, and function properly as a partner – covering him, killing the opponents, defend shots, serve, dont miss, smash when i was expected to smash. It’s a great feeling, cos after 4 years of badminton, I’m finally slightly above average.
I started playing badminton with Clement and family, and co-incidentally, Uncle Qiming is really good in it. So i casually asked if he can play, and i started booking, hoping that the church youths will catch on and play as well. They came for a while, and then they stopped, leaving just Rong En, Uncle QM, Yixin and Me. It has been training ever since.
I played so much badminton when I was young, and i just felt so nostalgic about it to be able to play in a real court.
After so long, i’m finally able to play a decent game.
30 August 2016 : Partnered with Melvyn ( the coach at Ben’s group ). We won easily, but i reached out to him to ask him when should we square or frontback. When we return baseline, we should square, because they can either drop, baseline, or smash. When we square, we will be able to defend easily.
If he smashes, i must go forward to cover, in case they return a drop.
Basically it’s about being offensive or defensive. When offensive, we should do front back, when defensive, we should square to cover as much space as possible.
10 October 2016 : Started to make friend with this Chinese guy. He talk damn fast in chinese, and i can only catch half his words. But i got the gist i guess. He asked me to skip on the spot 100 times, and then rest. do 1000 times. He also asked me to tip toe on the spot. just tip toe till i feel tired. I will be doing it starting tomorrow.
After playing on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, I feel I have surpassed the 2k hours at least. 10 months x 4 weeks x 4 days x 12 hours a week = 1,920 hours. I have very good judgement of in or out. And I can easily serve and return serve easily.
So i am thinking of removing one of the week days. So just 1 week day, Saturday, and Sunday. Also asked BBG Coach to restring my racket. He restring to 24 lbs, and removed the base grip. Makes the racket much lighter.
Sunday, when i partner with Uncle Qi Ming, it’s super easy to beat everyone. hehe
21 November 2016 Asics shoes going to spoil soon. It has served me well. Together with the Tight pants to keep my sweat at bay, super tight pants, rubber bands to keep my spectacles in place, and adidas jersey, I am able to bring my A game every time. The spectacles have also not disappointed me. And with the super comfy Nike Socks. All these things matter, and it brings a great feeling. Also, not to forget upping my rackets to 26 and 28 pounds of tension, removing the base grip so that overall grip is tinier gives me more control. Badminton after every 30 minutes help me with energy. I think i’ve officially trying to move from intermediate to expert. Also, they are not as intimidating as last time liao, cos i can beat them!
11 April 2017 Just got new tight dry pants cos the old one is a little bit loose. No longer having to eat banana to sustain the energy for 2 hours. In fact, Sunday games are very enjoyable now. Restarted Tuesdays and Thursdays mornings at YCK/Bishan, as boss is ok with me reaching at 1030/11. Even more enjoyable i guess here. Partnered with Isaac against Jim/Eva – Isaac just kept saying cross-court. And there we won the game. Basically just keep hitting cross court lobs, to make the guy at the back run left right, and no good position to smash. He can smash, but he’s tired, plus most of the time, his timing is off.
String tension is very bad now. Have to restring to 28 soon.
Trying to bake these into sub-conscious :
– cross court lob
– dont net/drop when there’s someone there
– dont be lazy, and smash whenever there’s opportunity
– warm up and cool down
#badminton