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Badminton players utilize a wide range of style and specialized strategies when playing a real game. Some people like to use their power to their advantage, while others prefer using their skills. Some people like to use more sure-footed methods, and others are more inclined to take chances. This variety of playing styles and strategies is the reason why badminton is such an exciting sport to play and to watch.
In most situations, people usually would like to win when playing in a competitive game, and this is what drives some people to spend time coming up with strategies in order to have a better chance of winning. Everybody knows that there are many factors that can determine the outcome of a badminton game. The most obvious ones are the skill level of the player, physical conditioning, the ability to perform under pressure, and the utilization of strategies when playing in a real game. For most players, the first three factors will be pretty much constant in a given period of time, say within a week. Utilization of strategies, however, can easily change from game to game and in a lot cases, strategies is the factor that separates the winners from the losers.
Recently I witnessed a men’s doubles game between players with a fairly high skill level. One side (I’ll call them Team A) specializes in smashing, driving, and swatting shots near the net. They like to use their offensive power and quick pacing to overwhelm their opponents. In contrast, the players in the opposing team (Team B) have a wider skill set at their disposal. These guys primarily use attacking clears, half-smashes and drop shots, and they like to change the speed of their shots to catch their opponents off guard. Team B also has a strong defense and can make very good underhand shots. In the beginning of the game, Team A uses their powerful attacks to gain the upper hand. Team B tries to match the ferocity and speed of Team A but was unable to do so. However, after a while, Team B noticed that the players of Team A didn’t have very good footwork, so Team B adjusted their strategies accordingly, and used shots near the net, quick clears, and cross-court hits to target empty spots on the court and to force their opponents into moving. This changed the pace of the game in favour of Team B, as Team A could not utilize their advantage in power as they had earlier in the game. Needless to say, Team B emerged as the victor of this particular game.
The above is a good example of how strategies in finesse and can be used to overcome a disadvantage in power. In the sport of badminton, there are many strategies people can use. For each of these strategies, there is at least one opposing strategy that can be used to effectively counter the original strategy. When playing badminton competitively, remember that in a game between players of a similar skill level, the outcome is usually determined by use of strategies. If a player/team can adapt to their opponent(s)’ tactics and change their strategies on the fly, then they’ll have a much better chance of getting the victory.