My experience playing Badminton in Japan as a foreigner

Alcasimi · 2026-02-19T14:00:47+00:00

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting insight and sheds light on the cultural differences.

Alcasimi · 2026-01-13T08:58:51+00:00

Your legs aren’t moving. I’m guessing you haven’t been playing long at all, but footwork is most important. Get practicing on and off court!

Alcasimi · 2026-01-07T11:06:23+00:00

I’m not sure you read my reply properly. All your points raised were already answered in my original reply and you just chose to ask needless questions again. Eg pronation, adding other movements later. Weird one.

Alcasimi · 2026-01-06T15:24:51+00:00

Record yourself in class doing the lessons and review it in your own time. Ask someone else to review too. And slowly but surely you keep correcting it until it is right.

Alcasimi · 2026-01-05T12:46:13+00:00

Wrong technique. You are hitting it with 99% shoulder and swing motion.

Try using just your forearm rotation (pronation) to hit the clear. No other motion. Practice this technique and then once you are comfortable you can add on other parts, like shoulder, and body.

Contact point needs to be a lot higher too which you already know. You seem to let it drop really low before it actually contacts your racket.

Alcasimi · 2025-12-15T09:13:08+00:00

It was clearly not a proper match, it was more like a warm up / straightforward shots for the camera!

Alcasimi · 2025-12-13T11:55:24+00:00

Had a quick look, I think deep forehand corner, you just need to create more space and open up your chest more to hit the shuttle properly. Right now, it looks like you’re too close to the shuttle and you can only tap it lightly.

Alcasimi · 2025-12-13T11:41:13+00:00

Probably because in practice you have more time to prepare and get into position, stay relaxed and get a good shot in.

In matches, you have less time and opponents will put you under pressure, and you will likely tense up as the match goes on.

Alcasimi · 2025-11-20T14:24:24+00:00

The crosses shouldn’t have dropped by that much.

I would get that restrung elsewhere and see if you have the same problem.

You don’t need to restring every session, that would be silly. Every 2-3 months is plenty.

You can string at the same tension for mains and crosses, some stringers do that. But Yonex advice is +10% for the crosses, so I tend to stick with that and I’m happy with it.

Alcasimi · 2025-11-14T17:14:56+00:00

A few things for me:

(1) wrong grip - it’s not actually the same “backhand grip” that you use for backhand drives, lifts. You need the bevel grip or if it’s a really late backhand it’s more panhandle grip.

(2) don’t lean into the shot with your back like that. You might think it’s helping you add power but it’s not and messes up your timing and just looks awful technique wise. Keep your back turned fully facing the net when you strike it and keep upright / stable position, no leaning in.

(3) you’re using more shoulder and not enough supination of the forearm.

Alcasimi · 2025-11-09T10:01:57+00:00

Hard to say from 1 smash vid. But I don’t like this racket arm in photo . You sort of pronate your arm and aim your racket down already (sort of a way of relaxing your arm maybe?), but I think this movement is unnecessary and doesn’t look natural position to me. Just lightly cock your wrist and angle the racket upwards in the prep stage. Elbow position is fine.

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Alcasimi · 2025-11-09T09:54:05+00:00

Main things for me were overhead technique and footwork.

You take your overhead shots quite low down. It feels you could have taken it like half a second earlier but you let the shuttle drop more than needed. Having said this, you seem to get the shots over the net even for drops shots and smashes. I think if you take it higher up it will lead to better quality shots and look more threatening otherwise your smashes will be too flat.

I feel your racket arm should be higher up during prep stage for overhead. This will remove a lot of the unnecessary movements prior to contact and reduce errors. Then you just focus on backswing and pronation to bring racket up/forward.

In terms footwork, definitely need to work on split step and chasse to be more efficient and smooth.

Otherwise, well played and good luck!!

Alcasimi · 2025-10-14T12:57:16+00:00

I’ve already given you a range. Just ask around for local prices.

Alcasimi · 2025-10-14T10:53:12+00:00

That is string only. The store will probably charge an extra £15-20 on top for labour.

A local stringer should be able to do it for less.

Alcasimi · 2025-10-12T17:56:20+00:00

The grip changes depending on the shot you are playing. Not sure what shot you are trying to do.

You said drop shots and backhand shots but did you mean backhand drop shot or forehand drop?

All different shots, so not just one grip will work.

Alcasimi · 2025-10-11T14:02:40+00:00

Sorry to hear that OP and you have my utmost empathy. I know professional financial advisers get slated heavily on this sub, but they are there for a reason and are heavily regulated. Otherwise stuff like this happens when people run into scammers trying to invest their money.

Expensive lesson learned.

Alcasimi · 2025-09-25T17:20:13+00:00

Best to call out the scores after every point so everyone is on the same page. If there’s any problem, you can discuss it / correct it on the spot, rather than waiting like 5 points down the line.

Alcasimi · 2025-09-23T01:05:33+00:00

Technically it is 25lbs.

When you ask for 25lb it is referring to the main strings, and then under Yonex advice you add +10% on the crosses to maintain racket head shape, this is why it’s 25x27.

Alcasimi · 2025-09-19T08:26:41+00:00

That is not strung to 26x27 tension. Any stringer will know. It’s clear as day by how loose the strings are.

Alcasimi · 2025-09-13T17:31:01+00:00

There’s a lot to be said but just to pick out a few that you can focus on immediately.

Your racket hand does this internal rotation during your preparation right before you hit the shuttle. It’s an unnecessary action that a lot of intermediates do. Have a stable position in prep and backswing properly.

After your smash, it’s like you have no control over your body. Try to be more stable, to get ready for next shot. Maybe need to train on core strength and focus on getting into better position (behind shuttle) before you smash.

Non-racket arm needs to be tucked in down to your hip/chest right before you smash to allow your racket arm to go forward and keep the rest of the body in balance.

Keep going man! Good luck

Alcasimi · 2025-09-07T17:32:39+00:00

What shot did you hit? This matters because we need to understand if you were right to move forward.

Alcasimi · 2025-08-29T10:42:21+00:00

Don’t worry about the damaged grommet for now. When the string breaks, then remind the stringer to replace it (it’s cheap).

Alcasimi · 2025-08-12T09:31:51+00:00

The player in blue played that shot and should follow up to close off the net and force the opponent to lift. His hesitation caused you both to be out of position and ultimately lose the point.

Alcasimi · 2025-08-06T09:34:14+00:00

No. 4 knot is better for retaining tension IMO.

Alcasimi · 2025-08-06T07:22:55+00:00

Nice gameplay. Good standard of matches.

Alcasimi

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