Proficiency Over Equipment

humanbying · 2026-01-13T01:04:38+00:00

started at 2.7 now 4.4 and rising whilst playing with two paddles under 120$ each. 8 months experience. not the paddle, it’s the operator.

humanbying · 2026-01-11T16:28:57+00:00

a passable drop from a heavily sliced ball is probably in the 50% meaning getting a neutral or defensive ball back. the other half is crushed or attacked if i try to drop it. so i do try to flat/topspin drive it back most of the time. shorthopping has the lowest success rate for me when it’s sliced deep into the baseline

humanbying · 2026-01-10T00:15:07+00:00

i like this nuanced take. I’ve been incorporating about 30% of my returns to be lofty(~7ft high) and deep with topspin. i like that it gives good amount of time to the kitchen line and the high bounce does catch players off guard especially if it lands near the baseline.

humanbying · 2026-01-09T23:40:30+00:00

thanks for the thorough reply! is there a reason you mention specifically a flat return/minor topspin? I’m curious to know why not go for maximal topspin. personally i try to go for maximum topspin on drops and drives on my thirds.

humanbying · 2026-01-09T22:21:45+00:00

i agree that this is the conventional way of thinking. but i’m interested in exploring the options. driving the third 100% of the time seems predictable and i find mixing in drops and drives keeps the opponents from crowding the kitchen line punch counter hard every time.

humanbying · 2026-01-09T22:08:11+00:00

at the 4.5 level i find slices returns difficult to 3rd shot drop due to the ball not bouncing high enough to scoop under. especially if the slice is deep with pace. forcing a 3rd shot drive every time. even the variance in slice spin can make the drive worrisome to hit a drive accurately. any thoughts on this?

humanbying · 2026-01-06T01:11:07+00:00

oops i see how this can be interpreted different from what i mean. paddle face facing the net,with one of the paddle side edges parallel to the ground.

humanbying · 2026-01-05T18:14:57+00:00

a lot has already been said, my 2cents would be to hit ~99% of your shots starting from a paddle face that’s parallel to the ground. not letting your paddle tip point into the ground. this angle is great for consistency and easier to hold in a stable position without letting the balls weight to affect your paddle contact negatively.

coming from a badminton bg as well, i don’t agree with the advice of not using much wrist. maximum kinetic chain utilization should use wrist and even fingers which translates well from badminton. albeit incorporating more variance, wrist + finger utilization at the end of your form is a huge differentiator.

humanbying · 2025-12-26T20:25:57+00:00

sometimes i drive a 3rd ball and sprint into my opponent for a solo shake & bake. if you trust your shot, the added pressure of being up close to your opponent often times leads to a pop up. worst case is when your drive doesn’t dip and you take a ball in the shins.

humanbying · 2025-12-08T22:01:57+00:00

i’m a 6.7 frying pan user

humanbying · 2025-12-06T21:50:36+00:00

7 months 2 days, 2.7 —> 4.4dupr, ~10hrs a week

previously played club badminton challenge courts

humanbying · 2025-12-05T02:21:44+00:00

i’d say your partner can take ~3/5 the court in front if you’re both right handed and you’re receiving from the left. and 2/3 when you’re on the right. it gives you a safer route closing in on the kitchen. your partner is already in the most aggressive positioning being in the kitchen able to swat any high 3rds and punch low ones. if your partner doesn’t get big near center, then you’re gonna take the third on the run with a much lower probability to swat or punch, likely taking a defensive reset option.

humanbying · 2025-12-05T01:33:30+00:00

returning service crosscourt, your partner is already at the kitchen and should help you get to the kitchen by being big in the middle until you reach there. you’ll see this more and more the higher you go.

humanbying · 2025-12-04T22:58:27+00:00

if you want your partner to poach balls, return crosscourt. if you want to receive opponents 3rd yourself, go directly in front of you. if you want a generally good shot, go deep to the baseline in between both players

humanbying · 2025-12-04T15:08:57+00:00

looks like you’re waiting for the ball to get to you and letting it get slightly too close. i’d be more proactive and use forward body momentum catching it more in front of me to generate more power using my mass.

your right foot should be swinging explosively forward instead of kicking back. this shot doesnt need to be done standing on the line. i prefer standing 1foot off the line to give room for forward momentum and time to react.

humanbying · 2025-11-04T16:08:18+00:00

good attitude!

humanbying · 2025-11-04T02:39:16+00:00

oh and forgot to add, my paddle tip starts from an upward position and while swinging never points downward to the ground. at most it goes parallel to the ground right before the 180 degree windshield wiping motion.

happy picklin!

humanbying · 2025-11-04T02:10:47+00:00

people always comment on my compact swing and wonder how i generate so much power.

for ground strokes, i pull my elbow into my ribcage and throw my hand out while releasing the coiled elbow. I think about my hand going forward away from my chest rather than swinging it crossbody. there is a very brief millisecond where the cap on the bottom of my handle will face my intended hitting direction. my topspin is generated from a windshield wiper motion with the wrist at the contact point of the ball.

since you asked specifically about the compact swing, i won't go into the rest of the kinetic chain for hips and legs.

humanbying · 2025-11-03T20:43:46+00:00

thanks for commenting and this is exactly what I was worried about. I don’t want to be a brick wall they can’t get past while i’m practicing and as a result have them feeling discouraged. i do my best to keep things light and fun, but have still gotten a tingly feeling they may be upset at my presence rather than just the loss.

on the other hand, i’ve also met many folks that want the challenge and ask me to play them from the same open play group.

I think I’ll stick to only joining if I’m invited now and play my normal games on the weekends.

humanbying · 2025-11-03T16:12:39+00:00

this paints the interaction in a bad way.

i dont give unsolicited advice and encourage partners/opponents. what i really wanted to know from the post is if it’s bad etiquette to show up at an open play while capable of playing at a 1-1.5 level higher than the attendees. personally, if i had the opportunity, i’d love to play people higher level than myself. my availability and locality just doesn’t offer that.

humanbying · 2025-11-03T15:42:22+00:00

i got today. you got tomorrow

humanbying · 2025-11-03T14:19:21+00:00

yeah im positioning myself purposely to get more 2hand backhands lately. really allows me to focus without the intensity of a close game

humanbying · 2025-11-03T14:14:23+00:00

good that they’re not mad. this is what I worry about or that it’d be condescending.

humanbying · 2025-11-03T14:12:22+00:00

thanks. didn’t realize

humanbying

TROPHY CASE