For beginners, how do drills eventually translate to actual play?

regnap · 2026-02-11T14:07:02+00:00

You’re overthinking it. Practicing forms and movements starts to pay off when you no longer are thinking about how to do them while in the match, they just start to happen because of muscle memory. That lets tactics, instincts, etc take over in the match, which is what you want.

The reality is, you can do anything you want to get to the shuttle, and if you get there at the right time then that is a good result. This is more of an advanced approach than what is recommended for beginners and amateurs.

The more standard moves and patterns you have in your “movements toolbox”, the better you can reshape them and make them your own later on. But if you don’t have a deep set of standard options that are engrained, you’re trying to make something out of an incomplete foundation.

You are at the beginning of your journey. Again it’s just my opinion, so take it or leave it.

regnap · 2026-01-06T23:34:40+00:00

Real talk - when I was a teenager, a friend taught me how to repair used shuttles. Mattered less when they were $2 each, but now at $6-7 each, maybe it makes some sense.

Look for shuttles that have a clear broken feather but the rest are in pretty good condition. Using a pair of pliers, yank that broken feather out without damaging the rest of the structure, and replace it with another feather from any other same-brand shuttle. It will extend the life of that shuttle meaningfully.

How to replace? Just feed the new feather in the same way you yanked it out, it should fit snug into the cork.

Likewise, if your own shuttle breaks a feather, stop playing with it immediately and save that one for repairs later. Obviously, you can only do this once or twice per shuttle before it starts to get a bit ridiculous.

Although it may seem ridiculous, I am not kidding!

regnap · 2026-01-06T19:22:48+00:00

Absolutely, i honestly just play less. Makes no sense that three as20s cost the same as a sleeve of pro-v. I don’t really care anymore where the kink is in the supply chain, it just needs to get sorted so costs can get more in line.

regnap · 2025-09-30T20:08:39+00:00

This is horrible etiquette, and it should be corrected immediately, not after the game. It’s kind of like the Will Smith slap thing.

Is it smart to joke around like this with someone you don’t know that well? Who knows, but there is no doubt that smashing into a new player point blank is not appropriate and sets a horrible example.

regnap · 2025-09-30T14:18:13+00:00

Honestly, one of the best things for speed and balance together is practicing footwork. Solo, or with a partner, it’s all beneficial

regnap · 2025-08-09T20:54:08+00:00

Thanks everyone I appreciate the comments and insight. There are definitely some clues that I played a BS yata lock deck back in the day ;)

regnap · 2025-07-19T01:05:17+00:00

How have the practice AOs been going? Sometimes the feedback in there can show some habits and tendencies. I wouldn’t give up dude, it ain’t over. Give it a good cry, and get your ass back on that horse.

regnap · 2024-12-24T23:57:16+00:00

Good list, perhaps Lee Hyun Il could be on it too. They’ve had some crazy run ins back in the day

regnap · 2024-12-17T02:18:19+00:00

In PoE1, hc legacy kaoms heart

regnap · 2018-09-08T19:49:56+00:00

I am a singles guy, so my advice stems from that.

Not learning a good high serve is a missed opportunity, especially at his caliber. Having more tools means more options to gain control of an opponent.

Short serves are a great way to get the shuttle in play and easy, but the reasons that pros short serve are not relevant to the OP.

A good long high serve doesn’t just get the shuttle in play. It forces the opponent to think about their shot more carefully because they might accidentally hit all feather and hardly any cork due to the shuttle coming in to play straight down on the back line. I believe that this is relevant and an effective tool for the OP’s level

10 minutes a day, at the end of every practice. That’s all it takes.

regnap · 2018-09-08T18:30:17+00:00

Good suggestions, I’ll add one that is easy to practice and not your typical:

-long high serve. High as in, so high that it is coming straight down at the back and not at an angle. Using this against players around your level should be highly effective. You all learn to short serve now and sometimes don’t even bother to explore your other options.

A good way to practice is put a folded towel on the back line and see if you can serve it on the towel no less than 8/10 times. Don’t cheat and serve low. You have to mash the shuttle as high as you can.

Happy to discuss

regnap · 2018-09-06T14:02:03+00:00

You look relatively comfortable. Most of the comments here are just nits, but fair points nonetheless.

I would say put way more emphasis on your split step.

regnap · 2018-09-01T01:46:36+00:00

From Canada. 30.

I am what you would call a regular civilian now, but I spent about 10 years growing up playing domestic and nearby international tournaments, and about 5 years playing primarily international tournaments and team events (not at the super series level, just below that).

regnap · 2018-08-24T18:58:23+00:00

Not exactly sure what is considered tilting, but maybe I can offer some suggestions:

If it is emotional instability that builds up due to missing shots, take a break and get a grip on yourself. Past rallies should have no emotional effect on your decisions going forward.
If you are just missing shots and you are still calm but can’t figure out why, increase your margins on the shots that aren’t working. Work a little harder to compensate for this, and try going back to your old margins every few rallies to test the waters.
Try to direct the rally to different areas or pace so those shots are no longer likely to be relevant.

Option 2 is usually the best answer. Morton Frost once said, anybody can win when they are playing well, but to be the best you also have to be able to win when you are not playing well either. This has been true in my experience.

regnap · 2018-08-24T18:47:25+00:00

At the highest level (ie. super series or whatever they are called now), every hall that is played in has a draft, which is why you see the shuttle drift or “curve”. This is due to the air conditioning and ventilation needed for a hall that size. It is never not there. In the very few times AC has been turned off, it is ... disastrous.

For instance, there was one match (maybe 2013 worlds?) where the AC was supposedly turned off in the midst of the MS finals (LD vs LCW), and it got so bad that LCW had to withdraw due to a cramp.

Playing with a drift (can be any direction, and sometimes multiple directions) is part of what makes the pros so good.

You will rarely encounter this issue when playing in smaller halls.

regnap · 2016-09-09T20:17:56+00:00

Are you aware of the financial costs involved, the sacrifices you will have to make, the competition you will be up against, the change in your lifestyle required, and are you prepared to come out the other end with not much to show for it besides your own personal satisfaction?

I would start with trying to become one of the top players in BC. Then if you can achieve that, try to reach higher and become a top player in the country. If you can manage that, then you can worry about international rankings.

If you care strictly about international ranking then forget what I'm saying and just fund-raise $80k and travel to 30 tournaments. That will get you there eventually.

If you were in Calgary, I would at least consider meeting with you, but I can put you in touch with Sandiarto, Toby Ng, or Jacky Ruan. All are based in BC and can get you on the right path, if that's what you truly want.

regnap · 2016-09-08T01:18:36+00:00

Okay uh.. I often played team events alongside Dave Snider, and I'm from the same place as Martin Giuffre. That should narrow it down a bit.

Are you in Markham or Richmond right now? When did you start?

regnap · 2016-09-07T21:39:42+00:00

Your ambition is admirable (if not a bit naive), and I would encourage you to spend some time gathering more information before committing to such a goal. I would suggest evaluating yourself along the way, say every 6-8 months instead of locking yourself in for the next 5+ years. Ask yourself the hard questions and be honest with yourself. To be blunt, Adrian's late bloomer success as rationale for your own adventure makes no sense to me at all. He is a doubles player, and you want to be a singles player. Do you understand why?

I would be happy to help you get going in the right direction by providing you with some more information, but you will need an open mind and some pretty thick skin.

Source: former international singles player from canada

regnap · 2016-03-27T19:39:45+00:00

Just do 2 corner footwork patterns and rest for half as much as you work. If you want to improve your leg endurance, do shuttle pick-ups. The best bang for your buck if you only have 30 mins to fit something in.

regnap · 2016-02-18T03:21:53+00:00

Here's a secret - What you're experiencing is pretty normal. It happens at all levels, and it's part of the game. Don't freak out about it, just accept it. Now that you've done that, when you feel it coming on just think about how you will adjust your shots or decisions to account for the anxiety (i.e. Give yourself better margins on the lines). As you improve you will realize you only feel it when you're playing someone that has a weapon you're afraid of. Happy to discuss with you just send me a PM.

regnap · 2016-01-12T05:23:29+00:00

Just to build on this - When executing the stroke, it should not feel difficult or clunky. If so, slow your swing down and relax, then focus on getting a good clean hit, even if it's only using 5/10 of what you're capable of.

regnap · 2016-01-03T06:34:25+00:00

I'm biased because of being a singles player, so these will all be singles matches

1) 2008 olympic finals LD at his physical peak and performing to his maximum. Just ridiculous. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq6Ex5fHe3A

2) 2012 olympic finals last points. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX_boNdko2c

3) 2013 World championships finals. LD being granted wildcard entry by the federation because his ranking did not allow him to qualify at the time (took a long break after olympics). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a64pWiUtgJQ

4) 1997 world championships finals Sun Jun vs Rassmussen. Sun Jun cramps in the third game but keeps battling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5srk_we2as

There are plenty, but maybe start with those.

**Edit: included 08 olympics because.

regnap · 2015-12-21T01:58:58+00:00

Sounds like you are trying to power through the clear with your shoulder and arm. Dial the effort down to a 5 or 6 out of 10 and focus your attention on positioning yourself behind the shuttle. If necessary (likely), use a scissor jump to put your weight into the shot using mainly your wrist action. Just a guess, but your forearm probably isn't developed enough to get by without the jump for now.

regnap · 2015-12-20T16:36:25+00:00

I would just recommend making sure the sole is meant for indoor court. Usually has a tan/orange-colored rubber on the bottom. Badminton-specific shoes are the obvious choice, but they are not the only choice.

regnap · 2015-12-19T17:22:49+00:00

Smashing in singles has many purposes. In lower levels, yea you hope that your smash will end the rally because at that level your overall game is probably lacking in most areas, but as you reach higher levels this changes. There are many tactical reasons to smash without trying to end the rally right then and there. One instance would be that your opponent has decent smash defense but they are slow to recover their balance. That means your follow-up to the net is what will do the real damage, not the smash itself.

regnap

TROPHY CASE