6 Ways to resolve conflicting Badminton advice

Challenges, Coach Education, Coach Questions

Everyone seems to have an opinion,

including me at times!

I guess that it’s not unusual to find various opinions

Have you been offered conflicting badminton advice that confuses you?

What will you do to resolve this?

Not all this advice will be the same; some may even be the direct opposite to the things you have been told of Coach Education courses.

It’s important that you understand how to work out what’s best for you.

If you are a parent or coach, you may have to guide your child/player towards a resolution. Conflicting badminton advice can confuse and make you doubt the things you know.

A player once asked me :

“how can I resolve conflicting coaching advice from my two coaches?“

The "Does it work?" in competition test

Does what they say actually produce an improvement

The ‘true’ test is competition, but some advice may act as a ‘stepping stone’ and assist in development towards competition skills, technique or tactic.

If the advice works in practice – that is a start.

Although it doesn’t mean that its the absolute best.

The Practice test

Does the advice work for you in practice and produce an improvement in your technique or gameplay tactics?

Not necessarily immediately (that would be great), you may need to have several attempts before deciding if it works for you.

Ask the person to break the advice down into chunks and to recommend the steps or thoughts to take when trying to incorporate it. This is the first test: can you try it out?

Can they suggest mini-targets and possible achievements along the path to incorporating the advice?

Crucially, can they outline the progressive practices that will all link together to create this new development?

If they struggle to give you supporting information, that may be a signal that it’s only theoretical and has not been proven on similar players to you.

Even great advice has limitations

If you have flaws in your technique that prevent the advice from working, your development may be limited, and it may not be the advice that is incorrect.

Even if you don’t have technique ‘flaws’, can your existing technique cope with any offered changes?

You may not have the physical strength to incorporate the advice. Some techniques, tactics and mindsets require a physical capability that you have yet to develop.

I recommend that you try out the advice in a game-like situation

Static or ‘routine’ like practices are not the best environments for a complete test

My advice

You must try these things out to establish if they work for you. Be open-minded to new ideas but remember that some advice will be suited to you and some not

However, some may just be plain wrong

Think about what is offered and accept only things that seem to work, then keep testing and reflecting. It may take longer than you think before accepting or rejecting the advice.

Some of the smallest tips I’ve been given have produced

the biggest and best changes to my coaching and play

Is it a Fad

That’s a widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived

Be aware of fads, or topics that everyone seems to suddenly be coaching no matter who is in front of them.

Fads can originate from many different places. Sometimes they are a pure marketing strategy to sell more ‘must have’ equipment or use the latest ‘power developing’ string tension.

It may be a new hitting style, movement pattern, practice routine or ‘must have’ equipment.

If it seems totally different from what you are currently doing, be careful. You and your coach need to be certain that it will benefit you and that it adds something to the things you are currently doing.

Try to find a benefit for you at this stage of your development.

Coaching conferences

Unfortunately, coaching conferences can also provide what seems to be useful advice, but when everyone starts following the trend without thinking, dangers can appear.

It’s often not the advice that’s wrong, but that it’s applied everywhere without context or thought.

The danger is that they may believe that it must apply to all players because an expert told them.

I’d advise that you ask the conference speaker which category of players they are referring to.

Good advice should be specific to you

ask : how do I apply that, what shoudl I expect

Here are a few that I’ve heard (that I question) …..

Which do you think you could use (if any) with some of your players immediately, or which ones do you currently use in your coaching?

Imagine how these statements could affect some coaches. Do they provide essential advice, or are they just “fads”

If you want to be a top player you need a string tension 28 lbs or over….. “30 lbs would be ideal”
Reduce your overhead follow-through to almost zero in order to become a good player ….“save time by reducing your follow through”
“Chasse as much as you can when moving” ….. “its what World Class players do”
“Don’t pull your elbow back low in overhead preparation” ….. “it saves time”
“You can move everywhere on the court in 3 steps” … “you must achieve this to be a top player”
“Don’t use a long grip, it reduces control;” …. “look what top players do at the net”
“Multi-sessions are good for developing decision-making skills........ players get very little to see where the shuttle is going so they become good at 'reacting'
“Put your foot down before you play net shots or forehand pulls/drags” …. “it will increase your power & control”

Do you agree with these statements or

are they just fads that are not properly challenged?

Observe and talk to better players

The advice may be good, but not the timing

Once you have been given some advice, look at better players in your group, in tournaments and on YouTube, do they use it?

Are you being encouraged to do the things these better players do, you should be.

However, be aware that elite/ world-class players are not always the best role models

Some of the techniques they seem to perform effortlessly may, in fact, require high degrees of strength and precise internal timing

You should certainly dream of being able to perform as they do.

Can you see how they use the advice or tips you have been given?

If you have an opportunity to talk with better players, ask them how to resolve conflicting coaching advice.

Most will have experienced this before and it would be interesting to hear what they say.

Ask you Coach

The advice may be correct, but not the timing

The time for that improvement or change may not yet have arrived.

For example, it’s not recommended to try to change an overhead forehand technique in the middle of the season.

Be aware that your own coach, who should know you best, may deliberately not be doing some things with you at that time.

Your Coach should have mapped out a plan for your improvements. Part of this plan will involve layering practices to eventually get you to the original advice.

Advice from other coaches

What to do if the advice is from other coaches and conflicts with what your coach has been encouraging?.

Talk to your coach about the advice given to you. Don’t be surprised if they agree with it but have reasons why they didn’t tell you. Work with them, they are your coach!

However, if your coach dismisses the advice, ask them why.

Especially if you believe that you should try this new advice, and they disagree. Ask them for reasons, and if you still don’t agree, then you both have a decision to make. Or an exploration in training and competition, to see if there is value in the advice.

Is it specific to you?

Does the advice relate to you and your current playing level?

This is similar to the points above but focuses on good advice to be applied, but you don’t currently have the skills or physical condition to use it.

Be aware of statements such as “this is what international players do, so you must also do it”.

If the advice is based on sound fundamentals, then over time you can refine your technique, develop the physical strength or master the mental skills required to achieve it.

Make it a long-term goal not always an immediate target.

Try it out in practice: “Is it applicable to you now?”

Only by ‘doing’ will you find out.

There is no problem in having a goal of incorporating the advice into your game, but only when you are ready.

If it seems correct and you think it will help you, then do more research and maybe think about introducing the technique or training programme into your sessions during the off-season.

Look for opportunities such as a period of development without tournaments, a few months in the gym, or just allowing yourself to grow and mature.

All these things can turn what was certainly conflicting advice and not for you, into something that will enhance your game.

At times, new advice may seem incorrect because it feels different

That doesn’t mean it is incorrect, maybe its going to be a long-term goal

Ask a question

Anyone who offers advice should be open to a few questions in return

However, it may not be appropriate to ask immediately.

You may not want to ask for fear of conflict or embarrassment. It is your choice.

I recommend that you do your best to remember exactly what was said and in what context.

If it was a change in technique, record the details exactly. If it was general advice then jot down the theme and as much as you can remember.

Advice from strangers

If the person giving this different advice is a stranger or someone you don’t know well, then ask them for more information: “Who uses it?”, “What are the benefits?”, “How can I practice it?”.

Remember what they said or ask them to send an email to your coach or parents. Ask a few polite questions, but there is no need for an argument or to be rude.

Squad Coaches

If the person is a coach but one you only see occasionally, such as a National or Squad Coach, then you will need to understand more.

They must have seen you play enough to think that this advice will help.

I think it’s ok to ask them to show you how it works on the court and the benefits. They may get another player to do it, of course, but that’s ok.

However, that still doesn’t mean that it will be good advice for you.

Hopefully, they will allow you to practice it on the court with them.

They should show you a series of small practices and give you advice or tips so that you can try it out.

Be aware of ‘Theories’ and ‘New Ways’

There are many people who have created a ‘new way’ of striking the shuttle or a method that magically helps you move faster around the court.

Just watching a YouTube video of two players gound through a multi-shot progression could help or it could leave you confused

Send me a question

I’m always grateful if you have read this far.

If there is anything that you have read that has helped or that you disagree with, then please send me an email.

I promise to read all your comments

It would be great to hear from you contact@badmintonandy.com

Share the Post: