BADMINTON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 4

BADMINTON

By Shuttle. CLUB NIGHTS Dunedin Club.—Monday and Thursday. United Club. —Monday and Thursday. Dunedin Twenty Club.—Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday afternoon. Balmacewen Club.—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Maori Hill Club.—Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. FIXTURES August 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.—Wellington Championships, at Wellington. August 28, 29. 31.-—Otago Championships, at Dunedin. August 29, 30, 31.—North Island Championships, at New Plymouth. September 4,5, 6, 7.—New Zealand Championships, at Auckland. •

DUNEDIN v. DUNEDIN TWENTY The A Grade match between the Twenty Club and the Dunedin Club on Tuesday night was undoubtedly the best match of the season. Unfortunately for the Dunedin team Laidlaw and Hart were not available, and, had theybeen, the result might have been different. However, firstclass badminton was played throughout, the result being a draw, with six matches each.

In the Men's Doubles, after winning *r.gainst the Twenty pair, Swan and Anderson. 6—15, 15—4, 15—11, Dickinson end Edgar surprisingly went down' to Abbott arid Stevens m two sets, 15 —4, ISI—lo. 1 —10. The latter pair combined excellently. Abbott smashed powerfully and Stevens showed very good net work, varying his play effectively with long and short shots. Dickinson did not appear to be as accurate as usual, but Edgar was smashing well, and in the game against Swan and Anderson made few mistakes. Porteous and Kerr played well, although they lost both games to the Twenty pairs. Kerr recovered many difficult smashes and Porteous was send : ng his shots very low and placing accurately. The Women's Doubles showed the weakness of the Twenty teams, lack of understanding being apparent in all these games. The best match of the evening was between Mrs Dickinson. and Miss Kerr and Miss Bolwell arid Miss Johnstone, the Dunedin women combining better and eventually winning a firstclass game, 21—17. Mrs Dickinson proved .to be too good for her opposing 'net player, Miss Johnstone, and her play was the deciding factor' in , the game. Miss Bolwell played outstandingly and her hard smashing was particularly deadly in this match. At one stage the play developed into a marathon between the back-liners, Mjss Kerr and Miss Bolwell, and only Miss Kerr's brilliant recoveries steriimed the tide. She returned almost impossible smashes from Miss Bolwell, and after settling down, placed and smashed with accuracy. Mrs Dickinson and Miss Kerr also won their match against Miss F. Woods and Miss L. Samson, 21—10. In this, game the Twenty pair did riot combine well, Miss Woods being called upon to do too much of the work. Miss Samson did not appear at all confident in her play and was nervous throughout. In the match between Mrs Edgar and Miss J. Hay and Miss Woods and Miss Samson good understanding was apparent in the Dunedin pair's play. Mrs Edgar played particularly well, and her drop shots and. placements; were excellent, while Miss Hay smashed and recovered well. Miss Woods played some beautiful backhand cross-court drop shots, which were difficult to return, and had her partner been more sure of herself, any returns from them would have been killed. The hardest fought match was that of Mrs Edgar and Miss Hay against Miss Bolwell and Miss Johnstone, the result being 20 all, 3 —l in favour of the Twenty Club. _ : In the Combined Doubles both clubs won two matches, hut the Dunedin pairs were superior, their better combination being evident. Swan and Miss Bolwell deserved their win against Dickinson and Mrs Dickinson, 21—11,.the winners playing a much stronger; game, making fewer mistakes, and relying largely on their hard hitting. Porteous and Miss Kerr had a runaway win against Stevens and Miss Johnstone, 21—3. , In this game Miss Kerr missed nothing, her net shots being well played and completely outwitting her opposing net player. Stevens made the mistake of . trying to get past Porteous down the side lines. This proved useless as, apart from the number of shots ' that went out, Porteous was playing a very steady game, returning everything low over the net and making his oartner. Kerr and Mrs Edgar had a good win against Anderson and Miss Woods,. 21—13. Miss Woods was tired after two strenuous Women's Doubles and could not meet the returns from the opposition. Anderson showed a variety of good shots, his drop shots being particularly effective. The deciding match of the evening was that between Edgar and Miss J. Hay and Abbott and Miss L. Samson. Abbott played brilliantly in thia match; his smashing was deadly, and the placing of his shots' kept the opposition guessing: Miss Samson, overcoming her initial nervousness, played better towards the end. A noticeable feature of the match was the fact that the Miss Bolwell-Miss Woods combination was split up. While one can appreciate the selector's point of view that two solid back-line players like Misses Bolwell and Woods, playing with different partners', should have been able to defeat Dunedin's second pair and so win at least two doubles out of four, this hope was not realised, with the re'sult that a strong attacking pair went to waste. Another thing that must be remembered is that combination is the essence of doubles play, and the lastminute change resulted in the important maxim being totally ignored. By their win over United's first pair, Mrs Clarke and Miss Brown, a fortnight ago, Misses Bolwell arid Woods proved that they have during the season worked up a good combination, and it had been hoped that a meeting between this pair and Mrs Dickinson and Miss Kerr would have proved which were the premier doubles players in Dunedin. The result, however, was that both Miss Bolwell and Miss Woods were forced to do the greater part of the work in all their matches, and this undoubtedly had its effect on them in the mixed events, It is not too much to say that had Miss Woods not been exhausted by her two ladies' doubles games, she and her partner would have had a much better chance of winning their Mixed Doubles. It can only be said that the selector, in an , undoubtedly honest effort to win two matches instead of one, appeared to make an error of judgment—an error that may possibly have cost Twenty the match.

UNITED TEAMS MEET As was only to be expected, United I had no difficulty in defeating its own second A team, the filial score being eight matches to four in favour of the former. Some of the matches, however, were very evenly contested, and the first team did not by any means have a runaway victory. Three of the Men's Doubles went to United I. but the fourth match, that between Barron, and Swallow and Turton and Clarke, was won by the latter pair 15—13, 9—15, 15—11. Swallow has been promoted to the first team, and was consequently playing against his old partner, Turton. He did not combine well with Barron, and Turton and Clarke were too steady throughout. The seconds al?o won one Ladies' Doubles, Misses Falconer and Burton playing very solid badminton to beat Missses Foster and Fraser 21 —16. The other three matches were won very easily, the scores being 2 27, 21—9, 21 —10 in favour of the A team. The mixed event* were halved, and in this section Steven and Miss Mitchell created the surprise of the evening by defeating Walker and Miss Fraser 21 —16. Steven was only playing as *a

substitute, but he fully justified his inclusion in the team. Turtorf and Miss Burton also did well to get home by 21 —11 against such a strong pair as Craik and Miss Brown. TOURNAMENT PLAY During the past few weeks an endeavour nas been made to give some hints that may be of use to beginners. The lob, the smash, the drop shot, courtcraft, stroke production, and other important phases of badminton have been discussed, with a view to helping players to. improve their game, but it must be remembered that the final result rests with the individual himself. The advice that has been given through this column 'will have. been useless if the player does not try to put it into practice. No amount of reading will help a player if he or she goes on to the court end merely hits the shuttle over the net. Only hard and assiduous practice, with great attention paid to the many fine points of the game ; will bring a player out from the mediocre class and place him among the best. There is. the very common spectacle, however, of seeing players reach a certain standard and stop there. There may be many reasons why they do not continue to improve. It may possibly be that'they have lost confidence —a common failing with persons who cannot take a beating. It may be that they have become careless, or that they think they have learned enough. When constantly "defeated, instead of trying to reason out why they lost, they put it down to bad luck, or, worse still, to.their partner's play, if it is doubles. Without a doubt, the secret of success is constant participation in matches and tournaments. These will do far more good than even plenty Of practice on club nights. And play in tournaments will bring into action all the points that a player has gathered, as well as introducing the important factor of temperament. Never mind how often you. are beaten at first, defeats are useful if treated in the right spirit and regarded as an incentive to do better next time. In doubles, combination is the secret of success. Unless you are lucky enough « to get a player considerably better than yourself to partner you regularly, get one of your own standard of play, keen and good-tempered. Great attention" must be paid to your opponent's weak spots. Do not think it beneath you to hold a council of war with your partner during the gaine if you think your or his method is wrong. Two heads are always better than one, and faults may be detected in. conference which neither of you have been able to trace individually. Do not, however, be too theoretical in your play,' or devote too long a time in trying to find out your opponents' weak spots, otherwise the game will have got out of hand. In. tournament play the inexperienced players show nervousness and go on to the .court with little or no confidence in themselves; they feel their surroundings as is only natural, and play three or four points below their form in practice games. Try to overcome, it—how best to do that must be left 'to. .the .players themselves, for much depends on individual temperament;. There is, how.eve.r, no excuse for showing your nervousness or letting your opponents know you are in difficulties. How often do you hear players exclaim: borry partner, it came right across the light; I .could not see it." Probably it did, but'why broadcast the fact. It is foolish and will naturally encourage your opponents to play to the spot where you find it difficult to see. In handicap events the front-mark players often err on the side of 6vercaution,, and instead of going out : for their game they risk nothing). Tfoey should remember that unless they make aces in the early part of the game (that is when their opponents are endeavouring to reduce the odds), theywill certainly never do so when the back-markers are level, or. nearly so. Without being careless, risk everything. . On tbfe other hand if'you are conceding odds to another pair risk nothing and let your opponents make the mistakes

The advantage of training cannot be over-estimated, and for singles play it is absolutely essential. ; : - Sound methods, in both, attack and defence, are the foundation of success in singles. If they can be combined with brilliant strokes, eo much the better. But the latter are of relatively little value in comparison with accuracy and judgment. 'Once the rally is in progress, an opening should be worked for even more carefully than in doubles. Attack should be the first essential whenever possible, tut to attack at an inopportune moment is to court disaster! • In working for the jfttack—br wben-the opponent has secured }*— clearing strokes'- play' a large part in the game; If placed with- judgment, and of really good length, they seldom allow the opponent to make a winning stroke in reply. It is in- clearing on the backhand that most-players fail in singles; and they should practise this stroke assiduously, until they can send the shuttle well into either corner, e ven from a really difficult position. A great deal of force is required to do this, and the shot must be played with a full and very free swing. ~!■-. .... i Variety is, of course, important, and drop shots must not be neglected. These, hewever, need not be very elaborate, the simpler forms being, usually, fully as effective as the most difficult ones. Save in exceptional circumstances, a drop | shot m a singles should not be a risky stroke. «ow and again, of course, when taking a particularly good drop shot, one has no option but to play another drop shot in return, even though one's • opponent be waiting at the net. But it may safelv be laid down as a general rule that one should play to ) the back of the court whenever one is in any real difficulty, or when one's opponent is near enough to the net to have a chance of jumping m on the drop. Whenever the attack is secured it must be followed up vigorously. Here, smashing is the chief weapon, and severity of tn e utmost' importance. Care must be taken not to "over-smash," for, by putting too much -vigour into.a kill which fails to win the ace outright, a player risks being beaten by a cleverly-placed return berore he can recover his balance, fcmash, then, with sufficient restraint not to prejudice your next stroke—unless you have an opening for an absolute winner; then, subject only to that condition, smash hard and often. NOTES Up to the present time the-Otago Badminton Association has not been, advised of the dates of the South Island Championships to be held this year at Invereargul. A match has been arranged between a visiting Oamaru team and the Balmaeewen Club. This will take place on Saturday evening on the Dunedin Twenty courts. The Dunedin Twenty Club w&l play an unofficial match against the Dunedin Club on the evening of August 3. The teams will probably consist of eight men and eight ladies aside. Mr W. Elliott, who was formerly a member of the Dunedin Club, was recently transferred to Ranfurly, and before he left he told the writer that it was his intention to form a badminton club in the Central Otago town as soon as possible. His decision has evidently borne fruit, as last week at an enthusiastic meeting it was unanimously decided to make a start with the game, although it was late in the season. Games are being played once a week in the Ranfurlv Hall, the club supplying the rackets, shuttles and all necessary gear. Queenstown is the latest town to come under the spell of badminton. A visitor from Invercargill recently played several exhibition matches with friends, with the result that it was decided to call a meeting of probable supporters. This was duly held and the proposal to form a club was enthusiastically received. A committee was formed for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements for a short season to be commenced immediately.