BADMINTON

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19899, 30 May 1936, Page 21 (Supplement)

BADMINTON

, CHAMPION AT PLAY. ... ‘ VISIT 0! MI J. I. DIVLIN. ‘ WAIKA’I‘O PLAYER'S OPINION. , ..... ‘ As all Badminton player's probably know, Mr J. F. Devlin, the world famous Badminton player. is now in New Zealand under the auspices of the New Zealand Badminton Federation. lie is giving demonstrations, lectures and coaching lessons in the larger towns and the writer had the pleasure or see—ing .\ir Devlin in action at New Ply—mouth. Mr Devlin's English record is as follows: All England singles cham—pion 192:), '2O, ’27. ’2B, ‘29, '3l; doubles champion 1922, ‘23, ’26. '27, ‘29, ‘3O, '3l: mixed doubles champion 592/1, '25, "26, '27, '29. For the past five years he has been & profes—sional coach in Canada. I should like to say at once that Mr Devlin is a very easy man to meet and entertain; he has a tine personality, and generally, is the ideal man for the purpose for which he came to New Zealand. As a player his standard is very much higher than anything previously seen in this country. The two main points where his play is so far ahead of that of our own players are firstly. the great strength of his backhand clearing shots, and secondly. his power of deception. \Vith regard to the former, Devlin advocates a backhand grip whirh is quite differ—ent, from any 1 have seen before. instead of the hack of the hand facing the not. ihr iunor or little finger side points in that dircrtion. 'l‘he thumht is ninrod upwards along the handle or the rm-kri. and ultimugh the grip, is only light. it is a rruuu'knhiy strung our, During his lurtures at New Plymouth, llovlin frequently hit the! shuttle in ilsc root of the Drill liall, using backhand shots without any undue et‘rort. He uses this grip for the backhand rlear, drive and drop. Power of Deception. HP has developed the power of de—t caption by making special use of the wrist in Mary shut. He begins tha‘ swing‘ \\iih thn arm and than brings in the wrist \\ith u gentle mmrnwnt l for .I short shut. and with .n .\Udtif‘li .\trnng map Mr .1 rimr ur driwn it‘ is not uumuunrm for his uppouent to rush tiw >(‘t‘\l~‘n‘ only to tiud thei shuttle flying over hi> head illri. will or reach. and reaching the flour :9

———__._ quickly that going back is useless. “racehor‘se” effect of some of the games he vSfl‘V. He favours a combin—ation of side—hy—sidc and back and front pin)": the {armor for defensive positions. and the Iniicr to :ha taken up when ntiacking. ii seems to work quite well, and he has devised a sui—isfactury niclhod for deciding \\‘hr'n to change from [he one to the other position. Coaching Lessons. 1 \\‘ntvheti Devlin giving his com‘il—ing II'SStH'IS In groups of all sizos. t'l'um one in *le-IL and [who in ihn run— Musinn hat :1 Muss nt‘ t‘nur players at .aimut the smm“ .\lrcugiii is tin- must. sntisl‘m-im‘} .u't'nngnnwni. flight is tnu im'fm. Mvopi t'ur imginnvrs itnn'nim; iin‘ ruriinwnts nx' ihv game. 'l‘ilv ]i’t‘ilii‘t‘.\ ill‘l' ”In" mus! HM‘HII ilnl' instx‘nl-iiw [mi‘i ui' Drwiin‘s \\Ui'ix. nwl mr‘l‘)‘ plum- nt‘ mm}- :i'iuiv >ilnuiui attnnti t-Ii inst mie‘ nl' tilmil Hl‘ ,A'inu . inmviimi tinnirlnsli‘atimi ni liiL‘, smm Hui hu wixuculel. dilll lhu