Mentality of shots in doubles vs singles

Smashes in doubles: mostly aimed at centre court between players or the 'racquet-side' thigh area of the defender.
Smashes in singles: aimed at the sidelines/crosscourt or in desperation aimed at body.

Drops in singles: sliced/reverse sliced to the 2 corners
Drops in doubels: fake smash into centre drop

Clears in doubles: almost never but in desperation to center court
Clears in singles: always to the backhand-side

Trickshots in doubles: between the leg/behind the back return of smash
Trickshots in singles: hold and flick/hold and crosscourt

Drive in doubles: when unable to smash/aim crosscourt to surprise opponent
Drive in singles: when doing return of low serve

I list them here, I can think it but doesn't mean I can do it. :)

Yonex Muscle Power 99 Review

Just acquired a new MP99 3UG5
Strung with BG66

This is a well known racquet, popular amongst professionals and recreational players. I believed, if i didn't review this racquet, then I'm missing something...

Racquet: Yonex MP99

Flex: stiff

Balance: even balance

Strings: Yonex BG66 @ 22lbs

First impression: A well known racquet, once used by many pros including Lin Dan. The picture of the racquet speaks for itself. Unique to this racquet is the grommet system, which is different from other Yonex racquets. Ultimum titanium is used both in the frame and the shaft. Flex is rather stiff, head is standard isometric and even balance.

Warm up: I find it kind of funny when handling this racquet, feeling neither head heavy nor headlight when swung. Clears are the 1st shot that I start with, which is good. Drive and drops are good. Net plays are good as well.

Game time: I find this racquet to be an all-rounder, it can hit good smashes. Control is very good, the maneuverability is faster than head heavy racquets and defence is acceptably good. I can not find any weakness/fault in this racquet on court.

Conclusion: This is a classic racquet, excellent balance of playing attribute like control, power and feel. Can be played equally well for doubles and singles.

Power 8/10
Feel: 8/10
Control: 8/10
Defence: 8/10
Manueverability: 8/10

Pros: Classic iso Racquet, well balance racquet. Suitable for any style of play. Probably one of the best racquet when 1st introduced.

Cons: Maybe a bit fragile (owing to low recomended tension) and not easy to get used to as with most even balance racquets. Not as sexy as the younger and flashier models.

Suitability: Control, attacking, defensive and all around players. In short, all players (singles/doubles) will find this racquet to suit their game once they get used to it. Skill level: intermediate and above.

YONEX/Sunrise sports recommendation for player type:
For advanced to intermediate players looking for ultimate speed and excellent control

Yonex rating 1-5
Power 5
Control 5
Flex 5

(Ref: Yonex badminton chart)

Racquet collection

Memo.

Racquet Collection reduced to 8 racquets.

3UG5 Ti-10 Mesh (3rd Generation)x 3
3UG5 AT900P x 1
2UG5 NS9900 X 1
Gosen Roots Aermet 6900 (Boonsak Model) X 2
Carbonex 21 x 1

Planing to try Mizuno Tetracross 700.

thus 1 x Gosen 6900 and NS9900 and about to be sold.

French Open 2009

Tonight, there's a mouth watering battle between Lin Dan and Taufik Hidayat for the men's singles.

Follwed by the men's doubles battles of KKK/TBH vs MK/HS.

return of serve trick

I just played with an expert/advanced badminton player.

His return of serve is excellent kinda like the youtube video below.

I figure out that the racquet head is misleading as he sliced/push it the otherway.

Racquet collection

I hope to reduce my racquet collection after trial and error of testing racquets.

Currently my racquets:

Yonex
NS9900
Ti-10 (3rd Gen) X 2
ArcZ-Slash
AT900P
Carbonex 21

Gosen
Aermet Roots Gavun 6900 (Boonsak model) x 2

My go to racquets are 2X Gosen 6900
I found I can get more power from the smash than the extra stiff Ti-10 Mesh.
Although, I found the Ti-10 is better in defense and control.

My 2U NS9900 JP is used primary as a warm-up racquet. Too valuable to risk in a doubles game. My ArcZ-slash is use in conjunction with my Gosen 6900 and I'm loving it. The Smash is powerful and I'm begining to get the hang of the control.

My dying 2U Carbonex 21 is use for practise and to borrow friends with no racquets.

Signing out.

Lee Chong Wei made his entrance in the finals

Many kids waiting to get his pictures and adults like me hunting for his autograph ;).

We failed as security barred us and a focused Lee Chong Wei didn't obliged.