Playing the winning shot

Here's something that every player will be very familiar with. And most often it'll be a fatal mistake.

Listen.

Ever made that wonderful shot and see the look on your opponent's face as you catch them off-guard? They react a little slower, but desperately shuffle towards the falling shuttle. They reach out, and it seems like the point is yours. 

Confidently you let down your guard and start walking, locking your knees as you prepare for the next point. 

Then the shuttle comes back. A sharp net drop as your opponent's racket barely scrapes the skin of the shuttle.

Irony.

So I guess the moral of the story is, to never let down your guard until you see the shuttle touch the ground. It's a matter of discipline as well as respect to our opponents that we continue the fight until the point is truly won.

I can't count the number of times I've done this myself, overcome by confidence in my shot that I drop my own guard and let the opponent's fighting spirit steal the point. 

So fight hard, fight on, and win a deserved battle. 

All the best for your games!