Author: Tony Tam

sfbadminton, Uncategorized

San Francisco Badminton Social Group

Tony Tam

You are an intermediate or advanced badminton player and want to play badminton in the San Francisco or South San Francisco Bintang and socialize a bit? Join our intermediate/advance badminton social group!

The court locations I listed below are open for anyone to drop in if you don’t join the group, just pay an entrance fee and be friendly and ask people at your level to play.

Beginners

Sorry no beginners, too much difference in skill level affects the level of play and won’t be fun for anyone. I do not organize the play for beginners, but you should just drop by UCSF Parnassus, UCSF Mission Bay or Salvation Army Kroc Center and find someone at your level and ask them to play. Most people are very friendly. Also, please take some group classes and join us when you are at least intermediate. Check out http://coaches.badmintondiscuss.com/ for suggested coaches.

Intermediate

You consistently clear, serve, smash, can defend decently and have a decent backhand or around the head shots. You also know how to rotate around the court for doubles. We have 30 players at intermediate level.

Advance

You are at least intermediate. You defend well, not just attack. You might have played in D, C, B or A level competitively. You can teach others badminton and have done the Badminton Strategy and Drills. You have played in challenge courts and won a few. We have about 20 players in the Advance level.

Rules & Etiquette

  1. Be willing to play with all players at different levels; we can help you pair up to make the teams more even.
  2. Be friendly and sociable; if you just want to play and not into the talking thing, the challenge court is perfect for that.
  3. Make sure to rotate out and let everyone get a chance to play; be gracious about volunteering to sit out if you have played more than others.
  4. Bring your own birdies so we can share the cost when playing (buy at http://www.shuttlecock101.comBlack Label, speed 50 or buy at the club)

Contact

Contact me at this WhatsApp group ‘SF Badminton New Member’.
https://chat.whatsapp.com/65SWo4VD9FjJga3djMRvxN

  1. Please tell me what your playing experience is and what level of skill.
  2. Also let me know which location and time you wanted to try so I can add you to the right WhatsApp group

We coordinate games using WhatsApp group, ‘SF Badminton Group’. I will invite you once I verify your playing level. To verify, usually I just ask about your playing experience or I may invite you to rally with me on the court.

You can email but I might be slower to respond: tonstert8888@gmail.com

Need a Coach?

People currently in the social group

  • Advanced 1 Alistair, Connor, James S., Martin, Patter, Varun
  • Advanced 2 Aditya, Alanktri, Aldo, Cindy, Dan, Daniel, Guillaume, Han Qiao, Heng Jie, Jacob, Jayanth, Jerry, Katherine, Khoi, Matt Hui, Maxime, Papu, PJ, Richard, Rose, Shobhit, Tina, Vladimir, Winston, YuenHsi, Tony T (organizer)
  • Intermediate 1 Annette, Christoforus, Dan, Geff, James H., Ka Hing, Shu Zhou, Dhruvin, Sydney Jeff W., Karen, Paul, Rajesh, Tony D.
  • Intermediate 2 Aaron, Brice, Dhruvin, Evan, Gareth, Lena, Madelene, Mike, Wylan

Ways to move up in groups

Let’s say you are in Adv 2, and want to move up to Adv 1. You find a partner in the Adv 1 Group, and challenge any 2 people in Adv 1 Group. Win 2 matches of 3 games within 2 weeks, and you automatically move up into Adv 1. As an example: if you were in group Adv 2, the trick is to partner up with the best player in Adv 1, challenge the weakest 2 players in Adv 1.

Why Is Tony Forming This Social Group?

I used to have a hard time finding people to play and I usually have to audition to show my level of play in order for people to accept me. I hated that part of badminton when I don’t have someone to go with and I have to pair myself with people who only cared about winning on the challenge court. I started this group to help people reconnect with badminton. Often I would hear from people who just moved to San Francisco and have lost their former friends whom they used to play with. I also hear from people who used to play in high school and college but have forgotten about the game when life happens to all of us.

Locations

These are public spaces, you can just go there without joining the social group.

Resources

Buying Badminton Stuff Online

(I have no affiliations with any of the online stores)

  • I buy Aeroplane Black Label online http://www.shuttlecock101.com/
    Specifically the Black Label speed 50
  • Racquets and stuff I buy from Badminton Alley and Badminton Direct