The overflowing cup

Since spending a year in Denmark to learn badminton coaching, I have had some opportunity to impart what I learned.  I remember Kenneth Larsen saying that the most difficult thing is to get people to forget what they already know.  I've already written about it; that players must do this to move forward.  What I didn't realise is just how fundamental the issue is.

The Laughing Buddha

Having returned to Ireland, I've discovered just what Kenneth meant.  It seemed to me as if there was no room for what I'd learned in people's heads. The excuses I heard ranged from, "I do what it takes to win games" to "I'm not a top level player".  The excuses were endless.  I was so frustrated to hear so many closed minds.  Where else to find wisdom than in a Zen Kōan:

Courtesy of 67notout.com

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"
"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

When it comes to badminton, we all mostly observe the rules to play but we all play according to a further rule set in our heads.  When we play there is a constant dialogue in our heads that tells us which shots we should play and where we should move on the court.  It is our tactical rule set.  Given that we don't win all our matches it seems safe to conclude that our tactical rule set is flawed or limited.  We don't know how to play badminton, we only know how we believe we should play badminton.  We know our rituals for playing, and that is what they are.  Some rituals are more effective than others.
The claim that players are not top players is nothing more than a cop out. It is as much to say that a player has no interest in improving their game through education.  Badminton players are similar to professionals in other walks of life.  Professionals seek out efficient methods of operation in order to compete.  They seek out methods to achieve the same or better results.  It is a cornerstone of progress.  When put back in context of the badminton player it explains why top players have so much time to hit the shuttle with respect to the recreational player.  While certain techniques are beyond the reach of recreational players, many are simply stepping stones along a path.
This explains in part, why the more tactically astute player can gain advantage over a fitter player.