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In badminton, competitive matches are won in the heat of the battle, and victory is not always a reflection of the skill or the technique of the players. It's often a reflection on how the players handled the journey of the match, the tactical choices they made, and how they dealt with changes in momentum. Indeed, it is a player's responses – on the court – that will turn around challenging situations and steer them to victory.

Written for competitive badminton players of all levels, and drawing on years of experience at the highest international level, authors Andy Wood and Alistair Higham take an in-depth look at what happens in the cauldron of competition. By examining match events, momentum, and match flow, they offer game insights which will change players’ perceptions of what really happens in a match. And through this change of perception will come the understanding and ability to control the many factors that can make or break success.

Focussing on the mental and tactical battles that take place, this book highlights the skills you need to develop to make the most of whatever situation you find yourself in. Packed with practical tips and examples from Olympic competition, The Winning Edge covers key questions at the heart of how to master the art of competing:

• What are the demands of badminton?
• What makes up a winning performance?
• How do I maintain consistent levels of performance throughout the twists and turns of a match?
• How do I make better decisions during the heat of the battle?
• How can I learn and progress from match to match?

"The detailed approach focussing on how to win matches outlined in this book certainly played a significant and critical part in my journey to becoming World Champion and World No: 1." Gail Emms

"Andy and Alistair brilliantly describe in detail how matches unfold and what skills we need as players, coaches and parents to give ourselves that critical advantage to help us all achieve our goals and dreams" Nathan Robertson

Andy Wood has over 40 years of professional coaching experience. He is a former professional badminton player, Great Britain Olympic Head Coach and Team Manager, and Badminton World Federation (BWF) Expert Consultant. Andy was personal coach to the athletes that won the first ever Olympic Medals for Great Britain, Simon Archer and Joanne Goode and Nathan Roberston and Gail Emms. He coached numerous World, Commonwealth, and European Gold Medallists and remarkably – in the 2006 World Championships Mixed Doubles finals between Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg and Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms (as pictured below) – he coached and nurtured all of the players through from childhood. Formerly the Director of Badminton at Loughborough University, Andy founded the Derbyshire Institute of Sport and was UK Sport Coach of the Year, and BBC Sports Coach of the Year in 2006.

Alistair Higham is an international expert on match play and momentum in sport. His work on momentum includes advising professional tennis players, athletes, and teams. Author of two bestselling books on momentum in tennis and football, he presents on momentum at conferences across the world. Formerly the LTA's Head of Coach Education, Alistair was GB 16U Age Group Captain, coaching and managing international junior players at the highest levels of junior tennis all over the world. He currently heads up the GB University Programme for the LTA and is GB Student Team Manager/Coach for teams winning Gold and Silver Medals at the South Korea 2015 World University Games; and Silver and Bronze medals in Taiwan in 2017. In the 2017 European Masters, the GB student team won gold defeating the US College team, backing this up with a Silver Medal 2018 and 2019. He is also a qualified mentor working on the Premier League's EHOC programme and the LTA's mentoring programme.