Use of Time Out period in badminton

[GordonSim]

Maybe the IBF should consider allowing a 2 minute time out during a set. This can be called by the player or their coach.

This seems to work quite well in international table-tennis and introduces another tension point..

[JonC]

Surely we have introduced too much in the way of breaks and coaches involvement in the game already. Tactically toweling down is already used to break up play. And now players have to think less on the court as they constantly receive coaching during a set and even allow the coach on the court between sets. Intelligent play from players during a game, being able to read the situation and adjust and adapt to it, will disappear completely in favour of machine players in short bursts of play controlled by the coaches if more breaks are introduced. Is this the way badminton should go?

On top of this watching a game with so many breals and slow play I find very frustrating. Watching the English nationals mens singles final for example, I just wanted to shout at the players to get on with it rather than spending more time off the court than on it!

Maybe others disagree but it certainly doesn't work for me.

[GordonSim]

I agree with you regarding all the towelling down etc but that is the umpires fault if it becomes excessive.

By systemising things with a formal time out it may actually keep the game moving more in-between times.

[Markymark]

It's a difficult one for umpires to call, as if both players want to towel down and sweat is getting on the floor, there is a safety issue. An umpire becomes more important if one player is using the towelling down to deliberately upset the rythym of his opponent. A good umpire should spot that and put a stop to it.

[JonC]

I think the unfortunate thing is that the umpires do not seem to be controlling it and it is rare you see a request to towel down being refused. Maybe a timeout would regiment this but would you suggest then a timeout instead of any towelling down? Does this create a safety issue?

I actually have no problem with towelling down if it is controlled properly but presonally I would like to see less coach involvement once a game has started and to allow the intelligence from players to show in a game.

It's a shame a game now has so many breaks in it - this surely cannot be the way to make it more attractive to the watching audience!

[GordonSim]

What happens in squash, another high intensity racquet sport?