Join two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen and Dr. Chun Keat Yew, also known as CK Yew, as they share their passion for badminton through insightful discussions and honest opinions.
Beyond the court, they’ll dive into the sport’s business side, media influence, family life, expert tips on improving your game, and equipment recommendations.
Get ready for engaging conversations and follow along!
Ep 42: The Physics of Badminton, Shuttlecock Science, Left-Hander Advantage, Smashing Mechanics
In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, CK Yew sits down with Professor Eric Collet - a physicist and head of the Department of Materials and Light at the University of Rennes, known for his incredible super slow-motion footage of badminton shuttlecocks in flight. We get nerdy and break down the real physics behind the sport: why left-handers have a better slice shot, the Magnus effect, the insane forces of a shuttlecock, and much more!
Learn more about Professor Eric Collet below:
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ericcollet1240
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.collet.bad/
Chapter Timestamps:
00:40 Introduction To Professor Eric Collet
03:00 How Badminton & Science Came Together
09:18 The Science Of Badminton Shuttlecock Spin
12:31 Why Left-Handers Have A Better Slice
18:50 How Science Of How A Shuttle Slows Down
21:06 What Players & Coaches Can Learn
25:13 The Science Of The Badminton Smash
30:31 How Smash Position Affects Reaction Time
32:53 The Force Of A Shuttlecock
37:09 Plastic & Synthetic Shuttles
41:53 Photography & Slow-Motion Videography
43:42 Racket Speed, Shuttle Speed & Energy Transfer
49:04 How Players Stay In The Air When Jump Smashing
52:08 The Magnus Effect In Badminton
56:04 Measuring Smash Speed Accurately
01:02:36 Making Badminton Science Accessible
01:08:09 Defining Badminton In One Sentence
01:10:00 The Future Of Badminton Research
Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage
Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/
You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw
26 Sept 2026
Ep 41: The Agents Behind India's Biggest Sporting Stars, Sponsorship Deals, Athlete Personal Branding
In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, CK Yew and Viktor Axelsen sit down with Ramakrishnan R (Ram) and Rakesh Haridas from Baseline Ventures - the agency behind some of the biggest deals in Indian badminton, representing athletes across 13 sports including PV Sindhu, Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and HS Prannoy. We dig into their journey to the top of athlete representation and sports commercialisation in India, plus what athletes should look for in an agent and what a real sponsorship deal looks like.
We also get into Baseline's ownership of the Prime Volleyball League, the challenges of running a league and team, and how brand partnerships fit into the bigger picture. If you've ever wondered how athletes get signed, sponsored, and built into brands, this one's for you!
Chapter Timestamps:
00:37 Introduction To Ram, Rakesh & Baseline Ventures
03:38 What Sports Agents Do
05:50 Commercial Deals As A Young Athlete
07:33 Adapting Commercial Strategies Throughout A Career
10:43 What Athlete Managers Do At Sporting Events
12:58 How Badminton Compares To Other Sports In India
15:55 How Sponsorship Deals Are Structured
20:24 Sponsorship Challenges During Covid
21:48 Importance Of Social Media & Digital Content
25:29 Evolution Of P. V. Sindhu’s Commercial Partnerships
28:48 Global Value Of Digital Athlete Partnerships
32:29 Opportunities To Professionalise Badminton
34:25 Building India’s Next Generation
38:34 Most Important Tournaments For Athlete Brand Value
41:18 Baseline Ventures’ Business Model & Owning The Prime Volleyball League
45:27 How Prime Volleyball League Partnered With YouTube
48:05 Managing A Professional Volleyball Team
53:51 Lessons From Building A Professional Sports League
55:52 How Baseline Ventures Was Founded
58:59 Baseline Studios & Producing Athlete Content
01:03:17 Favourite Baseline Ventures Moments
01:07:22 Advice For Aspiring Sports Agents
Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage
Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/
You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw
12 Sept 2026
Ep 40: Linus Tech Tips X Smash Champs: The Challenges Of Being A Badminton Club Owner
*Please note: Linus' video often freezes throughout the episode due to connection issues. We apologise for the technical difficulties and appreciate your understanding!
In this episode of The Average Not Average Podcast, CK Yew and Viktor Axelsen sit down with Linus Sebastian — founder of Linus Tech Tips and Linus Media Group — to talk badminton and business.
Linus and his wife Yvonne opened Smash Champs, a high-end badminton centre in Surrey, BC, Canada. We explore why he entered the badminton industry, what it takes to build and run a large-scale sports facility, and how it compares to running one of the internet's biggest media operations.
Chapter Timestamps:
00:47 Introduction to Linus Sebastian
04:06 How Linus Discovered Badminton
07:04 Why Badminton Is A Complete Sport
10:18 Badminton’s Potential In North America
13:26 Creating Smash Champs Badminton Club
15:43 Designing The Badminton Facility
19:38 The Challenge Of Drift In Badminton
24:22 Costs Of Building A High-Tech Badminton Club
25:46 Choosing The Right Flooring
27:51 Designing The Right Lighting
31:50 The War Between Contractors
34:46 The True Return On Investment
36:05 Badminton Clubs In Denmark
39:28 The GOAT 2026 Tournament & 15-Point Scoring
41:19 Running A Media Company Vs Smash Champs
42:55 Making Custom Broom Stands
44:58 Why Clubs Should Offer Rental Rackets & Shoes
51:39 Revenue Streams At Smash Champs
53:57 Impact Of The Right Badminton Community
56:47 Business Lessons
01:00:58 From Professional Sport To Entrepreneurship
01:02:40 The Story of Linus Playing Against Viktor Axelsen
01:08:40 Badminton’s Unwritten Rules
Follow us on social media for more content!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaveragenotaverage/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaveragenotaverage
Keep in touch with CK & Viktor here:
- CK's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkmY5ThPy3GLINI0m06ffaQ
- Viktor's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkuVto4oGsgdEisvXlUaHvg
- CK's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ckyew_official/
- Viktor's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viktoraxelsen/
You can also find our conversations on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BwlJdllHEuttY24Jbcrz8?si=d5-BYAQkSoG7pMhKdskf4Q
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-average-not-average-podcast/id1797766159- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxuJfUZRhZn4s5SDKoS_Vw
Who has been a guest on The Average Not Average Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Peter Gade
Rasmus Skousen
Henrik Axelsen
Chirag Shetty
Kestutis Navickas
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
153,081
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
85 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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