Doubles players are the main product of Canada.

  I thought that I'd do a bit of an observation this week. I've seen a lot of players, met a lot of players, and played a lot of players. And I'd say about 85% of them are doubles players.
 It's not because they can't move. It's not because they are all lazy (Although a lot of them are a little bit lazy). I can't say what the exact reason is that most Canadians turn to doubles and mixed events, but I would have to say that it is a little bit easier to find success in the doubles, and it is also not nearly as hard on the mental game as singles.
 Everyone can attack in doubles. It's just basic play. Only the odd time you will find a pair with a weak attacking game. Nine times out of ten though they will be much weaker at the defending game. That is why, especially in junior years, the pairs that can defend win most of the time. So there are two basic components that most players must learn to master the doubles and do pretty well. They are defending, and pattern plays/positioning. Assuming that you already have attacking down. And if you are consistent in those areas, you will do very well against players of your level.
 Singles is different. Some singles players are amazingly technically sound and hit every shot perfectly and intelligently, and know where the shuttle will end up on the return. Some are like me, and aren't perfectly technically sound, but have other weapons, such as huge smashes (like myself), or amazing defense (Not me. Yet.) A lot of players are wild diggers, who will reduce their footwork to merely flailing around. But they get the shuttle back. A lot. Everytime you play singles, there is that little bit of unpredictability, that makes it not only harder to play, but harder on the mental.
All these factors add up to singles players going through a lot of stuff. I also find it hard to be out there alone.
Every one wants to play singles, but most give up. A great singles player once told me that when training for singles "If you're not in agony, you're doing it wrong." Maybe that's why we have so many doubles players.