I've noticed recently that there are a couple of 'conditions or surroundings' that have affected my consistency and quality.
When serve practicing at home in the garage, everything is fairly closed in, the wall I face when serving is maybe 6 to 7 feet away (1.8 to 2.1m) the wall colour varies as there are shelves with different coloured pots equipment etc on them.
when serving at the training sessions I attend, the venue is a typical school sports hall, I think there is space for 4 badminton courts, we take up about a 1/4 of the hall space, and can usually get 6 or at a push 7 tables next to each other (single file) across our section of the hall. wall colour is consistent, to the wall to either side of the tables are painted a cream colour, not ideal !!
Nice dark green netting to one and mid blue to the other wall you face in general play (these are therefore behind your opponent and provide an excellent background colour.)
When taking my service stance for serving a FH pendulum serve, I am facing the cream walls, the colour combined with the depth or distance to the far wall makes if harder for me to see the ball well when the ball is tossed!! my consistency drops. I think that maybe the wall colour is the larger factor in causing my drop in consistency, which is in effect MY control.
'Spaciousness' could have an impact as well. I definitely feel more comfortable playing within slightly more 'confined' spaces!!!
Tables surfaces definitely have an impact, finish and thickness, glossy or dull, how 'fast' a table plays etc
table at home has 22mm top and a matt dark green finish that has a characteristic of reacting to spin more, more friction? so the ball tends to move more from the bounce, for a heavy backspin serve, the ball 'holds up' better and returns to the net easily. the tables at the training sessions have a 19mm thick top, lighter green glossy(ish) surface and don't 'hold up' the ball as well, less balls return to the net.
This is sort of a 'double edged sword' regarding the quality of the serve.
higher friction surface - removes slightly more of the spin on the ball, but allows that spin to engage with the surface, opponent has slightly less spin to deal with, but the ball is more likely not to go past the end of the table, reducing opponents choice of shot or chance of them looping the ball. it can be easier for me to control the length of the ball.
lower friction surface - removes slightly less of the spin on the ball, the spin on the ball doesn't engage with the table surface as much, however the opponent may have slightly more spin to deal with. but my control of the length of the serve can be harder. !!!
Which table surface type suits me better??? which surface type promotes better 'quality' of shot??? to a certain extent the characteristics of the playing surface can effect a players CONSISTENCY and QUALITY of shot.
"RAFA NADAL LOVES CLAY COURTS" springs to mind!!!!