Hi,
I am having some issues with a new racket I bought and my play style. I am wondering if someone could offer some help. Basically my play style and experience can be described as follows:
I have played competitively (school, college and university) for close to 9 years. I have never had much formal coaching, just learnt by doing. My play style is kind of like this:
1) My biggest strength is forehand and I am mostly a flat hitter and driver of the ball. If you give me a ball even a few centimetres above the net, I will be able to land a fast powerful drive on it. I could do that stroke with balls with topspin or no spin.
2) I only use topspin when I need to that is, I am meeting the ball below net height or there is backspin on the ball. I mostly try to do a fast low topspiny loop on that ball, if possible. I also use topspin when I wish to be aggressive against serves (especially if they are long). I also like to do a flick shot on balls which are on the shorter side.
3) My backhand is blocking. I am learning more driving and topspin these days.
4) Overall, I play close to the table. I don't like slow prolonged rallies. I like to play fast and aggressive. And I love any opportunity to be aggressive with my flat hits on the forehand.
I used sriver rubbers with a JOOLA Rossi Power Light blade for many years. This racket was ok but I had found it quite slow and lacked power, so I had to generate all the speed and power by myself which was extremely exhausting. The rubbers were also dead after many years of play.
I took a break from playing table tennis and recently started again. I decided to upgrade my racket and did some research online. Tenergy 05 was a popular choice among pros and on forums. So I went for that along with a korbell off blade. (not the sk7 korbell, its the plain korbell off).
My experience after two sessions with this racket has been a bit weird. Firstly, I find it hard to smash the ball. Like the balls that I would have smashed to oblivion with my eyes closed, usually land off the table or go into the net. I also think, the ball stays on the racket for ever, which is kind of a weird experience. And I just can't do the flat hits with my forehand that I was used to, on a consistent basis. In a nutshell, I don't feel "in control" when executing a fast flat hit, whereas, previously, I didn't even have to think about it. In fact, often when I get a smashable ball, I feel nervous about going for it because I feel I will miss it.
I am wondering what has happened to my game. Is it the blade? or the rubber? or maybe I have just forgotten how to play the game? Or I need to get used to this racket more? Maybe it's just not the right choice for my style and needs? I could try and sell this racket and buy something which is more suitable for my style. From my own judgement, I was thinking if I go for an sk7 korbell (which is a harder blade then the korbell) maybe that might help. In terms of rubbers, I am not sure, maybe t64 may be a good choice? on the other hand I have found that t05 is easily the most popular choice among pros so there must be something to it? although a small minority also use the t64. Hope you can help me. thank you
I am having some issues with a new racket I bought and my play style. I am wondering if someone could offer some help. Basically my play style and experience can be described as follows:
I have played competitively (school, college and university) for close to 9 years. I have never had much formal coaching, just learnt by doing. My play style is kind of like this:
1) My biggest strength is forehand and I am mostly a flat hitter and driver of the ball. If you give me a ball even a few centimetres above the net, I will be able to land a fast powerful drive on it. I could do that stroke with balls with topspin or no spin.
2) I only use topspin when I need to that is, I am meeting the ball below net height or there is backspin on the ball. I mostly try to do a fast low topspiny loop on that ball, if possible. I also use topspin when I wish to be aggressive against serves (especially if they are long). I also like to do a flick shot on balls which are on the shorter side.
3) My backhand is blocking. I am learning more driving and topspin these days.
4) Overall, I play close to the table. I don't like slow prolonged rallies. I like to play fast and aggressive. And I love any opportunity to be aggressive with my flat hits on the forehand.
I used sriver rubbers with a JOOLA Rossi Power Light blade for many years. This racket was ok but I had found it quite slow and lacked power, so I had to generate all the speed and power by myself which was extremely exhausting. The rubbers were also dead after many years of play.
I took a break from playing table tennis and recently started again. I decided to upgrade my racket and did some research online. Tenergy 05 was a popular choice among pros and on forums. So I went for that along with a korbell off blade. (not the sk7 korbell, its the plain korbell off).
My experience after two sessions with this racket has been a bit weird. Firstly, I find it hard to smash the ball. Like the balls that I would have smashed to oblivion with my eyes closed, usually land off the table or go into the net. I also think, the ball stays on the racket for ever, which is kind of a weird experience. And I just can't do the flat hits with my forehand that I was used to, on a consistent basis. In a nutshell, I don't feel "in control" when executing a fast flat hit, whereas, previously, I didn't even have to think about it. In fact, often when I get a smashable ball, I feel nervous about going for it because I feel I will miss it.
I am wondering what has happened to my game. Is it the blade? or the rubber? or maybe I have just forgotten how to play the game? Or I need to get used to this racket more? Maybe it's just not the right choice for my style and needs? I could try and sell this racket and buy something which is more suitable for my style. From my own judgement, I was thinking if I go for an sk7 korbell (which is a harder blade then the korbell) maybe that might help. In terms of rubbers, I am not sure, maybe t64 may be a good choice? on the other hand I have found that t05 is easily the most popular choice among pros so there must be something to it? although a small minority also use the t64. Hope you can help me. thank you
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