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Okay, the first video is pretty darn funny. I would get the app for that alone. But it sounds like it is pretty cool and useful.
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Okay. I got the app. It is fun. My goal is to beat Brett's high score. Hahaha.
No. Not really. But it is fun.
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I got the app and started using it. But honestly, I have some skepticism that "training" there will transfer to the actual table tennis game. I see from you video that after the practice the study participants improved their reaction time in the app. But what if they improved their reaction time only in the application, but not in the sport?
In other words, I would like to see some evidence that this application is the adequate measure of the table tennis experience. This is very hard to assess I know, but I have a few thoughts at the top of my head. Did you try to measure reaction time in this app that demonstrate a low-level tennis player, and a highly skilled one, both without training in the app? If this app is a good "proxy" for the table tennis skills, then a pro should demonstrate a much higher score without practicing in the app.
P.S. I think that this idea is just awesome, and in the future there will be very effective trainers like this one, that allow people to acquire difficult skills. I just have some constructive/scientific skepticism.
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I've got to be honest Ilia, of course the game in this app will help. Even if all it does is make you realize that you have to watch more closely for subtle details like body angle, position of hand, point of contact.
A lot of times when we play, us mid-level players don't do a great job of that.
One thing I was told and know I don't always do a great job of is that, ideally, after you have hit the ball, you have reset as your shot bounces on your opponent's side so you can read these signs from your opponent's contact after you are already set to move to the next ball. When I first started training random drills, I started realizing how bad I was at that skill. I have gotten a decent amount better at it.
One thing I notice these days is, when I play someone about my level, I am decent at reading the ball placement in those random situations. Then when I play someone 1 or 2 levels higher then me, I see that their ability to take the ball earlier, push the pace and make me need to be set much faster while giving me harder placements shows that improving my ability to read all of these signs of placement earlier is much needed.
So, even just getting you to watch the backswing, the body rotation, the angle of the racket and trying to see it as early as possible, will actually help you try to focus in that way as your opponent is preparing to hit and during their stroke.
The more important training may be on the table. But this is actually a really good idea of a way of training your mind to focus while not on the table. In my opinion it is absolutely well worthwhile.
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A lot of times when we play, us mid-level players don't do a great job of that.
One thing I was told and know I don't always do a great job of is that, ideally, after you have hit the ball, you have reset as your shot bounces on your opponent's side so you can read these signs from your opponent's contact after you are already set to move to the next ball. When I first started training random drills, I started realizing how bad I was at that skill. I have gotten a decent amount better at it.
One thing I notice these days is, when I play someone about my level, I am decent at reading the ball placement in those random situations. Then when I play someone 1 or 2 levels higher then me, I see that their ability to take the ball earlier, push the pace and make me need to be set much faster while giving me harder placements shows that improving my ability to read all of these signs of placement earlier is much needed.
So, even just getting you to watch the backswing, the body rotation, the angle of the racket and trying to see it as early as possible, will actually help you try to focus in that way as your opponent is preparing to hit and during their stroke.
The more important training may be on the table. But this is actually a really good idea of a way of training your mind to focus while not on the table. In my opinion it is absolutely well worthwhile.
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When it comes to subtle matters, like things happening in our brains, "obvious" things can be wrong. Just because there could be different factors we are not aware of affecting the situation.
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Hey Ilia Minkin, Thanks for your feedback and points.
You're right, more testing needs to be done over time as the app matures into a more comprehensive trainer. We will keep in mind the post above and perhaps we can find a way to test people on the table. It's now one of my goals to have this done this year.
I think it's important to keep in mind that the app will already increase your visual processing speed at worst. It's certainly better for your TT than scrolling through Facebook or playing Angry Birds.
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This could be really great! And I totally understand that this can be very difficult to adequately measure. I think that there could be other "indirect" evidence that supports your ideas. For example, what if you substitute William Henzell with another player in your app? Will then the players that trained in your app retain their abilities, or they will lose them? I sincerely wish you the best in your further work.
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Here is my indirect evidence - my reaction to forehand dominant loopers has significantly improved since I started playing the app. But its probably just a placebo effect. I still can't track anyone's backhand though.
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I think a good question is, if we replace William with another pro, will the user be better against the new pro than they were when they first faced William. On top of that, will the user's rate of improvement vs the new pro be more rapid than when they were adapting to William.
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It actually would be cool if there were several players (pro or not) and they were randomly selected for the start of each game. So that you kept seeing the strokes of different players to determine ball placement.
One thing I see in the app, the FHs that go to the BH side, you see more of the blade face. When the ball goes cross court, the slight hook shows much less of the blade face.
But I have a question about the functionality of the app. On the easy version (level 1) usually the app reads my taps. In level 2 and 3, it seems to make some mistakes on my iPhone 6. Was the app thoroughly tested on iPhone 6?
In levels 2 and 3 I have had it read taps that were spot on as wrong and, more interesting, ones that were blatantly wrong as extra bonus good. [emoji2]
I guess it could be my tap screen but, it doesn't seem to have problems as I am typing this.
==
However, as far as I am concerned, anything that helps you start thinking more about watching body position and racket angle, during play, for next ball placement, has already and instantly helped you improve. Then practicing it with real people helps you get better and better at it.
I train with a guy who is lefty and much better than me at mid-distance artillery. There was a point where I just couldn't get my racket on his lefty hook. My brain actually couldn't sort out where the ball actually was. It was sort of like I was looking at something in The Matrix from outside. Then I remember when my brain started to process and see the whole path of the ball as he was contacting it and my feet started moving me into position for the spot where the hook would cause the ball to end up!!!! At first, mind blowing. Now I don't even notice it any more.
I also have another friend who is a few hundred points higher than me who is righty and has the biggest sidespin hook I have ever seen.
I remember experiencing the same thing with that. I had no idea he had hooked the ball and he only hooked when he wanted to. So I couldn't tell if he had looped straight or hook. Then the pieces fell into place in my brain and all of a sudden I was seeing where the ball would end up whether he hooked or looped straight.
Our brains are amazing. But if we are not watching as the person is taking their stroke, we can't see what they do as they are taking their stroke.
So, if this game does nothing else, at least it helps you know that you can see where the ball will go from body mechanics and racket angle. And the only way you can use that feedback to have a faster response time, IS IF YOU ARE WATCHING.
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UpSideDownCarl using his 3D Light Saber Multiplexer said:
Waz this guy Edmund S? One day, we will meet in NYC again and tell our friend Der_Echte will bring CPT Hook along with him for that mission.
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Not Edmund. Edmund is higher level. But this guy's forehand is more wacky. Also, when Edmund hits with me, he clowns around but mostly feeds me. This guy would back up and fish giving me crazy spin variations on his lobs and look for balls to counter-loop.
But it was cool when I started getting better and being more able to keep up with him.
BTY: Ed wanted to go to LYTTC Jan 2 but had to work. So he couldn't.
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Hi Carl, the app was tested on that phone and it works perfectly. Note that you can only tap once for each shot and the window for selection starts the moment the ball leaves you and ends when the ball comes back to you.
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I tried the level1 , even for me at times its not reading the response at all even though I have responded in time
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Thanks so much for letting me know. We tested on 5s and 6s and it is perfect. I'll wait for more feedback and seek advice. Thanks again.
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Hey Brett, I figured out that when the ball had past, it is too late. As I said, the thing that made me most curious was, I had times where the ball was going to the BH side and I accidentally tapped the FH side and IT SCORED ME AS GETTING IT CORRECT WITH THE HIGHEST BONUS. But there were many times that I was correct and pretty darn early in the flight of the ball where it didn't register.
I have also had times where both fingers tapped and it marked me CORRECT. [emoji2]
But it is possible that my screen is wonky. I actually don't normally play games on my phone and definitely wasn't fussed by it or the score. I was having fun trying to see the tells on the different shots like the hips, the arm and the blade face.
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