Daily Table Tennis Chit Chat

[OldschoolPenholder]

then what is the nickname for Samsonov ? ... I forgot that one

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Samsonov

"He is known in China as the "Tai Chi Master" because of his superb all-around style, both offensive and defensive."

Not sure if that would be: "tai kik si"/"taji shi" (cantonese/mandarin) - but that's one way to translate Tai Chi Master ... am sure others would know.

 

[NextLevel]

Sir,

Despite everything else, this surely made your weekend!

Yes, he wanted to kill me with footwork drills, but I told him I just wanted to learn a few tips. The level of spin he produces when he loops is just different, reminds of me when I tried to play against Syzmanski of Poland in a handicap match. I don't even see the ball when he power loops it from off the table if I am at the table.

 

[ttmonster]

Did he give any tips on the spin production ?

Yes, he wanted to kill me with footwork drills, but I told him I just wanted to learn a few tips. The level of spin he produces when he loops is just different, reminds of me when I tried to play against Syzmanski of Poland in a handicap match. I don't even see the ball when he power loops it from off the table if I am at the table.

 

[Archosaurus]

Did he give any tips on the spin production ?

Honestly, to me it looks like pros mostly just get a whole lot more racket head speed than we do.

 

[ttmonster]

May be , may be the touch is way better, he could have given tips on either or something else or may be footwork is the key or may be all of them ... who knows

Honestly, to me it looks like pros mostly just get a whole lot more racket head speed than we do.

 

[Archosaurus]

May be , may be the touch is way better, he could have given tips on either or something else or may be footwork is the key or may be all of them ... who knows

From a physics standpoint, racket head speed makes the most sense out of all the "secrets".

 

[ttmonster]

That is true Archo , but then you are not dealing with two rigid bodies , both of them are elastic and one is more so than others ... that introduces are lot of other variables

From a physics standpoint, racket head speed makes the most sense out of all the "secrets".

 

[Archosaurus]

That is true Archo , but then you are not dealing with two rigid bodies , both of them are elastic and one is more so than others ... that introduces are lot of other variables

Yeah, but I can bet you that if you add more acceleration to the blade face, it's just gonna keep increasing the spin up to a point where humans just can't reach.

 

[ttmonster]

yes that high school physics , but thats not what we are looking for here ...

being adults and hobby players , we are looking for optimizing the technique so that we can use what we have to produce more spin , what is the correct swing technique to ensure the ball sinks into the sponge max. etc.

I have seen high level players up front archo and not all of them swing like windmills but still produce a lot more spin than us ...

Yeah, but I can bet you that if you add more acceleration to the blade face, it's just gonna keep increasing the spin up to a point where humans just can't reach.

 

[Archosaurus]

yes that high school physics , but thats not what we are looking for here ...

being adults and hobby players , we are looking for optimizing the technique so that we can use what we have to produce more spin , what is the correct swing technique to ensure the ball sinks into the sponge max. etc.

I have seen high level players up front archo and not all of them swing like windmills but still produce a lot more spin than us ...

That's where timing comes in I presume. I'm pretty sure they swing with a hell of a lot of acceleration, even if it might not look it.

 

[Der_Echte]

Yes, it is how they can get it started and also how they impact it. Efficient whips are done in more than one way borrowing and magnifying/amplifying kinetic energy. Being loose, in position, using leverage/body position, engaging the different muscles at the right time, using effective parts of the hitting zone... these kind of things make a difference. I can explain it all day and watch someone and tell them where they are having their power and control sapped, but until one gets it right a few times, one would never know.

Elite amatures and pros get it at an unconscious level, some have the ability to tell/show/correct others, some can make it easier for adults to understand.

 

[ttmonster]

Its not just that Archo , timing is a part of it , there is a reason why the Chinese use the word "feeling" so much more in their table tennis vocabulary ... I for one don't try describe the elephant by feeling its tail Archo , my approach is to ask people who have gone through the process and try to understand and replicate the same "feeling" for myself ... I think there are too many factors in play to learn it and remember it by breaking it down to fragments and each time trying to put it together , the sport is too fast to do that ...

That's where timing comes in I presume. I'm pretty sure they swing with a hell of a lot of acceleration, even if it might not look it.

 

[Der_Echte]

Archo already prolly read Coach Larry's "Easy Power" blog post, but it would be worth it to look at it again. That is likely what gives Arch his opinion, it is a good blog post to examine.

 

[Michal_Z]

So, yesterday another training, I used your advices against the blocker and he also didnt have such a good day as week ago, so easy win 3:0 for me and I got my 5 eur back, hehe

 

[Michal_Z]

I mean LOL, what I have just heared?
I am watching Mu Zi vs. Gaponova, at the end of game 3, 10:7 Mu Zi in the lead, I hear:
"So now 3 game points vagina.." ...
I mean.. like ... what the..??

And in fact then I realised it was "So now 3 game points for China" .. hahaa

 

[NextLevel]

From a physics standpoint, racket head speed makes the most sense out of all the "secrets".

That's why you don't learn as much as you can, archo. You always have the answers, so why ask the important questions?

 

[NextLevel]

Did he give any tips on the spin production ?

I didn't ask - he did make a stroke correction that makes sense to me but incorporating it into my game will take some time.

The one thing I am going to do much more is diversify my play - I went from being a flat player to a spin player and I think I now need to get more purposefully better at both with more diversified blocking during rallies and actively selecting the strokes. I play too many standard shots, I need to introduce more things to throw off the timing of the advanced players - chop block on backhand more like Rich DeWitt, which was what I used to do until I cleaned up my game.

 

[ttmonster]

Congrats !
One thing I have learnt over the years is never sell yourself short , you beat him you were better than him that day , don't make excuses for him even when he makes excuses for himself , the next time he beats you , he is better than you not because you were not playing your best this time , isn't it that simple ?

So, yesterday another training, I used your advices against the blocker and he also didnt have such a good day as week ago, so easy win 3:0 for me and I got my 5 eur back, hehe

 

[Archosaurus]

That's why you don't learn as much as you can, archo. You always have the answers, so why ask the important questions?

Just because it makes sense doesn't mean it's right.

My overall quality has increased lately, and I'm not swinging much faster at all than before. So I understand where ttmonster is coming from. It's not just the energy, it's where it goes, really. You can swing as fast as you want and miss the ball and that'll be that.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

I am visiting Korea now, and of course i came with my racket and went to visit my friends brand new club. He also comes often in Japan and he is my teammates. I played a lot of TT today, but the highlight was in the evening when i played in another TTD forumer who came in Tokyo earlier this year. He was very kind to have a long drive to play with me although he is much better.

It was a lot of fun practicing with him. At the end, I played some matches, but first with a Korean lady and then with the co-owner. The few people there were all watching and cheering, so it was a good atmosphere. I had some problems with the lady, making a bit too many mistakes but i managed to adapt and became more consistent to win 3-2. then i faced the co-owner, a veteran with LP. He was a good player, but i really played well against him, and my attacking game was really working well today for a 3-0 victory. Not sure i would beat him like this all the time.

Then against my TTD friend, who's defender with LP, and at least 2-3 levels above. He wasn't playing 100% except when the scores were tight. Definitely i played much better than earlier this year, and practising with other choppers just before surely helped as well. He beated me 3-0 but it was all deuce and i had a lot of chances but alas i didn't convert any. There were really nice rallies from both sides and i am relieved he had fun as well because i felt i had to do well to justify his effort coming from so far.

TT holidays are fun !