Der echte! Maybe you need to think What your strengths are work more on them and try to get that play in a match. It is hard to beat a player if you try alot of things and try to play different ways. It is hard to be better than the opponent at everything. I understand that it is good to try to find the opponent weakness and try new things if you loose. That is correct, But many Times players forget that they need to have a playingstyle to be able to play good and win. It is almost impossible to be better than the opponent at everything But if you can get the play you are better at you Will win. But if you still loose or Do not get your play you need to change something.
I think it is good that you change stuff. Many Times when We play the same opponent We get stuck in patterns were We Do the same all the time.
In General, this is correct advice. I actually think along these lines and my posts over time show that. (use strengths try to take away opponent's strengths)
I use my matches vs Sergey Scoobie Doo, who ought to post here on TTD, to develop my progress and improvement on my current needs and strategic improvement goals. (sacrifice current result for growth, but I still try to win points or match if I can) I am trying to apply my strengths, but there are a lot of areas I need improvement upon that will really make my strengths a tactical advantage IF I can improve in a number of them. That would certainly improve my overall play level.
I also believe it important for a player to discover his/her unique play style that leverages what he or she can do well and build shots, tactics, and play style around that to maximize that in a competitive match. I do feel the same way about that.
Yet, when you play a player several levels (or often even level) you are not going to be expected to always impose your will, that player is equal or better for good reasons. So, it isn't so simple to get my strengths into play at will at that level. I really need to be solid (not world beater, but solid) in a lot of fundamental areas to be able to use my strengths under pressure or when given the chance.
It is hard to beat a player if you try a lot of things and try to play different ways.
Well, there are a LOT of areas I really need to improve upon. It is the way of even relatively advanced players who are not elite amateur level. (Der_Echte will never become Elite Amateur even if he could be fully retired and do pro style training hours daily for 10 years.) I could name several of these areas right away without getting into my serve/3rd ball attack.
-Reading the serve
-Returning the short serve short consistently, then being ready to flip or bump short the short push or be ready to heavy spin if it is half long
-Stepping in to the spot on time/rhythm and flip the ball consistently-staying crouched/legs spread long enough (good luck with my old worn out hips)
-Dealing with the dead short push - do a dead FH flip or at least bump back short and not pop up the short dead ball
-Do a proper fast push off bounce deep to opponent's middle
-Be aggressive on 2nd/4th ball with a plan
-Construct the point increasingly better
-Make less tactical mistakes and try to make opponent play a lower level (take away his strengths if possible of not allow them too much)
-Land my opening loop with higher percentage
-Take a half step back and counter loop instead of always blocking ( I have a great counter loop, but can rarely anticipate the ball good enough to use it)
-When first loop lands and comes back, be ready to play 2-3 more loops to get a better opening or angle
-Balance and recovery
-Reading the impact better
These are just a few current improvement needs common to any offensive player. They are current needs for me and also strategic goals to improve. Match play vs Sergey, who is 2+ levels better than me is excellent development. When I land them, my flips and loops are very high pressure and are also developing Sergey's abilities. So, it is a good situation for both of us, even if I am a few levels below Sergey, I am an asset to his development too... that also helps me as I know in a match I have to execute and do it at a high level. I cannot get away with being sloppy vs him.
But many Times players forget that they need to have a playing style to be able to play good and win. It is almost impossible to be better than the opponent at everything
I also believe it is very important to know oneself, develop strengths, and a coherent play style that takes advantage of the strengths.
When I last visited Virginia, I did the elite league RR. I finished place 2 of 7 or 8. I won vs a lot of players who are higher rated by 100 USATT, which is 1.0 to 1.5 levels at that level. The feedback a player who never played vs me before was I looked old/fat/slow (duh-ha !! he was right), but played very efficient style looking like I always knew what I wanted to do and had just a few things I did well, but got all my points from them. (serve, serve/attack with heavy spin or power, blocking ball away) That is a real good thing when other opponents realize that although limited in ability or higher level shots, I can put what I do well together and compete at a level I have no business competing at. (unless I can consistently put that together) Lula, that supports the way you think abut style and doing several things well.
But if you still loose or Do not get your play you need to change something.
That is true, whether I lose to better players or equal players who just play vs my style better. It means I need to improve on a lot of things to be competitive or have an advantage again vs that crowd. It is the way of the weasel in TT. Players adapt to you if you play vs them enough and you also must evolve or get left behind.
That is why I constantly identify/assess and prioritize what I need to do to address them. That is why I identify current technical needs, tactical needs, and strategic development areas/goals. I am just not able to play often enough or get the few better players to be with me for an hour doing single ball from a box or multiball from a box with net to address these areas as quickly as I wish.
Still, the last year, I saw a LOT of improvement in tourney performance and how I play. My play over the last year has improved measurably in the critical areas you hold important in your reply. Maybe the largest improvement areas were being calmer in real competitive matches and playing within myself. (not trying to play style I am not good enough to play yet)
As large and encouraging as my progress has been, I really have so much to address and I am always discovering much more how much I didn't know or realize each half level I improve.
