I will upload the raw footage just so you can get started - I will work on the edits next weekend when I have time for people who don't have the time to waste lol. Diagnose away! BRB...
Full length version:
Definitely record the matches and training, if you are investing as much time as you are in your game, you need to invest in a setup of some sort that lets you capture footage easily without much thought so you can review it on demand. The ability to convert self awareness into better play is key for adult learning. You don't have to record a lot, but you do have to record at least 5 minute stretches of technique, sometimes using it in real time to look at possible issues with the help of a coach. The mind is very deceptive, it makes you feel better than you often deserve. But the main thing is that if the coach wants to correct something, you may not see what you need to change, but the camera can show you how far away from being self aware you are and it will also capture your improvement.
How large of a step do you end up doing when doing the first part of the split-step?
It's a night and day difference and it is the most invisible thing that differentiates good players from lower rated players and it is often why it is hard for players at different levels to discuss the game meaningfully. Don't get me wrong, footwork and all the other stuff matters but with modern inverted rubbers, if you can generate a significant amount of spin and turn it into consistency, you gain 500 points pretty much immediately from where you currently are and it can happen over the space of 6 months. Unfortunately, too many adult learners underappreciate this and work too hard on other stuff that doesnt give you as much reward for the time you put in. Moat of my issues are because I have arthritic knees, not because there is something really unsound about my game.
If you mean the left foot split step after a BH loop to transition to a FH loop, it is very small and in fact often just stepping in place. At high speed rallying, time is of essence. But there is some degree of flexibility there in terms of placement of the left foot. The important part is to have a very quick rhythm where the right foot follows that left foot split step within microseconds. It's like fast dotted rhythms in music. At full speed in fact it looks as if both feet land at the same time.
I think you said it yourself in a post before.
One thing that was pointed out to me last tournament I was in was to square my hips more vs having my feet bladed more and focus on the forearm acceleration while keeping my forearm more open. Both you and your opponent do that so it's cool to see the application of it and that's something I need to be focused on improving for next event. It's a very iterative process, so I'm enjoying the journey to get there.
There are many ways to get there, but as in all things, it is best to do whatever you are learning at a pace that lets you develop strength and recover and get the sequencing right, and then build it up over time. Taking light weights and doing wrist flexibility exercises with flexion and extension is also helpful as well as pronating and supinating with light weights. Over time it all adds up, though for full power, you need the body to work harder, but don't underestimate what you can get with well time use of the lower arm and wrist to accentuate spin swing trajectories. But for feeling spin and whip, nothing beats actually doing it with serve practice and self multiball as well as looping into pips to learn to add spin to the ball (short will give you a slightly deader ball, while long pips will give you either a dead ball or a backspin ball depending on slickness). Once you develop the arm speed to spin the ball like that, the rest comes down to practice and timing but the quality is always there to aid consistency and beat a certain level of opponent.
Since you are a strong guy, a lot of stuff in table tennis responds positively to grip adjustments and practice. What you are saying makes perfect sense to me.
Hahahahahhhh,
Oh definitely. I always wondered how you could handle such heavy setups, especially after seeing your BH, now I totally understand.Hahahahahhhh,
You are beginning to see why I can handle and LIKE 110-120 gram blades.
That's because you don't chiquita extensively yet. Report back once you do lol, those extra grams can be a killer.
I am still yet to find a more reliable way to chiquita everything.
That's just one shot per point though. Even in practice it's gonna be far lower frequency than BH-BH counters for example. When I practice with the robot, I do 80-90 shots/min for regular BH practice, while 40 for chiquitas.
