Vulnnerable Question: I'd really appreciate your help in answering this. What is the exact emotion/thing brought to you when reaching your TT goals?

[Heming Hu]

I've recently been thinking A LOT about human behaviour. Everything we do is NEVER just about the thing itself. The thing itself is almost always just the VEHICLE to get to the thing you actually want. i.e, you don't necessarily choose healthier foods and go to the gym because you LOVE IT. Most people go because at some point, their health will suffer if they dont, or they don't feel confident in their own bodies, or they don't feel sexy, etc etc. Confidence being the main thing that people here want. Maybe as dudes, we want to date a hot girl because then we believe we are worthy of dating beautiful women. Maybe we want to make a lot of money because we want status, or freedom. You guys get my point, that there is always a bigger reason/thing we want when doing something.

So I ask you guys, what is your goal in the next 6 months-1 year? In absolute quantifiable terms. i.e I want to be in the USA national team for Under 40 or 30. i.e I want to hit 1800 rating points, etc.

More importantly, how would you then feel when hitting that goal? What do you feel you would attain by reaching that goal? Is it the feeling of being a champion? Is it status? Is it not to feel like a loser? Please be as raw as possible.

For me growing up, 11,12, 16, 22, 26 years old, every goal I had throughout the way was a subconscious attempt to not feel like a loser. As a kid, I wasn't the most popular one in school, I was often teased and occasionally bullied. Winning in Table Tennis was a way to feel I had some sort of status and feel like a champion that had things in his life that other kids didn't. Later in life, I realised this was what I was chasing the whole time. The vehicle was Table Tennis. I'm curious to hear what you guys have to say. And I largely commend you for sharing deeply on such a deep and vulnerable topic. Much love to you guys <3

 

[Tyce]

I'll be frank here.

When I lose, even against better players, I feel like shit about myself. At the same time, losing is my expected outcome, so it reinforces me that I am, indeed, shit.

When I win, I don't celebrate much. I'm supposed to win against players below or slightly above my level. I'm disappointed I didn't win easier or with better quality.

... This was me 90% of the time. Nowadays it's maybe 40%, much better, and that's taken a lot of work. I came back to the game much more appreciative of its elements.

So what does TT do for me? Yes, there's an element of self reinforcement to winning and getting better, but I'm less dependent on it. I love feeling I played how I wanted to, even when I lose.

Hitting my goal of going up a level will definitely make me feel good about myself

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

my goal for next 1 year = win some open tournaments in my age category (50+). qualify for the national champ tournament in singles, and qualify and then win that tournament in team.

tbh its more a dream than a goal.
In my dream, I achieve it, ok it couldn't get any better, so i would celebrate hard and retire ? !
Apart from that, I used to feel inferior physically compared to other guys. im not very well built with big muscles, especially in the upper body. But i now understand that im healthy, that TT did shape my body, and I have all i need to compete at my level. when I competed at World Veteran this year in Rome, it clearly felt i was younger and better "athlete" than my direct opponents though ofc some were more skilled.

so now i have no longer any complex of inferiority which i used to have. i am ofc making efforts to keep myself in good condition with a lot of training (3-4x a week at the table, 1-2x running/ gym etc...)

I am getting a bit wiser with age. I got injured last december (tennis elbow). The pain just doesn't go away. i don't know how long i can still play at a good level. Some days it doesn't hurt too much but recently i had to give up (prepaid) sessions with coaches or tournaments for example...

so yes i have those goals but i'm now just grateful i've been able to realize my dream and spend so much time already playing my favourite sport and being able to work with high/ world class coaches and practice in my team with so many very good players so much stronger than me. I am probably the kind of client you'd love to have. Some people would laugh at me hearing the money I spent on coaching for "little" result ?

I don't agree. First of all I enjoy the process of learning and training. I love doing multiball, i love sweating. I love competition, fighting every point, chooing. I love my team and teammates. Maybe if too many people part from the team, yes i would feel down and wanna quit too. We grow and win together.

Improving in TT takes time. I wish i spent money on coaching when i was in my 20s or 30s but maybe i was less passionate then ? i also didn't know where to find them (or it didn't even occur to me I could access such coaching). but when i came to Japan for professional reasons, i found myself so lucky and blessed to be here and be able to get lessons almost on a weekly basis (occasionally twice a week !). This is the best country in the world to learn and play TT !!! I do love my current coaches. They still play and i am not only their student but their fan. I kinda believe i somewhat earned their respect because of my dedication.

I don't care about ratings much. Because its just a number. There is always a guy better rated. Thats why i prefer a goal such as winning a (big) tournament. I don't care now even if i lose every match in practice or in minor tournament as long as I perform well in the tournaments that I think are important.

and its funny because indeed i tend to perform better (at least sometimes) and it happened often that i beat players against which i have a (very) poor win/rate record in practice matches in real competition whereas one of my teammates is the exact opposite, losing in real competition the guys he wins 90%+ of the time in practice...

but the real goal is to get better and it never ends. Thats why TT like many other activities is so addictive. except maybe Ma Long or Fan Zhendong they can't get any better, but I'm sure they'd be telling us they need to work on this or that aspect of their game to get better.

Another question is : for who are you playing ? not just for myself. but also for my teammates. for my coaches. Yes i believe they are not just taking the money but take pride when their student really improves, when they see them finally doing what they taught them and get results. My waifu also supports me now more than ever. It was important to get a decent result in Rome, and I did it. I'm not her laughing stock. She can see (again) i can work hard for goals and that i can use the same resolution for our common goals.

I also like giving. I don't mind spending play time with beginners or teammates which are lower ranked than me. I can try to repeat the insights the coaches gave me and make them benefit from it as well as I am the team captain and i want the team(s) [There is a A and B team in leagues and we also play in open tournaments] to grow up.

 

[NetProphet]

Nice post mate, and a good question...
I suppose my personal goal is to win player of the league in my league next season. It's a 3 person team league but there's an award for the player with the most singles victories. I know most of the players and have played them all 2 or 3 times before, and would love to finish top. It's a soft goal and I won't be too disappointed if I don't reach it because (a) it's more important to play for the team result so the doubles matches are equally important for that and (b) it's a good standard and some of the players are very good so there's no shame in losing to them once I've given my best. But I do have ideas about how to play against every one of them so I'm at least going in prepared.

The main feeling if I did win it would just be pride, so I suppose that's status based as the pride would come from finishing top of a strong group of players.
Table Tennis for me is also about the social aspect as well as the competitive environment.
I enjoy the sweating, trying and winning of course and losses can also sting but I've found that I can still enjoy it even if I lose because the enjoyment isn't tied just to the winning but also to developing and improving and hanging with folks.

 

[lodro]

He He He 😂😂😂

Even though I do invest a lot of time with table tennis for me it is just a game. Winning or loosing has no importance anymore it is just the trying to do well.
The only goal is trying to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Karma Lodro Singhi

 

[Loop Lob Smash]

I have always wanted to play 1st division.
The feeling you get when playing against a high-level player is why I enjoy table tennis. I love the mix of ferocious attacks (both ways) and long tactical rallies with lots of spin. Its a similar rush to riding a bicycle down a technical descent

Some play styles are specifically designed to avoid those aspects I love
That's why I took up cycling and quit table tennis for a few years, but I came back to table tennis and now my time is spread between the two.

I've been playing for over twenty years. This year is the first time I have had coaching. Making good progress

 

[jbvttcc]

The only goal is trying to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Karma Lodro Singhi

Hey lodro, are you vegan by any chance?

 

[Loop Lob Smash]

Hey lodro, are you vegan by any chance?

Based solely on Lodro's comments in TTD (I've never met him), I would estimate that Lodro is a typical kiwi bloke that eats, roots and leaves
Lodro also has a good sense of humour.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

• My goals keep changing as I progress.
• I only start to hold a TT bat at the age of forty. Yup.. late comer here.
• Initially all I wanted was a safe activity to keep myself fit and active coz' I am an office worker, that is, always sitting in front of the computer typical office worker drone.
• However, I keep losing and losing and losing in TT game and never get to play with the better ones coz' nobody wants to play with me.
• I only get to play with fellow losers like me.
• After many years of being the loser, I said enuf is enuf!!!
• I'm gonna pay a professional coach to teach me real stuff!
• 2.5 years later, I am now hitting with Tier I players in my club and being invited to play with them.
• I also participate in local tournaments that pay out prize money these days.
• My next 6mth - 12 mths goal is to win some matches in these tournament or at least progress to the QF stage at the very least.
• Also, I wanna look good and cool executing those shots like those WTT pros.
• So, don't even think of asking me to use pips and whats' not.

 

[lodro]

I would estimate that Lodro is a typical kiwi bloke that eats, roots and leaves
Absolutely, I eat just about anything as long as it served with pork or beef. 😊

 

[blahness]

Pretty simple for me... TT is just really fun and addictive to play because of the sheer depth in the game. You always have something to improve. It is like a RPG when you slowly level up.

There are no TT goals for me (maybe to win against ex Chinese provincial players but that is quite a tall order lol).

 

[netdriver]

i just like sending nuclear rockets at my opponent, lose or win it doesnt really matter as long as i can sneak a few powerloops in during the game

the number of people ive unintentionally bruised from the balls i powerlooped is steadily increasing



also big ball arcing makes my brain send happy chemicals

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

i just like sending nuclear rockets at my opponent, lose or win it doesnt really matter as long as i can sneak a few powerloops in during the game

the number of people ive unintentionally bruised from the balls i powerlooped is steadily increasing



also big ball arcing makes my brain send happy chemicals

Cho-leh! Now, show us some vid and make all our brain send happy chemicals too.

 

[netdriver]

Cho-leh! Now, show us some vid and make all our brain send happy chemicals too.

🫡 ill think about it

i would need to buy a tripod, unfortunately not soon bc all my funds at the moment are being funneled into buying the next sheet of Dignics 05™ and DHS Hurricane 3 Global Blue Sponge

 

[Heming Hu]

my goal for next 1 year = win some open tournaments in my age category (50+). qualify for the national champ tournament in singles, and qualify and then win that tournament in team.

tbh its more a dream than a goal.
In my dream, I achieve it, ok it couldn't get any better, so i would celebrate hard and retire ? !
Apart from that, I used to feel inferior physically compared to other guys. im not very well built with big muscles, especially in the upper body. But i now understand that im healthy, that TT did shape my body, and I have all i need to compete at my level. when I competed at World Veteran this year in Rome, it clearly felt i was younger and better "athlete" than my direct opponents though ofc some were more skilled.

so now i have no longer any complex of inferiority which i used to have. i am ofc making efforts to keep myself in good condition with a lot of training (3-4x a week at the table, 1-2x running/ gym etc...)

I am getting a bit wiser with age. I got injured last december (tennis elbow). The pain just doesn't go away. i don't know how long i can still play at a good level. Some days it doesn't hurt too much but recently i had to give up (prepaid) sessions with coaches or tournaments for example...

so yes i have those goals but i'm now just grateful i've been able to realize my dream and spend so much time already playing my favourite sport and being able to work with high/ world class coaches and practice in my team with so many very good players so much stronger than me. I am probably the kind of client you'd love to have. Some people would laugh at me hearing the money I spent on coaching for "little" result ?

I don't agree. First of all I enjoy the process of learning and training. I love doing multiball, i love sweating. I love competition, fighting every point, chooing. I love my team and teammates. Maybe if too many people part from the team, yes i would feel down and wanna quit too. We grow and win together.

Improving in TT takes time. I wish i spent money on coaching when i was in my 20s or 30s but maybe i was less passionate then ? i also didn't know where to find them (or it didn't even occur to me I could access such coaching). but when i came to Japan for professional reasons, i found myself so lucky and blessed to be here and be able to get lessons almost on a weekly basis (occasionally twice a week !). This is the best country in the world to learn and play TT !!! I do love my current coaches. They still play and i am not only their student but their fan. I kinda believe i somewhat earned their respect because of my dedication.

I don't care about ratings much. Because its just a number. There is always a guy better rated. Thats why i prefer a goal such as winning a (big) tournament. I don't care now even if i lose every match in practice or in minor tournament as long as I perform well in the tournaments that I think are important.

and its funny because indeed i tend to perform better (at least sometimes) and it happened often that i beat players against which i have a (very) poor win/rate record in practice matches in real competition whereas one of my teammates is the exact opposite, losing in real competition the guys he wins 90%+ of the time in practice...

but the real goal is to get better and it never ends. Thats why TT like many other activities is so addictive. except maybe Ma Long or Fan Zhendong they can't get any better, but I'm sure they'd be telling us they need to work on this or that aspect of their game to get better.

Another question is : for who are you playing ? not just for myself. but also for my teammates. for my coaches. Yes i believe they are not just taking the money but take pride when their student really improves, when they see them finally doing what they taught them and get results. My waifu also supports me now more than ever. It was important to get a decent result in Rome, and I did it. I'm not her laughing stock. She can see (again) i can work hard for goals and that i can use the same resolution for our common goals.

I also like giving. I don't mind spending play time with beginners or teammates which are lower ranked than me. I can try to repeat the insights the coaches gave me and make them benefit from it as well as I am the team captain and i want the team(s) [There is a A and B team in leagues and we also play in open tournaments] to grow up.

i love it man! tha nks for sharing in depth

 

[Heming Hu]

I'll be frank here.

When I lose, even against better players, I feel like shit about myself. At the same time, losing is my expected outcome, so it reinforces me that I am, indeed, shit.

When I win, I don't celebrate much. I'm supposed to win against players below or slightly above my level. I'm disappointed I didn't win easier or with better quality.

... This was me 90% of the time. Nowadays it's maybe 40%, much better, and that's taken a lot of work. I came back to the game much more appreciative of its elements.

So what does TT do for me? Yes, there's an element of self reinforcement to winning and getting better, but I'm less dependent on it. I love feeling I played how I wanted to, even when I lose.

Hitting my goal of going up a level will definitely make me feel good about myself

appreciate the openness in this. Interesting how human behaviour wise, we're all wanting/needing very much the same things emotionally

 

[Heming Hu]

Nice post mate, and a good question...
I suppose my personal goal is to win player of the league in my league next season. It's a 3 person team league but there's an award for the player with the most singles victories. I know most of the players and have played them all 2 or 3 times before, and would love to finish top. It's a soft goal and I won't be too disappointed if I don't reach it because (a) it's more important to play for the team result so the doubles matches are equally important for that and (b) it's a good standard and some of the players are very good so there's no shame in losing to them once I've given my best. But I do have ideas about how to play against every one of them so I'm at least going in prepared.

The main feeling if I did win it would just be pride, so I suppose that's status based as the pride would come from finishing top of a strong group of players.
Table Tennis for me is also about the social aspect as well as the competitive environment.
I enjoy the sweating, trying and winning of course and losses can also sting but I've found that I can still enjoy it even if I lose because the enjoyment isn't tied just to the winning but also to developing and improving and hanging with folks.

thanks for sharing man! Yes, I'm finding pride and similar feelings are the feelings we individually do want

 

[Heming Hu]

• My goals keep changing as I progress.
• I only start to hold a TT bat at the age of forty. Yup.. late comer here.
• Initially all I wanted was a safe activity to keep myself fit and active coz' I am an office worker, that is, always sitting in front of the computer typical office worker drone.
• However, I keep losing and losing and losing in TT game and never get to play with the better ones coz' nobody wants to play with me.
• I only get to play with fellow losers like me.
• After many years of being the loser, I said enuf is enuf!!!
• I'm gonna pay a professional coach to teach me real stuff!
• 2.5 years later, I am now hitting with Tier I players in my club and being invited to play with them.
• I also participate in local tournaments that pay out prize money these days.
• My next 6mth - 12 mths goal is to win some matches in these tournament or at least progress to the QF stage at the very least.
• Also, I wanna look good and cool executing those shots like those WTT pros.
• So, don't even think of asking me to use pips and whats' not.

very introspective man! I also help players just like yourself who are super keen to improve. Join here for FREE to get my help personalized and custom to your game https://www.skool.com/pingpong

 

[latej]

I love feeling I played how I wanted to, even when I lose.

Hitting my goal of going up a level will definitely make me feel good about myself

Yes, that's it for me too. I feel good when I know I play "right", which means good movement, good body work, resulting in good power, relaxed but not over-relaxed, focused but not over-thinking, feeling proper mechanics... Essentially I play for this feeling as a hobby player, and I can recognize this state... Of course sometimes the mind comes against it, but that I think is the normal process. As I said elsewhere, wining but feeling not as above written feels much worse than losing but feeling that way, for me.

So, that is about the feeling, and that is also a goal in itself. Of course I want to improve my level, improve my ranking etc., but I want this to happen as a result of training and playing that way, not the other way round...

So, that was about the personal goal. But I also have other goal for this season. Last season we managed, as 1 team in our club which has multiple teams, to stay in our competition level, and not fall down. But it was largely thanks to one good player, who left into another club. And we were 3rd from bottom (2 go down). Now we'll play without him, and btw. my success rate last year was just 32%. So I and other trained rel. hard off-season, because I really don't want to fall down. I must destroy my opponents. ;-) That is my goal now ;-)

If you come with top-spin, we attack...
If you come with no-spin, we attack...
If you come with back-spin, we attack...
If you come with push, we obliterate... (thanks @Zwill for HU HU HU HU).

Season starts this saturday....

 

[z0uLess]

I think my psychology is trying to escape death by creating something that is not me, which is being a good table tennis player. I know that I am going to die, so I have to be not me in order to not die.