Guys, I need your opinion and help. Would greatly appreciate your feedback and thoughts here.

[Heming Hu]

So, imagine I made it my life purpose and mission to help AS MANY club level players around the world as possible, reach their goals. Well, TAAAADAAAA it now is given its my full time job haha. I recently quit my previous job selling Personal Training, and since retiring as a Pro player back in 2022 March, I'm now back in the sport full time as a coach, as keen as ever to help a specific niche of people get transformations.

This niche of people is "30-40 year old competitive Males, who already have a basic knowledge of Table Tennis, but are not performing to their potential in matches". Now, of course if somebody is 28, and/or a female but has this characteristic "already have a basic knowledge of Table Tennis, but are not performing to their potential in matches", I'm still happy to coach that person so long as our coaching arrangement is a good one on both ends. I always want to make sure of a couple of things when I take on people for coaching:

- I'm coaching those who are ideal and favorite type of client to coach, and the likelyhood they'll follow my advice/implementation steps and get success, is high.
- I always have the client feeling they got more than what they paid for.

However, to best do that, I now need the input and market needs from you guys, as you guys pretty much all fit this niche. Your inputs would be fantastically appreciated. As a coach, I'm not about offering coaching by the hour, session or any thing that pertains to a time for money kind of trade. Rather, I have always deep down felt, we (in almost all cases) pay coaches to get us a result/transformation. At least in my opinion. Feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong or any constructive criticism. I'm all for it, so I can give the best offers and services to my niche of clients.

Let's begin with context, I was exactly in a lot of you guys' exact same shoes back in 2008-2012.
My biggest frustration was that I'd feel freaking amazing in training, amazing playing with better rated players but at club level I'd often lose to players that I thought were "trash" and would question my game. This would often aggravate my biggest fear
My biggest fear was that I would put it all the effort and money into the sport I was putting in, and not ever reach the big goals I wanted to reach (that were realistic of course).
I was often getting advice from soooooo many different coaches and people everywhere! Deep down, I wanted to get to my goals in the fastest possible way, with the least amount of headache possible. I wanted to be a player of consistent form and results.
Later on, I started to have no problem overcoming these players who played "dodgy/with a lot of junk" and this was an amazing feeling! It fueled me to understand the game at a far deeper level, what winning was really about and what it took, as well as gave me the belief I could become Australia number 1.

My point is: I was once frustrated in your exact position, learned through experience to overcome these same hurdles, and now am passionate about teaching others how to overcome these same issues. I ultimately wish I could talk to my younger self, I would have got to the level I got to, in less than half the time. As I can't turn back the clock, the next best and most empowering thing I can do, is help others shave off years/decades of time by giving them the hacks and secrets that'll reduce the time contemplating what works and doesn't.

As I do know through long experience, what works and what doesn't: My questions to you guys are: (Please answer them in your own way and words), so I can best learn how my favourite type of client, thinks.


1.) Please explain in words, what is your biggest frustration? i.e "Feeling great in training but then buckling down in matches"
2.) What are your biggest fears in table tennis? i.e "putting in a lot of money/work but not seeing x result"
3.) What are 1-2 goals that you would like to achieve in the next 9-12 months, that would make you an extremely happy person. Please answer in BOTH tangible outcomes, and outcomes that are more general, so I can know both.

4.) What would it mean to you on an emotional/personal level to achieve those goals?
5.) What would it feel like if you NEVER achieved those goals?
6.) Currently, what do you feel like are your 3-5 biggest challenges in the way of helping you achieve those goals?
7.) If you haven't already answered this, What 5 main skillsets are holding you back from being the best player you can be?


Appreciate and love you all <3

 

[vossi39]

My point is: I was once frustrated in your exact position, learned through experience to overcome these same hurdles, and now am passionate about teaching others how to overcome these same issues.

That will be the biggest challenge for you as a coach. Especially in your case. You've reached your goal and found your way to it. Currently I feel overwhelmed with "Your View" and how "You did it". Your way (from watching you Youtube videos) does not at all resonate with me (very personal feedback here). In my opinion a good coach (and I only had a view so far) should help me find my way. As it was stated in another thread. There a ton's of ways to learn and not all are equally successful with everyone. Most coaches I had so far, only showed me their version of how things should work, without even wanting to know, what works for me and what not.

Maybe on additional idea. In the target group you are looking at, it becomes more and more important to focus on topics like fitness, building (or maintaining) muscle strength often supplemented with change in eating habits. So more the job of a personal fitness coach. Combining this with coaching session over a longer period is what is needed to reach new levels. This means I choose a partner for a longer time. And this long term engagement (maybe until a certain level is reached) should be also planed for financially. I think it should make a difference, if I take sessions once in a while or if I commit myself for a longer period and look at a complete package.

My 2 cents...

 

[Aizen]

I'll try to be short and relevant.

1.) Please explain in words, what is your biggest frustration? i.e "Feeling great in training but then buckling down in matches"
1.) In consistency, especially in matches but sometimes in training, can not hitting same/similar balls like previous.
2.) What are your biggest fears in table tennis? i.e "putting in a lot of money/work but not seeing x result"
2.) not enjoying
3.) What are 1-2 goals that you would like to achieve in the next 9-12 months, that would make you an extremely happy person. Please answer in BOTH tangible outcomes, and outcomes that are more general, so I can know both.
3.) Reach a stable win rate in competition like %70, win against the players I am expected to.
4.) What would it mean to you on an emotional/personal level to achieve those goals?
4.) enjoyment
5.) What would it feel like if you NEVER achieved those goals?
5.) disconnecting from TT
6.) Currently, what do you feel like are your 3-5 biggest challenges in the way of helping you achieve those goals?
6.)

• Less time to practice (others at my level spend at least 2x time than me)
• Anxiety, pressure, fear of losing/missing shot etc particularly in matches
• Loss of the concentration in training and matches
• Missing a consistent training partner who can improve each other

7.) If you haven't already answered this, What 5 main skillsets are holding you back from being the best player you can be?
7.)

• Footwork (less anticipation, watching my shot instead of moving and resetting)
• Timing (usually hitting too early )
• Too rush to finish point
• Shot selection (wrong initiative or catch by the opponent's game)
• Being too tense (stiff wrist, shoulder etc)

 

[Yuomay]

Hey man love what you’re doing, I’m exactly in your target group. I find you chose it wisely from a financial point of view. (30 to 40 years people with jobs in general and still young enough to really make progress)





1.) Please explain in words, what is your biggest frustration?

Being passive in matches,

Not having the opportunity to train against alternative styles (pips, anti) while in competition 25% or more plays it.



2.) What are your biggest fears in table tennis? i.e "putting in a lot of money/work but not seeing x result"

No fear, I play to assure having a social network everywhere I live. ( every town has a club here in France)



3.) What are 1-2 goals that you would like to achieve in the next 9-12 months, that would make you an extremely happy person. Please answer in BOTH tangible outcomes, and outcomes that are more general, so I can know both.

I’d like to get over my mental blockage of my backhand during close matches. I tend to get passive with it.

I’d like to win a tournament or perform higher than expected based on opponents at individual competitions.



4.) What would it mean to you on an emotional/personal level to achieve those goals?

Satisfaction and proof that hard work pays off.



5.) What would it feel like if you NEVER achieved those goals?

Other than frustration at the moment itself, not much.



6.) Currently, what do you feel like are your 3-5 biggest challenges in the way of helping you achieve those goals?

1. Lack of consistent training and someone who wants to do an approach similar to me. (Like do multi ball even at free play nights)
2. Nerves during matches
3. No training partners with pips or anti

7.) If you haven't already answered this, What 5 main skillsets are holding you back from being the best player you can be?

1. Too passive on backhand
2. Too passive on serve receiving
3. Weak at detecting weaknesses and exploiting them
4. Anticipating flat hits (or preventing them)
5. Forehand flick virtually absent in my game

 

[TensorBackhand]

@Heming Hu

1.) Please explain in words, what is your biggest frustration? i.e "Feeling great in training but then buckling down in matches"

Difficulty reading spin on serves. But also reading spin from Long pips, antispin, etc.

2.) What are your biggest fears in table tennis? i.e "putting in a lot of money/work but not seeing x result"

Hitting paddle or hand on the table.

3.) What are 1-2 goals that you would like to achieve in the next 9-12 months, that would make you an extremely happy person. Please answer in BOTH tangible outcomes, and outcomes that are more general, so I can know both.

Confidence to read spin and return serve well. This would also catapult me to a much higher rating I believe.

4.) What would it mean to you on an emotional/personal level to achieve those goals?

It just feels good to solve my issue.

5.) What would it feel like if you NEVER achieved those goals?

Feel like I missed window of opportunity as it gets harder with age.

6.) Currently, what do you feel like are your 3-5 biggest challenges in the way of helping you achieve those goals?

Without paid and on-hands coaching, its hard to pinpoint precisely the problem. Its hard to coordinate practice partners who can address the specific problem.

7.) If you haven't already answered this, What 5 main skillsets are holding you back from being the best player you can be?

Reading spin, judging distance, choosing the correct response, reacting fast enough, and executing all those in sequence.

 

[Heming Hu]

Thank you guys!

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

@Heming Hu ,
Regular hobby player who participate in competition once in a while ( like once a month ) mainly for social purpose, I consider TT as a form of exercise. Is gym conditioning a must? I mean they come to TT for exercise, should they condition to make the exercise better? I referring to a demographic of middle age dudes with dad bod and has a full time 9-5 job sitting in front of a screen in an office.

NB: Tourney here means friendlies ( no cash prize ) as well as those that pay out cash prizes.