I touch the table

[the-don]

Is there an increase in the "I touch the table" routine or is it just me?

 

[lodro]

it is just you..................at least you seem to be so far the only one to bother about it 😁

 

[haggisv]

There's certainly a LOT of 'touching the table' in that video, both to wipe the hand and when they're getting in position. I think it's just a habit of some players, I've not really noticed an increase.

 

[lodro]

There's certainly a LOT of 'touching the table' in that video, both to wipe the hand and when they're getting in position. I think it's just a habit of some players, I've not really noticed an increase.

there was, generally speaking, a lot more table touching before covid , then of course it was prohibited. Maybe now it all starts up again. At least while watching the video for touching one has the chance to enjoy a real great match.

 

[Aizen]

It’s said in one commentary that the venue in China Smash was very humid and hot, it might be reason for increase.

Of course there are tons of tactical hand wipes.

 

[TackyForehand]

It's a prayer to the table to treat them well.

 

[lodro]

It's a prayer to the table to treat them well.

maybe, but i think then they would touch the net as well 😂

 

[haggisv]

maybe, but i think then they would touch the net as well 😂

ROFL!!!

 

[K.K]

i also do it, i get really sweaty hands while playing and since you can only get a towelbreak after every six points, it helps. then at one point it became a calming mental thing and now i do it even without sweating

 

[the-don]

I tried it once, I did it every single point during a set.

By the end of the set my hand was covered in dust.....it was disgusting .....I had to go and wash it with water.

Not to mention my opponent looked puzzled and uncomfortable for all the time I was taking.

 

[K.K]

I tried it once, I did it every single point during a set.

By the end of the set my hand was covered in dust.....it was disgusting .....I had to go and wash it with water.

Not to mention my opponent looked puzzled and uncomfortable for all the time I was taking.

no offense, but that says more about where and with whom you play than about the habit itself

 

[the-don]

no offense, but that says more about where and with whom you play than about the habit itself

Not really.

Tables pick up dust and they are not very good at absorving sweat.
In the end your hand ends up with your sweat that never went to the table + the dust it picked up from the table.....quite nasty.

In the club scene all over the world nobody does this thing so of course they look at you weird, specially because you are deliberately slowing up the game.

 

[K.K]

Not really.

Tables pick up dust and they are not very good at absorving sweat.
In the end your hand ends up with your sweat that never went to the table + the dust it picked up from the table.....quite nasty.

In the club scene all over the world nobody does this thing so of course they look at you weird, specially because you are deliberately slowing up the game.

'all over the world' is a big generalization.
i would say it could be just a country / cultural difference, because in germany the tables usually are getting cleaned before a matchday and therefore a lot of people doing this 'touch the table' routine.
i would not play a match on a table with dust, this would effect the ball and then the rubbers greatly and will mess up the spin generation.

something that is pretty common here too and was also been teached by my coach is to take my time with picking up a ball to think about tactics. same thing with pre-service routine. so it is kinda pretty normal and accepted that people take there time, way more then people rushing from point to point.

 

[the-don]

'all over the world' is a big generalization.
i would say it could be just a country / cultural difference, because in germany the tables usually are getting cleaned before a matchday and therefore a lot of people doing this 'touch the table' routine.
i would not play a match on a table with dust, this would effect the ball and then the rubbers greatly and will mess up the spin generation.

something that is pretty common here too and was also been teached by my coach is to take my time with picking up a ball to think about tactics. same thing with pre-service routine. so it is kinda pretty normal and accepted that people take there time, way more then people rushing from point to point.

Those tables where they play are there the whole day just picking up dust from the air.

What's even more hilarious is if you watch training videos from these same players they are in a totally different mindset.
They rarely touch the table, their gestures are much more friendly, etc.

It's clearly something they do on purpose either to bother the opponent, to establish a certain pace or maybe even to annoy the audience or give more length to the match.

Works with me because after 10 seconds of watching one of these matches I get annoyed and stop the video.

I have also seen Dan doing the TTT routine often in his videos.

 

[dingyibvs]

Not really.

Tables pick up dust and they are not very good at absorving sweat.
In the end your hand ends up with your sweat that never went to the table + the dust it picked up from the table.....quite nasty.

In the club scene all over the world nobody does this thing so of course they look at you weird, specially because you are deliberately slowing up the game.

Uhh, at my club it happens rather often. Also, where are you playing that you have such dusty tables? None of the numerous clubs I've played at have dust on the table. Dust increases friction and affects the ball, you need to wipe the table clean if that's happening.

 

[the-don]

Uhh, at my club it happens rather often. Also, where are you playing that you have such dusty tables? None of the numerous clubs I've played at have dust on the table. Dust increases friction and affects the ball, you need to wipe the table clean if that's happening.

It's not a lot, the normal dust for a table.

But it's definitely dirtier than my hands or my tshirt or a towel.