I want opinions on my chances of pro

[pong99]

Easiest path to WR100 is to move to a relatively weak region like Oceania. Get citizenship in Australia/NZ/Fiji so you can rack up lots of continental points against lower levels of competition.

Heming Hu made top 100 and the olympics as a div 4/5 ish german league player. Good for him that he was one of the top players in his region, but tops of a weak region leading to limited opportunities to make $$ in pro leagues.

 

[TensorBackhand]

he was always that good
he made the provincial team around 11 years old and by 14, he want in the CNT B team, 15 he made the CNT A team, at 17 he won his first WTTTC gold medal.

That is interesting. When ML was 11 and 14 and 15, were the coaches already circling his name as a future world #1? Was he a standout akong the CNT?

Or was he more seen as an equal with his class of talent?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

That is interesting. When ML was 11 and 14 and 15, were the coaches already circling his name as a future world #1? Was he a standout akong the CNT?

Or was he more seen as an equal with his class of talent?

he was a top junior and became a top 5/7 at a very young age in the CNT
he was mostly "blocked" by CNT members.
So it wasn't that Ma Long wasn't good, but the ones before him were brilliant too, and then there was ZJK.
unlike today, the level of the "core" group is very different.

 

[TensorBackhand]

he was a top junior and became a top 5/7 at a very young age in the CNThe was mostly "blocked" by CNT members.
So it wasn't that Ma Long wasn't good, but the ones before him were brilliant too, and then there was ZJK.
unlike today, the level of the "core" group is very different.

I was actually at the 2012 Olympics and had tickets to the table tennis quarter finals. So I think ZJK and Wang Hao were playing singles.

I sat just a few meters away from Ma Long and i kept thinking what an incredible waste that this guy is the 3rd singles and has to sit in the stands. I took pictures of him too.

I wonder if in 2012 he would've won the gold if he had been allowed to play? Was he basically 3rd best player already

 

[d3nium]

I've enjoyed reading this thread.

The OP looks very talented, i wish him luck on his journey 🙏

 

[Metaxa]

I witnessed the rise of the Saive brothers quite closely. They both started at a very young age and had the talent of both their parents at an early age. Philippe, the youngest was more talented than his his brother Jean-Michel. Problem with Philippe was that he always found table tennis to be a ‘game’. Unlike his brother who took our sport very seriously and was all for it. Both were given the same opportunities by their parents and their conditional support with the father already acting as trainer at a young age. Their life story is known, Philippe has always remained a ‘hobby table tennis player’ and Jean-Michel has achieved the highest possible in his sport.

So having talent is definitely not enough to reach (almost) the highest.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Easiest path to WR100 is to move to a relatively weak region like Oceania. Get citizenship in Australia/NZ/Fiji so you can rack up lots of continental points against lower levels of competition.

Heming Hu made top 100 and the olympics as a div 4/5 ish german league player. Good for him that he was one of the top players in his region, but tops of a weak region leading to limited opportunities to make $$ in pro leagues.

Heming only become that position by moving to China for few years.
This kid trend, won't even get him into the Aussie national team unless he makes huge sacrifices like other players having the same goal are making and even that, he will just be one of dozens if not 20s or 30s making such sacrifices too in Oceania

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I witnessed the rise of the Saive brothers quite closely. They both started at a very young age and had the talent of both their parents at an early age. Philippe, the youngest was more talented than his his brother Jean-Michel. Problem with Philippe was that he always found table tennis to be a ‘game’. Unlike his brother who took our sport very seriously and was all for it. Both were given the same opportunities by their parents and their conditional support with the father already acting as trainer at a young age. Their life story is known, Philippe has always remained a ‘hobby table tennis player’ and Jean-Michel has achieved the highest possible in his sport.

So having talent is definitely not enough to reach (almost) the highest.

LYJ is one of those talented ones.
so talented his uncle took 4000 usd a month to invest into LYJ's development when he was in elementary school.

so the question is, did talent bring amount LYJ to his level today
or did the very early investment of 4000 usd a month to hire a full time coach, plus additional resources given to him contributed more than his "talent"?

When he was in elementary school he was already in the best training systems in Taiwan, regularly training with seniors that are 5 to 8 years older than him (2500+ level practice partners)

 

[Vrael]

I had opportunity to play with 2 players that are playing in WTT events right now.

Player 1:
Played with him during my 2 week camp with Thomas Keinath in 2017, so the player was 11-12 years old and I was already in my 20s playing in 4th polish league (around 70% win ratio). During training he had much better control than me already and even though he lacked power we had very close match that he won. Later he played in different European leagues, came to Japan for around 1 year and now is 100-150 in the ranking.

Player 2:
Often played amateur tournaments in Poland during weekends when he was below 13 yo. Now playing in German's Bundesliga, around rank 100 before current injury. Had one of my best matches against him during one of the amateur tournaments and lost 2:3 also when he was still around 12-13.

In terms of USATT both of them were probably already over 2000 at 12 yo and played with top players (from WR50), coaches and were in top5-10 in world in U15, U18 categories. From the videos that You have posted they were stronger at that age, but they also played a lot longer (starting around 6-7 yo), so I guess it depends how fast You can really grow from now on

 

[PoppaChubby]

And this is where a socialist system gives a chance to ANYONE to succeed.

Your problem is: you're american, and the AAU doesn't care building a valid table tennis program for kids like you. Basketball, american football, baseball, yeah sure you'll get help for pennies. Volleyball and football if you're a girl yes sure you'll get help, that's the thing I've never understood with the US: gendered sports, it's like saying girls play with dolls only but not toy cars.

Find someone in your ancestry that is french, swede or german, and move to Europe. If you're good enough to be a future pro, all costs will be covered.

 

[Tyce]

I witnessed the rise of the Saive brothers quite closely. They both started at a very young age and had the talent of both their parents at an early age. Philippe, the youngest was more talented than his his brother Jean-Michel. Problem with Philippe was that he always found table tennis to be a ‘game’. Unlike his brother who took our sport very seriously and was all for it. Both were given the same opportunities by their parents and their conditional support with the father already acting as trainer at a young age. Their life story is known, Philippe has always remained a ‘hobby table tennis player’ and Jean-Michel has achieved the highest possible in his sport.

So having talent is definitely not enough to reach (almost) the highest.

People keep missing that having laser focus and determination is, in itself, a talent.

And perhaps one of the best talents, too, because you can apply it almost anywhere.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

People keep missing that having laser focus and determination is, in itself, a talent.

And perhaps one of the best talents, too, because you can apply it almost anywhere.

i don't think so
everyone can have focus and determination
but understanding the skills set and knowing when and how to implement is called talent.

in orders words, able to put into action is talent.

Too many theory, we need practical.

 

[KTableTennis]

People keep missing that having laser focus and determination is, in itself, a talent.

And perhaps one of the best talents, too, because you can apply it almost anywhere.

I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and this has been something I have been wanting to do which is training in Germany, right now when I am 16 or 17 I want to temporarily move to Germany to train. But I have no idea how that all works out. Where should I go to train? Who or where would I stay? And how much would it cost. I was thinking about staying for a year or more

 

[Tyce]

i don't think so
everyone can have focus and determination
but understanding the skills set and knowing when and how to implement is called talent.

in orders words, able to put into action is talent.

Too many theory, we need practical.

I agree that discipline can be taught, but having that innate drive is something special

 

[lightspin]

I was talking to a friend today about a popular club on the East Coast and I was shocked to find out that it is nearly impossible to find people even 2100-2200 rated to practice with. The higher rated players all coach and basically do not practice at all.

This has nothing to do with the OP or his talent level, but unless the player's parents are LOADED and can pay for 2400+ players to coach/practice with them, or their relatives are decent players and can practice with them, aspiring juniors are doomed as there aren't enough practice partners to go around even at relatively low levels.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I agree that discipline can be taught, but having that innate drive is something special

then come to Taiwan and I will show you.
every kid that is training full time at a age of 8 or 10 years old have that innate drive.

and our drive is nothing compared to that in China, where every kids goal is to become the next world champion

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I was talking to a friend today about a popular club on the East Coast and I was shocked to find out that it is nearly impossible to find people even 2100-2200 rated to practice with. The higher rated players all coach and basically do not practice at all.

This has nothing to do with the OP or his talent level, but unless the player's parents are LOADED and can pay for 2400+ players to coach/practice with them, or their relatives are decent players and can practice with them, aspiring juniors are doomed as there aren't enough practice partners to go around even at relatively low levels.

yep
Many top players in USA said there is no one to train with
so some of them are importing players from Taiwan to sparing with them

it isn't just that, I am also facility sparring partners for different world rank 100 players from other countries.

And that is also why we have a lot of top players (national team) that comes to Taiwan to train regularly.
it is cheaper for them to come to Taiwan than to train in USA, but they need to be in USA for certain tournaments too.

end of the day, they burn money very quickly and without parents who are higher income earners, none of this would be possible. To think one can do things for free, and reach the high standards in table tennis - please show me how (even French juniors use resources/money to train in Taiwan)

 

[Topspinslinger]

I am enjoying this thread, I like what your guys are saying about the Inate drive, passion and determination.

All very exciting and inspiring.

keep grinding at it everybody!

 

[Tyce]

then come to Taiwan and I will show you.
every kid that is training full time at a age of 8 or 10 years old have that innate drive.

and our drive is nothing compared to that in China, where every kids goal is to become the next world champion

I think we mean very subtly different things. I get what you mean so let's leave it at that.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

OP could just spend 2 weeks or 1 month in China or Japan see by himself what the international level is. air plane tickets are not that expensive these days

The truth is getting to the very top (international level) in ANY discipline not just sports, any hobby, or any profession...

and among the very top, the difference between the very top players is huge.

basically you should think with logarithmic scale.
between N1 and N2 as much difference than between N2 and N4, or N4 and N8 and N8 and N16, etc...every step to the top is more and more difficult...you need 2 times more talent and work to advance twice less than at previous level.

---
statistically starting seriously a sport at 11 --- or an instrument like piano or violin --- is really late.
he can reach a very high level but top international level is against the odds even with all his passion, doesn't mean its impossible and definitely worth trying !

statistically probably more chances to become a Nobel Prize or the next Warren Buffett than the next Ma Long, Messi or e-sports champion IMO