I want opinions on my chances of pro

[Tony's Table Tennis]

This is most likely correct


I wouldn't say 0 to 1800 in a year is easy, that would be a discredit to KTTs progress so far. But it has definitely been done before by many people, many of who didn't end up 2500, or top 50 in the world. And it is MUCH easier to go from 0 to 1800 in a year than it is to go from 1800 to 2500, in any amount of time.

He can look at his coach as an example, he has been 2400 for over 20 years despite still being very active in tournaments.

That is just the truth even if its not what he wants to hear.

well, lets see what the kid will do
he did pm me asking about how to get overseas and I told him a few things and also basically he needs to get his parents involved and that he can't decide for himself, which includes home (online) schooling, long term visa options and funding of a good 3000~5000 USD per month.

Its all relative on how far the goal post will be set and to determine how much sacrifices is required.
Hopefully the kid now knows that he need to step out of his comfort zone and is now alert on the huge sacrifices he needs to make and very much require the support and resources from his family/community to catch up with strong USA players his age.

One thing we always tell kids, you training hard - well done, thumbs up, BUT your competition is training hard too, maybe even harder than you.

To be honest, life as a table tennis kid seeking pro, is not a journey I will want my kids to take part in. It is a cruel journey. But then again, we in East Asia, the toughest competition in the world is in our region.
However, kids that go through our system, end up with very strong characters, they cope with pressure better than same age peers and are highly employable in my opinion.

We in the middle of summer training and its the worse time for all players (and coaches). Its really tiring for all and maybe only 1 of the 30 or 50 can get somewhere.

PS, with me now being an agent - I can provide them a prolonged career, one outside the national team. So this hopefully helps with the drive even more.

 

[TensorBackhand]

What are some sports that are known to have pros and champions who started late?

I only know of boxing. Sergio Martinez and Deontay Wilder both became world champions and only started training in their 20s.

 

[Jslick89]

I wish the OP's author the very best of luck in chasing their life goals. Go get 'em mate -- really hope you make it!

Awesome story dude. How old were you when you realized you had to pivot to a career as a blade maker and that it was ultimately impossible for you to become a professional table tennis player? Do you remember what your mindset was at that time?

It goes back to one of my first posts in this thread, you have to be humble enough to pivot when you need to. I'm only 36 years old, but i'm old enough to know that life never truly goes as you plan it, and the path that you go down will lead you into many unexpected, and God willing, amazing turns. Like I said, I wanted to be a famous movie actor. I thought I was going to be the next huge hit because I was winning awards for my performances in local theatrical productions. But at a certain point, I realized I didn't have the connections needed to make it in the industry. I'm so glad I didn't end up in Los Angeles, a starving "actor" trying to make ends meat by moon-lighting at some edgy bar. I ended up going to school, and then eventually getting my masters degree. I own a house. I have a beautiful wife and a baby boy. I have a JOOLA SC3000 tournament table in my garage, and I can play with my club mates at my home after the baby goes to bed. I'm not a professional table tennis player, but I get to play the game I love. the only pressure I get from table tennis is that of the self-imposed kind. I will play this sport until i croak. Hopefully one day my son will want to learn and play with me, but I'm not sure I would even encourage him to pursue this sport full time, but I will cross that bridge when the time comes. Life is good.

This is most likely correct


I wouldn't say 0 to 1800 in a year is easy, that would be a discredit to KTTs progress so far. But it has definitely been done before by many people, many of who didn't end up 2500, or top 50 in the world. And it is MUCH easier to go from 0 to 1800 in a year than it is to go from 1800 to 2500, in any amount of time.

He can look at his coach as an example, he has been 2400 for over 20 years despite still being very active in tournaments.

That is just the truth even if its not what he wants to hear.

Teenagers have a hard time accepting hard truths. I know I did. Life humbles you lol. I like the story above though. I wonder, do you know how much a great table tennis coach in the USA makes? LIke some of those guys at 888 or ICC? I know the club charges $70-100 per hour, but how much of that is going back to the coach.

 

[lightspin]

I know examples of fighters, runners, motorcycle racers, football, basketball and baseball professionals who started late. I can also give examples of guitar players and science types who are world class who started very late in the area they ended up.

In table tennis I know of one person who started around 12 who ended up in the top 20. ONE. Usually if you hear about someone who "started late" and had success, they are full of it. "Yea we had a table at home all my life and we spent 12 hours a day playing during the summer but that doesn't count as I began training full time with professionals at age 16. BLAH BLAH BLAH."

When training in China, one of the National Team's coaches told me that if Waldner started at age 15 and was given every possible advantage in his training with coaches and training partners, he would have only been an average province level player if that. And this coach considered Waldner the most talented player of all time. Table tennis is about instantly judging correctly what is going on and then acting correctly on that information. It is like a language and rarely does anyone lose their accent if they start late studying.

 

[Jslick89]

What are some sports that are known to have pros and champions who started late?

I only know of boxing. Sergio Martinez and Deontay Wilder both became world champions and only started training in their 20s.

ask chat gpt lol:

I dont know who this person is but i'm going to look them up...another racket sport. Jannick Sinner didn't get serious about tennis until 13.

Nguyễn Tiến Minh – Badminton​

• Started at: Age 18 (most pros start before 10)
• Background: Trained in poor conditions in Vietnam, self-funded early on
• Achievements:
  • World Championship Bronze Medalist
  • Top 5 world ranking
  • Represented Vietnam in 3 Olympic Games

athletic freak here:

Antonio Gates – American Football (NFL)​

• Started at: Never played college football
• Background: College basketball player at Kent State; signed as undrafted free agent in NFL
• Achievements:
  • 8× Pro Bowl tight end
  • Over 11,000 receiving yards
  • Likely Hall of Famer

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Does that kid really exist ? It’s been a while I’ve seen a 11yo kid express himself so well, so politely without spelling or typos and without sounding like an AI either …

Are we being trolled ?

He’s got a really good talent for writing. He should be aiming for Yale not for TT imo

 

[lightspin]

Teenagers have a hard time accepting hard truths. I know I did. Life humbles you lol. I like the story above though. I wonder, do you know how much a great table tennis coach in the USA makes? LIke some of those guys at 888 or ICC? I know the club charges $70-100 per hour, but how much of that is going back to the coach.

I do not know what an average coach makes. I do know that at some clubs if the club charges $75, the coach keeps $35-$50 depending on what club it is. However there are quite a few people who coach on their own and charge $100 moving from place to place to teach lessons during the day. They keep all of it. So if you play your cards right and are willing to coach all day, you can make $100-200k. You absolutely have to have a good reputation to do this and maintain students though.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

I wonder, do you know how much a great table tennis coach in the USA makes? LIke some of those guys at 888 or ICC? I know the club charges $70-100 per hour, but how much of that is going back to the coach.

I do know - the top coaches in the USA make good money. They can clear 6 figures a year easily especially in the Bay Area. If a club tries to take too much of the private lesson fee they will just go to another club that will offer a better percentage, so, most clubs in competitive areas can't screw them too much. On top of that they get paid quite handsomely to accompany students to the big national tournaments etc. and there are other incentives. Oftentimes their living expenses can be subsidized or they can even live with dedicated students if needed. So they are pocketing good amounts of cash.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

• If Pro is not feasible, why not semi-pro.
• I first heard of this from my old coach. He says, it is an iffy career, this TT pro thingy.
• To earn a living of it and to maintain a family with it? Truly high risk.
• However, he told me an alternative route as our conversation continues.
• He actually encourages his serious and good students to play seriously at league and amateur level to get a college scholarship.
• play for the college, get a undergraduate degree all while playing at something you love and get free education. Win-win!
• After that, you can apply to some good company and continue to play for the company team.
• Get paid a salary all while still playing the sport you love.
• In my old club, I know of a few who are part of their corporate company TT team.
• They all work for a large conglomerate and they are given an annual stipend amounting to a few hundred USD to purchase rubbers, jerseys & etc.
• When competition comes, and if they are called to play for the company, they get paid leave for training, fully reimbursed travelling expenses, food and lodging.
• Not bad for semi-pro. Really not bad. I think is even better than pro.

 

[lightspin]

I must apologize. Upon further inspection, the story of the 12 year old kid who broke into the top 20 was incorrect. He actually started much earlier than that. So now I can say I never heard of anyone who broke into the top 20 who claims to have started playing at age 12 or even 11.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I must apologize. Upon further inspection, the story of the 12 year old kid who broke into the top 20 was incorrect. He actually started much earlier than that. So now I can say I never heard of anyone who broke into the top 20 who claims to have started playing at age 12 or even 11.

I spoke to some CNT womens players and ask how come Japan can come up younger and stronger than Chinese women's

basically, CNT players start at 5 years old.
JNT players start at 2 or 3 years old

lol

 

[piligrim]

I must apologize. Upon further inspection, the story of the 12 year old kid who broke into the top 20 was incorrect. He actually started much earlier than that. So now I can say I never heard of anyone who broke into the top 20 who claims to have started playing at age 12 or even 11.

He will show you

 

[Wakkibatty]

Awesome story dude. How old were you when you realized you had to pivot to a career as a blade maker and that it was ultimately impossible for you to become a professional table tennis player? Do you remember what your mindset was at that time?

It goes back to one of my first posts in this thread, you have to be humble enough to pivot when you need to. I'm only 36 years old, but i'm old enough to know that life never truly goes as you plan it, and the path that you go down will lead you into many unexpected, and God willing, amazing turns. Like I said, I wanted to be a famous movie actor. I thought I was going to be the next huge hit because I was winning awards for my performances in local theatrical productions. But at a certain point, I realized I didn't have the connections needed to make it in the industry. I'm so glad I didn't end up in Los Angeles, a starving "actor" trying to make ends meat by moon-lighting at some edgy bar. I ended up going to school, and then eventually getting my masters degree. I own a house. I have a beautiful wife and a baby boy. I have a JOOLA SC3000 tournament table in my garage, and I can play with my club mates at my home after the baby goes to bed. I'm not a professional table tennis player, but I get to play the game I love. the only pressure I get from table tennis is that of the self-imposed kind. I will play this sport until i croak. Hopefully one day my son will want to learn and play with me, but I'm not sure I would even encourage him to pursue this sport full time, but I will cross that bridge when the time comes. Life is good.

Teenagers have a hard time accepting hard truths. I know I did. Life humbles you lol. I like the story above though. I wonder, do you know how much a great table tennis coach in the USA makes? LIke some of those guys at 888 or ICC? I know the club charges $70-100 per hour, but how much of that is going back to the coach.

With me, my pivot point came in my very early 20's, when I realized that my chances of earning a decent living as a pro weren't great.

(note I said money, not talent. Even then I still was not fully aware of just how hard it was to get good at this game. Even then, I still had delusions borne of pure ignorance over the required skill levels and training loads to succeed. And while I had known since the age of 15 that woodworking and making blades were also pretty fun, making blades never struck me as a career option at the time. So I put aside my TT dreams and went looking for another career, eventually ending up in marketing communications.

It was only much, much later in my life after I had grown far, far too old to work in advertising and marketing anymore (ie: 47 🙄🙄 🤣🤣) that I rediscovered and indulged my enormous latent love of TT. And it was only my inability to find a blade I liked (coupled with some other key life events around that time) that got me (back) into making blades -- first as a hobby, then as a business 🙂

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

What are some sports that are known to have pros and champions who started late?

I only know of boxing. Sergio Martinez and Deontay Wilder both became world champions and only started training in their 20s.

Good topic, TensorBackhand, but maybe create a separate thread for it? I don't know in terms of what age they started, but ... Michael Jordan failed to make the varsity team as a sophomore in high school. He went on to become arguably the GOAT of basketball. Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round (199th overall pick) of the 2000 draft. He went on to become arguably the GOAT of American Football. Both had incredible work ethic.

 

[zeio]

Does that kid really exist ? It’s been a while I’ve seen a 11yo kid express himself so well, so politely without spelling or typos and without sounding like an AI either …

Are we being trolled ?

He’s got a really good talent for writing. He should be aiming for Yale not for TT imo

Well, the OP could be another Gon or Killua.

 

[Jslick89]

I do know - the top coaches in the USA make good money. They can clear 6 figures a year easily especially in the Bay Area. If a club tries to take too much of the private lesson fee they will just go to another club that will offer a better percentage, so, most clubs in competitive areas can't screw them too much. On top of that they get paid quite handsomely to accompany students to the big national tournaments etc. and there are other incentives. Oftentimes their living expenses can be subsidized or they can even live with dedicated students if needed. So they are pocketing good amounts of cash.

And 6 figures isn't even that good in the bay area lol. 100k is poverty in a lot of the bay area. 200k would be livable there but to make that much coaching and keeping your students, thats a lot of pressure IMO. One wrong injury and your whole source of income could disappear in an instant.

With me, my pivot point came in my very early 20's, when I realized that my chances of earning a decent living as a pro weren't great.

(note I said money, not talent. Even then I still was not fully aware of just how hard it was to get good at this game. Even then, I still had delusions borne of pure ignorance over the required skill levels and training loads to succeed. And while I had known since the age of 15 that woodworking and making blades were also pretty fun, making blades never struck me as a career option at the time. So I put aside my TT dreams and went looking for another career, eventually ending up in marketing communications.

It was only much, much later in my life after I had grown far, far too old to work in advertising and marketing anymore (ie: 47 🙄🙄 🤣🤣) that I rediscovered and indulged my enormous latent love of TT. And it was only my inability to find a blade I liked (coupled with some other key life events around that time) that got me (back) into making blades -- first as a hobby, then as a business 🙂

man that is cool to have a new and exciting second career at age 47! I've had to re-invent myself several times in my life, working in multiple different industries. Probably the smartest thing I did was get my Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in finance, which allowed me to break into my current industry where I now earn enough of an income to afford a house, my table tennis hobby, and my wife's trips to target and marshalls LOL.

 

[BlopChock]

Does that kid really exist ? It’s been a while I’ve seen a 11yo kid express himself so well, so politely without spelling or typos and without sounding like an AI either …

Are we being trolled ?

Everything he's claimed that's verifiable has checked out: from his USATT stats to being age group champion in his area in the mile. And he also posted video on demand here - training in his club of record.

 

[BlopChock]

What are some sports that are known to have pros and champions who started late?

I only know of boxing. Sergio Martinez and Deontay Wilder both became world champions and only started training in their 20s.

In the sport we all love and are here to talk about:

Danny Seemiller didn't start until he was 13-14.

His father was a former TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt player, but Benedikt Duda didn't take up the sport in earnest until he was 10.

Hugo Calderano started at playing at 8, but didn't focus in on TT until somewhere between 12-14.

 

[TensorBackhand]

In the sport we all love and are here to talk about:

Danny Seemiller didn't start until he was 13-14.

His father was a former TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt player, but Benedikt Duda didn't take up the sport in earnest until he was 10.

Hugo Calderano started at playing at 8, but didn't focus in on TT until somewhere between 12-14.

Well maybe that gives OP some hope. Hugo wasn't even that serious until age 12.

I think the key is Hugo probably went all in on real scientific, systematic, dedicated training from that age.

 

[Jslick89]

Well maybe that gives OP some hope. Hugo wasn't even that serious until age 12.

I think the key is Hugo probably went all in on real scientific, systematic, dedicated training from that age.

also helps that huge is an athletic freak. I found some pictures of him when he was only 13:

clipping – Página 4 – Hugo Calderano

Posts sobre clipping escritos por webmaster

hugocalderano.wordpress.com

Already tall and a huge arm span. From what I've heard, he's a natural at any sport he plays. One of those types of talents where its not fair how good they are at everything.