Classic Matches

[J-fed]

This is a real classic. Yes Schlager's free hand isn't what you'd coach but what a killer. I am sure they'd both adapt well and compete in this era.
Anyway, let's celebrate some classic old skool matches. I can't wait to see Grubba, Waldner, Ma Wenge, Tibor Klampar and more. Not Appellgren please. He is too sublime.

 

[NextLevel]

This is a real classic. Yes Schlager's free hand isn't what you'd coach but what a killer. I am sure they'd both adapt well and compete in this era.
Anyway, let's celebrate some classic old skool matches. I can't wait to see Grubba, Waldner, Ma Wenge, Tibor Klampar and more. Not Appellgren please. He is too sublime.

I love it when people criticize the technique of world class players without fully accepting the implications.

 

[boretennis]

I love it when people criticize the technique of world class players without fully accepting the implications.

i did not read it as "criticism", just stating that some styles are unique (individual quirks?) and not what is getting "coached" but rather developed by a certain & unique player, just like Ryusuke Sakamoto didn't teach Koki Niwa the chop-block.

 

[J-fed]

i did not read it as "criticism", just stating that some styles are unique (individual quirks?) and not what is getting "coached" but rather developed by a certain & unique player, just like Ryusuke Sakamoto didn't teach Koki Niwa the chop-block.

I think he got it. Schlager was a brute. Absolutely brilliant. That whole match and the way he left the arena was like he beat Thomas Hearns for the MW title.
Peak TT.

 

[NextLevel]

i did not read it as "criticism", just stating that some styles are unique (individual quirks?) and not what is getting "coached" but rather developed by a certain & unique player, just like Ryusuke Sakamoto didn't teach Koki Niwa the chop-block.

That interpretation I agree with. I just wish such thing went largely unmentioned as they are made to sound like demerits and sometimes bad things rather than quirks. Ma Long developed a quirk of using his offhand to guide himself to a lot of ball contact under one of his early coaches and now it is the holy grail of technique for some. People can underestimate the amount of "accident" that goes into developing any player. A lot of it just comes from trying to get the player to improve their adaptability to various circumstances and if it is working and not causing issues, they keep doing it.

Just a personal issue, please ignore me. Lots of great matches out there. Hopefully the thread will grow. I think I have an ancient one that didn't grow much. But DiegoTTube is a youtube channel with lots of video as well.

 

[J-fed]

That interpretation I agree with. I just wish such thing went largely unmentioned as they are made to sound like demerits and sometimes bad things rather than quirks. Ma Long developed a quirk of using his offhand to guide himself to a lot of ball contact under one of his early coaches and now it is the holy grail of technique for some. People can underestimate the amount of "accident" that goes into developing any player. A lot of it just comes from trying to get the player to improve their adaptability to various circumstances and if it is working and not causing issues, they keep doing it.

Just a personal issue, please ignore me. Lots of great matches out there. Hopefully the thread will grow. I think I have an ancient one that didn't grow much. But DiegoTTube is a youtube channel with lots of video as well.

Sheesh. I only mentioned it to pre-empt the 'oh, he wouldn't hold up in the modern era' type comments. It's a minefield here.
How about we focus on the positive?

 

[NextLevel]

Sheesh. I only mentioned it to pre-empt the 'oh, he wouldn't hold up in the modern era' type comments. It's a minefield here.
How about we focus on the positive?

Ah okay. I think it helps to be explicit. There were forums that argued with Schlager over technique. Such is the nature of internet.

 

[J-fed]

Ah okay. I think it helps to be explicit. There were forums that argued with Schlager over technique. Such is the nature of internet.

All good.For future reference, I'm a normal person. Here to enjoy and celebrate sport. This is my M.O.

 

[J-fed]

Ah okay. I think it helps to be explicit. There were forums that argued with Schlager over technique. Such is the nature of internet.

 

[NextLevel]

 

[NextLevel]

 

[Matt Hetherington]

I remember my coach making me watch tapes (literal vcr tapes) of Schlager vs Joo right after that final when I was 13 😹

 

[golden_son]

This is a real classic. Yes Schlager's free hand isn't what you'd coach but what a killer. I am sure they'd both adapt well and compete in this era.
Anyway, let's celebrate some classic old skool matches. I can't wait to see Grubba, Waldner, Ma Wenge, Tibor Klampar and more. Not Appellgren please. He is too sublime.

Man, listen to that crowd! ❤️

That's something I feel is missing from modern TT except in a few rare instances. Maybe it was just that matchup, but the video (and crowd shots) really make it feel like TT used to get people more excited.

 

[J-fed]

Man, listen to that crowd! ❤️

That's something I feel is missing from modern TT except in a few rare instances. Maybe it was just that matchup, but the video (and crowd shots) really make it feel like TT used to get people more excited.

COVID has a lot to answer for imo. And smart phones. Bloody smart phones.

 

[chandyrandy]

COVID has a lot to answer for imo. And smart phones. Bloody smart phones.

Crowds in many other sports are just as wild as back then, it's unique to table tennis (looking at you WTT).

 

[NextLevel]

Crowds in many other sports are just as wild as back then, it's unique to table tennis (looking at you WTT).

I dont think it is WTT's fault, TT is and has always been a bit of a niche sport. You do get such crowds at World Championships in Europe or Asia in general. Sure WTT has work to do to grow and commercialize the sport but in a world where lots of social media and entertainment are growing and trying to capture market share from other activities, it is very hard to grow with the amount of money in table tennis competing against all the major sports.

That said, there are still tons of classic matchrs to enjoy so let's enjoy them.

 

[NextLevel]

The first game/set of this match was probably the toughest game Waldner had this event where he won all his matches in straight games/sets.

 

[J-fed]

Crowds in many other sports are just as wild as back then, it's unique to table tennis (looking at you

I am not so sure. Athletics is the pinnacle of sports but the crowds are very patchy nowadays. Some well attended but often not.
Multi sport events also not surviving well since COVID. European championships and Commonwealth games basically got the axe despite massively successful up to Covid events, and what was left over was poorly attended.
American track and field also poor attendance.
Tennis not great it seems. Many empty seats in Cincinnati this week.
I lack the data to be adamant but for the moment I am quite suspicious that sport is becoming unpopular in general.

 

[chandyrandy]

Fair enough I was in a hating mood 😂

 

[J-fed]

Fair enough I was in a hating mood 😂

All good with me. I might also be.