I consider you a buddy so don't read this the wrong way.
I don't give two flying Fs about how he plays or whether he has injuries etc. When you learn this game at a certain age, everything is so much harder that people like Der_Echte, Carl and myself and walking miracles. And to get the coaching to improve can be so hard and expensive and even accepting that, the time to work on your game usually means either not having kids or having the most understanding wife in the world or just a job where you don't have to deal with your family at all and can train a little in your spare time.
Whenever you see an adult learner or non-pro, please be kind. If you want, I can go grab my video from 2 -3 years ago and I looked just like that. And I have gotten some of my best wins playing like that, even as I try to stop playing that way.
So even while I like putting heavy topspin on the ball, I will backhand block you to death all over the table if I will win the match doing so. And if you don't believe me...