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I would modify rules of the matches to keep you motivated if the level difference is that big. You should win the point if you are able to make 2-3 balls in a row with focus on the weakness you have , meaning he gets to serve short to your forehand you push / flick and make 2 balls in a row after that and it wins you the point ... the main difference with higher players is that they have a better quality shot making and they are able to make more balls on the table, that is going to come through time and practice .. for us we need to focus on small improvements otherwise its very demotivating if you keep track of overall results of the match etc.
Today I was with coach Oya for 2 hours. We worked on what I think is one of the main weakness in my game:
When the opponent serves short to my FH, whether i receive with a push or a flick, I get back WAYYYY too slowly in position.
I think there is a mix of causes: my receive technique is not perfected yet, so I worry too much about my ball and not enough about getting back. I haven't trained enough during all those years this particular footwork. I'm getting old and don't have enough leg power.
Yet another reason for missing is when i get ready to play the next shot, i have the bad habit that the upper body tends to go up.
Well i can say that despite doing drills for more than 1 hour, (and having practiced that a lot in recent months), I still feel I suck at this, and can't see much progress from that session.
We finished by a match the first time we did one, he made a good show of what he's able of, and he won by a crushing -1 -3 -2.. and out of the 6, I can only remember one REAL point (a strong BH), i think the rest were receive misses or careless misses of him.
I asked him if these matches are really any use...I think his answer was polite... Anyway with my previous coaches, it all started like that and with time, I got better, even taking here and there a game or more from time to time. of course their level is several levels below Oya but from where I am , it is difficult to do worse, isn't it ? I hope to stay motivated !