Trying to take my game to a new level

Right, in simple terms I'm not as good as I want to be right now. I lack consistency when it comes to match play. I'm either very average or come out and look like a world beater (not in the sense I'm as good as that but believe me I look a hell of a lot better play when I'm on fire).

Negatives

Very average serves-
I can do reverse pendulum which I find easier to work on. But my pendulum serves do not generate enough spin, I struggle to feel where I'm hitting it. I feel I get a little backspin, a little side, but the length is inconsistent. And my best pendulum serve in terms of getting free points I have no idea what exactly is on it.

Return of service/ready position-
I'm trying to correct this by studying Ma Long. I often find myself caught making a decision, largely due to a lack of reading the serve. My flick itself is pretty good, touch is decent even if i dont like doing it very long, push I'm working on making more effective but this is all more diffciult to my lack of reading serves and my positioning. I want to open up as soon as possible with my forehand but sometime over commit to that option rather than sticking with my backhand due to a lack of trust. I am looking at Ma Long ready position to counter act this, to allow myself the opportunity to take it on forehand easier but be ready for backhand.

Backhand-
Topspin to topspin is fine. However its my consistency of opening up (partly due to lack of faith in it) and missing absolute sitters that sit up with (backspin/underspin?)

Positives-

Forehand-
To be honest I'm fine with this, I've studied ma long again for this alongside zhang zike and the only things i need to watch out for is keeping my weight forward, balance steady, and allowing myself room to play it. Otherwise its pretty good. Only thing I have issue with is getting tense but I looked up these videos which explain about keeping loose all the way up until u make contact with the ball and then tensing at that exact moment which has helped.

So I know this sounds like a big ramble but this is partly because this if notes for me to keep track of plus I realise that some of these things aren't as bad as i make out and other will take time to correct. I posted this though so if anyone is able to show me clips of ma longs ready position and perhaps explain it better or point me in direction to videos or tutorials to learn similar serves to him or any forehand dominant player who looks to set themsleves up for that opening attack. For example i understand chinese typically add side to a majority of their serves to make them more difficult to return. Though to be honest if theres any good way of breaking it down so i can insure i have basics down before i progress that would be helpful as well.

Basically most of my issues resolve around those opening 3 shots. After that i can usually get in the flow and play better. I understand I'll never be a Ma Long but theres no reason why aspect of his game can't help me.

Also if anyone knows a good tutorial for chop block that would be awesome to try incorporate in the future.

I'm not gonna try learn everything at once, but just have the info here so when the time comes i can find it all in one place.

Thanks to anyone who helps

Archosaurus said:

In my own experience, trying to imitate top players without having the coaching and training to supplement it will just produce a lot of delusion and false flags.

How long have you been playing? Do you have perhaps video of your game that you could share? More information can help the better players here to help you.

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I've been playing for 10 years, I've represented my county at junior and cadet level and I've been part of the eastern region A squad. It's more some things in my game I feel that r holding me back and need to work on.

I understand about not imitating players cos as u say it doesn't go well. But I've always been a visual learner, so if I see someone do something that how I'll try learn it and obviously adapt it to my own ability