says
2023 Certified Organ Donor
says
2023 Certified Organ Donor
Well-Known Member
WHY do we select WHAT for equipment when a player begins TT? What's a "Right" answer?
I started this thread since a very important question came up today. There are many different approaches to this and no everyone agrees... which is OK in my book. TT should not be command directed like we are low rank in the military.
The deal is, not even some coaches understand why they choose what they choose and what the developmental goals and paths are for what they selected for the new player.
I detail here my discussion and overall attitude. The things I write not everyone or maybe not even a majority may agree, but the point is, I state the RATIONALE behind why I think the way I do and why some others think the way they do... which influences the choices they make for equipment.
I believe it is very important to deeply understand WHY we do stuff... at least for adults anyways. Kids just do it a few thousand times and get there despite any leadership from adults.
Well, here it goes. Get your eggs ready to throw... but don't tear up your rotator cuff... you need that intact to play table tennis.
This isn't such a bad topic. Why? Because this is an issue with coaches and strategic direction that goes against the grain. It causes evaluation of why we do things.
That is worth writing about.
There are no absolutes and you frequently see me saying about Kim Jung Hoon and his "There is no right answer in TT".
Actually in Korea, the majority of coaches recommend a bat so fast, it would shock the pants off most coaches. I saw SO MANY TIMES a new player starting out with OFF+++ carbon blade (think Schlager Carbon) and an early generation control OFF Low Throw tensor rubber (like Yasaka Extend HS)
Why do Korean coaches like such a setup for new players? Because that FAST ++ setup is OUTSTANDING at making low spin drives close to the table. You can hit all day with that bat, but will have a more difficult time learning to topspin. Since a classic amateur Korean player doesn't topspin much if at all, this kind of fast bat is just perfect middle ground for what the coach wants the player to do - DRIVE the ball with little spin.
This brings up the issue of WHY we select a certain class of equipment and WHAT will it make it easy to do?
That is the important question. What does the coach/player expect the new player to do in TT?
The general answer (with NO RIGHT ANSWER) (but a lot of possible answers) is to select equipment that makes it easier to do the most frequently used shots with control. (and later power)
Since the Koreans want to stand at the table and give the opponent a live assault by means of HITTING the ball fast and controlled, the Korean coaches select equipment that makes that job easier.
A lot of high level Chinese coaches I see by default select for their players a BTY Viscaria (OFF carbon blade) with H3 FH and T05 BH. Those are crazy difficult rubbers to control at first and especially, H3 requires a very fast and strong FH impact. A 8 yr old kid doesn't have this yet. The Chinese high level coach follows the tried and true path of selecting the final equipment, and training the player to grow into it, even if it is difficult at first. That way works as they train like crazy. Once that kid has 3 yrs of 2x a week one hour lessons, the better kids reach the TTR 1700-1800 level... which is a level that maybe 1% of adult learners reach in their lifetime.
A typical European coach will recommend something much closer to the middle of the pack in terms of speed and spin, but very high in control. Often, this means a 5 or 7 play wood blade in the ALL to OFF MINUS (OFF-) class and modern control rubbers. The concept these coaches operate on is that such a setup makes the player use strokes, makes the player do them correctly, and allows the player to feel the ball better than a fast/stiff carbon blade... which helps develop touch and variations in topspin. It allows the player to know if they did not strike the ball in the sweet spot. (You don't get that with carbon or ALC blades - they all feel great, even a mis-hit) Trying to learn basic topsin offensive TT with a bat too fast and bouncy is usually a fail, but not always.
This kind of way a typical European coach uses works too. Often, with time it produces a player capable of topspinning at every speed and spin with control and placement, plus short touch over the net. That is important in the European style of play. All the faster gear make it very difficult to get this level of touch and controlled topspin.
I get back to the main idea. What is it that the player and coach want the new player to be able to do? That should drive the equipment selection.
If you go the way of a typical European coach, there are hundreds if not thousands of possible middle of the road setups for blade and rubber. We list many of them all the time. A Stiga Allround Evolution with Vega Euro or Vega Pro is one of one thousand possible.
My personal tendency for equipment recommendation is much like the Euro coach if the player is going to learn basic offensive table tennis that involves topsinning the ball. However, I realize this isn't how some players and coaches want the player to play and there are also other paths that work for this.
I started this thread since a very important question came up today. There are many different approaches to this and no everyone agrees... which is OK in my book. TT should not be command directed like we are low rank in the military.
The deal is, not even some coaches understand why they choose what they choose and what the developmental goals and paths are for what they selected for the new player.
I detail here my discussion and overall attitude. The things I write not everyone or maybe not even a majority may agree, but the point is, I state the RATIONALE behind why I think the way I do and why some others think the way they do... which influences the choices they make for equipment.
I believe it is very important to deeply understand WHY we do stuff... at least for adults anyways. Kids just do it a few thousand times and get there despite any leadership from adults.
Well, here it goes. Get your eggs ready to throw... but don't tear up your rotator cuff... you need that intact to play table tennis.
This isn't such a bad topic. Why? Because this is an issue with coaches and strategic direction that goes against the grain. It causes evaluation of why we do things.
That is worth writing about.
There are no absolutes and you frequently see me saying about Kim Jung Hoon and his "There is no right answer in TT".
Actually in Korea, the majority of coaches recommend a bat so fast, it would shock the pants off most coaches. I saw SO MANY TIMES a new player starting out with OFF+++ carbon blade (think Schlager Carbon) and an early generation control OFF Low Throw tensor rubber (like Yasaka Extend HS)
Why do Korean coaches like such a setup for new players? Because that FAST ++ setup is OUTSTANDING at making low spin drives close to the table. You can hit all day with that bat, but will have a more difficult time learning to topspin. Since a classic amateur Korean player doesn't topspin much if at all, this kind of fast bat is just perfect middle ground for what the coach wants the player to do - DRIVE the ball with little spin.
This brings up the issue of WHY we select a certain class of equipment and WHAT will it make it easy to do?
That is the important question. What does the coach/player expect the new player to do in TT?
The general answer (with NO RIGHT ANSWER) (but a lot of possible answers) is to select equipment that makes it easier to do the most frequently used shots with control. (and later power)
Since the Koreans want to stand at the table and give the opponent a live assault by means of HITTING the ball fast and controlled, the Korean coaches select equipment that makes that job easier.
A lot of high level Chinese coaches I see by default select for their players a BTY Viscaria (OFF carbon blade) with H3 FH and T05 BH. Those are crazy difficult rubbers to control at first and especially, H3 requires a very fast and strong FH impact. A 8 yr old kid doesn't have this yet. The Chinese high level coach follows the tried and true path of selecting the final equipment, and training the player to grow into it, even if it is difficult at first. That way works as they train like crazy. Once that kid has 3 yrs of 2x a week one hour lessons, the better kids reach the TTR 1700-1800 level... which is a level that maybe 1% of adult learners reach in their lifetime.
A typical European coach will recommend something much closer to the middle of the pack in terms of speed and spin, but very high in control. Often, this means a 5 or 7 play wood blade in the ALL to OFF MINUS (OFF-) class and modern control rubbers. The concept these coaches operate on is that such a setup makes the player use strokes, makes the player do them correctly, and allows the player to feel the ball better than a fast/stiff carbon blade... which helps develop touch and variations in topspin. It allows the player to know if they did not strike the ball in the sweet spot. (You don't get that with carbon or ALC blades - they all feel great, even a mis-hit) Trying to learn basic topsin offensive TT with a bat too fast and bouncy is usually a fail, but not always.
This kind of way a typical European coach uses works too. Often, with time it produces a player capable of topspinning at every speed and spin with control and placement, plus short touch over the net. That is important in the European style of play. All the faster gear make it very difficult to get this level of touch and controlled topspin.
I get back to the main idea. What is it that the player and coach want the new player to be able to do? That should drive the equipment selection.
If you go the way of a typical European coach, there are hundreds if not thousands of possible middle of the road setups for blade and rubber. We list many of them all the time. A Stiga Allround Evolution with Vega Euro or Vega Pro is one of one thousand possible.
My personal tendency for equipment recommendation is much like the Euro coach if the player is going to learn basic offensive table tennis that involves topsinning the ball. However, I realize this isn't how some players and coaches want the player to play and there are also other paths that work for this.
