Hi Michael,
If you can, get a coach, preferably for some 1 to 1 coaching, if not, then some group coaching.
improving technique and combining with the random drills is the way to go.
So some info about myself.
I am a part qualified level one coach!!! part qualified because I got COVID and had to isolate when the final day of the course was being held!! I’m doing the last day this September!!
I assist with coaching at an academy 2 times a week, with 2 qualified coaches, one has level 2, one has level 1 accreditation.
I am also being coached, usually a 2 hr session once every 2 weeks (until a recent knee injury caused by a back issue has sidelined me for a month or so.) Hoping to be back in action in a week or so!!
My 1 to 1 coach is Tom Lodziak aka Table Tennis Tom.
I started to have coaching with Tom because I needed to improve my match standard and results, I also wanted to keep my private coaching separate from the academy.
Patience is required, as it will take months of training, playing matches etc to actually see the improvement in things like win averages.
Because initial improvements will mean that you can win more points against an opponent than previously but still lose. The stats are brutal and don’t necessarily relate to how you are improving.
In fact they can seem that you just JUMP a level during 1 season, when in effect that JUMP in level occurred over 2 or 3 seasons!!
Of course, you can improve faster, it depends on your dedication, talent, ability to learn and implementation of what you have learnt etc.
Take on board the use of random training as part of your training, it’s very important that at some point in each training / coaching session it is included.
Tom makes sure that there is a good blend of regular routines, irregular/random routines and some sort of game / match play in each session I have had with him, along with tactical advice.
One thing Tom likes to do at the end of the session is to set the scenario that it’s the final of the world champs, 3 - 3 , 7th game score is 9 - 9, you have the serve, What are you going to do to win those 2 service points?? It’s a great fun way of ending the session!!
During the 1st session I had with Tom this is what happened, for me it was the highlight of my year!!!
1st serve was a punch/hook no spin serve to Tom’s FH, Tom pushed his return long off the table, as soon as he contacted the ball he said ‘oh no it’s no spin’ happy days 10 - 9 !!
2nd serve was again a punch/hook serve, this time with heavy backspin again to Tom’s FH. Toms push return hit the net!! 11 - 9 sweet!! Tom’s response was ‘that was NOT how I had planned things going!!!
We we’re both laughing loads!!
The scenario was replayed, this time Tom was world champ!!!
To put things in perspective, I had asked to play matches v Tom, no coaching per say for the 1st session, because I wanted Tom to evaluate my match play, Tom won all the games pretty easily, he then played 3 different ‘styles’ against me, passive, attacking, and somewhere in between a mixture of tactics. Tom won these easily as well !!
One of the great things Tom does is he always reflects on the positive aspects of the session, I always leave with more confidence and focussed on the positive, and believe me I have performed pretty poorly during a couple of the sessions, and feeling disappointed with myself, but during the reflection part at the end of the session Tom is able to highlight what was good and I leave with a better mental perspective, the sessions are always fun and enjoyable as well!!
Play without inhibition or fear of losing, this is what I have been trying to do, implement what you are learning and focusing on during coaching into matches.
if this means opening up with a BH topspin to any serves that come long / half long, with back spin to your BH then try and open up as much as possible with a BH topspin, if the 1st try fails, ignore and try again!!
I hope this helps!! But please try and get a coach, that’s the best advice I can give.