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I address this thread to those with experience that will enable them to advise me.
I am 73 years old and lucky enough to be quite fit and active; enough to play the modern game with off blade and rubbers I am about to buy new Tenergy rubbers but the lockdown has got me thinking that I cannot assume that I will retain my current physical condition for ever. It seems to me that I have three options looking forward:-
1. Carry on playing as I do and simply fade away being thrashed by all and sundry.
2. Stop playing completely when I am unable to compete at an acceptable level for me.
3. Change my game to suit my projected declining physical condition as the years roll on.
I will certainly play as I am for as long as possible as I do love the topspin game. However, before I become frustrated with the quality of my current game I would rather find a way of competing well than the alternative options 1. or 2. above. Many of you I imagine come up against players that are very effective and hard to beat even though they do not move around much but instead stay up at the table without the need to cover great distance side to side or backwards and forwards. Instead they push, block, chop block, punch and hit etc. to great effect. I know Mima Ito does this very well but I think that her style might be asking a bit much!
I would ask what you feel would be the most effective setup for the older player. I guess the classic setup would be what I understand is called a combination bat, with pimples on the BH and reversed rubber on the FH. I was wondering which, if any, of the following setups you think would best serve my purpose in remaining competitive; quoting FH then BH rubbers as follows:-
Reversed rubber/Short Pimples
Reversed rubber/Long Pimples
Short Pimples/Long Pimples
Short Pimples/Defensive High Control Reverse Rubber (e.g.. Gambler Reflectoid)
Any other suggestions
Also what type of blade would best suit your suggested rubbers.
My slight concern with the idea of staying up to the table is the reaction speed required which, presumably will also deteriorate. However I guess the most likely reason for me to need to change my game in the future will be limitations in movement.
I apologise if the subject has a depressing element to it but increased age is something that we all hopefully will be faced with and we will be faced with options, one of which is hopefully not to give up.
I am 73 years old and lucky enough to be quite fit and active; enough to play the modern game with off blade and rubbers I am about to buy new Tenergy rubbers but the lockdown has got me thinking that I cannot assume that I will retain my current physical condition for ever. It seems to me that I have three options looking forward:-
1. Carry on playing as I do and simply fade away being thrashed by all and sundry.
2. Stop playing completely when I am unable to compete at an acceptable level for me.
3. Change my game to suit my projected declining physical condition as the years roll on.
I will certainly play as I am for as long as possible as I do love the topspin game. However, before I become frustrated with the quality of my current game I would rather find a way of competing well than the alternative options 1. or 2. above. Many of you I imagine come up against players that are very effective and hard to beat even though they do not move around much but instead stay up at the table without the need to cover great distance side to side or backwards and forwards. Instead they push, block, chop block, punch and hit etc. to great effect. I know Mima Ito does this very well but I think that her style might be asking a bit much!
I would ask what you feel would be the most effective setup for the older player. I guess the classic setup would be what I understand is called a combination bat, with pimples on the BH and reversed rubber on the FH. I was wondering which, if any, of the following setups you think would best serve my purpose in remaining competitive; quoting FH then BH rubbers as follows:-
Reversed rubber/Short Pimples
Reversed rubber/Long Pimples
Short Pimples/Long Pimples
Short Pimples/Defensive High Control Reverse Rubber (e.g.. Gambler Reflectoid)
Any other suggestions
Also what type of blade would best suit your suggested rubbers.
My slight concern with the idea of staying up to the table is the reaction speed required which, presumably will also deteriorate. However I guess the most likely reason for me to need to change my game in the future will be limitations in movement.
I apologise if the subject has a depressing element to it but increased age is something that we all hopefully will be faced with and we will be faced with options, one of which is hopefully not to give up.