Daily Table Tennis Chit Chat

[Archosaurus]

NL, that makes sense. Just playing the probabilities and to the opponents' weaknesses. Although I've done the same thing (Backspin when the opponent is bad at attacking backspin, when I could have topspinned), I don't think I would have thought of it in the moment. So it didn't make much sense to me.

You're indeed right that I can't really understand what it's like. I didn't even consider your physical state: your level is high enough and you move so well for your condition that I forget sometimes.

Edit on touch: It does make sense. I've lobbed/fished/whatever the ball fairly low to some slightly weaker players than myself, and the topspin threw them off and they got jammed up to the table. It was really comical, but I kind of understand why it happened like it did, and it didn't just get killed.

You would most likely just rip into the ball, but a weaker player might not even get his bat on the ball while someone of equal skill might have adequate pressure in dealing with the ball if it's placed well. I can imagine the effect gets higher the higher the level, somewhat.

 

[NextLevel]

NL, that makes sense. Just playing the probabilities and to the opponents' weaknesses. Although I've done the same thing (Backspin when the opponent is bad at attacking backspin, when I could have topspinned), I don't think I would have thought of it in the moment. So it didn't make much sense to me.

You're indeed right that I can't really understand what it's like. I didn't even consider your physical state: your level is high enough and you move so well for your condition that I forget sometimes.

Edit on touch: It does make sense. I've lobbed/fished/whatever the ball fairly low to some slightly weaker players than myself, and the topspin threw them off and they got jammed up to the table. It was really comical, but I kind of understand why it happened like it did, and it didn't just get killed.

You would most likely just rip into the ball, but a weaker player might not even get his bat on the ball while someone of equal skill might have adequate pressure in dealing with the ball if it's placed well. I can imagine the effect gets higher the higher the level, somewhat.

Yes. Reckless play has a ceiling among players with good defensive skills, which is more often the case as you get better relative to your current level. You can hit the ball hard, but if you can't recover when it comes back, you are in trouble. I would have pivoted on more balls vs a worse defender. Someone with a higher level 3rd ball and mobility could put the ball past Vila on the first loop, but he is ready to defend if you attack and to attack if you do not.

It's a judgment call to play recklessly or not - what might be reckless play for me vs a 2100 player may be reasonable vs a 1600 player - I just have to know what to do when the ball comes back. You don't see me pivoting on third ball often against Vila because I have a good backhand and I respect his defense. But against another player, I could go about things very differently.

 

[Der_Echte]

All this NL-led talk about being totally reckless prolly fueled his description of me as the 5th coming of Rambo.

Somehow, over the last year since coming back into the sport, I seem to have drifted into an all-out FH attack at all costs kinda player who goes apeshyt. Don't know why, being reckless among the wrong crowd is a good way to lose points. maybe in the cell-ball era I would have fared even better.

Yet still, in Chantilly, I was 2026 in league, with my 5-2 run last week (losses coming vs 2150+ players 1-3 and 2-3) I will come out an all time high of 2040.

So, I guess recklessness has its place in a Rambo world.... to teh low to mid 2000s level. That elite league is no joke with no snmall number of good players and ringers in 1800s.

At some point, however, I will need to stay more bent knees lower stance to use my good BH and make better balance, that is the only way forward to get to 2100 and above.. yet it will take a total re-boot and system re-build in a magnitude 10x greater than what NL has put himself through. Future road is gunna be bumpy.

 

[Archosaurus]

Played some TT today. I won't be back for some time, but I got some spare time now.

I happened to pick up not one but two broken balls from my ammo storage and we were forced to play with them. They're not dead, but they have a small crack that causes inconsistency. So in other words, we were playing with the cell equivalent of DHS poly balls.

It's decent practice to deal with the inconsistency. It's pretty taxing on the backswing technique and footwork to be able to make a real good shot on a ball that's a bit too low for comfort.

My forehand's been feeling real good these days. I'm not sure what should feel right, but I sure as hell know that my old forehand didn't feel good. My backhand did, so I had some reference. It just didn't feel good to execute.

I think I've timed my hips and shoulders better with my arm and my arm takes a more smooth path with less tension, because it feels like my torso and lower body are better synced and I'm not tensing my arm so much. It can flow a little more progressively instead of being a bit jerky and uncomfortable. I think I'm getting a little bit more spin, too.

I'll try to keep this feeling and develop the shot. Match technique is feeling a little bit more consistent and in-line with my drill technique so I think I'm doing something right.

 

[NextLevel]

More league matches yesterday. I decided to play largely because I want to get my forehand concept more consistent. I will use body rotation as much as possible and try to get power almost every time on my forehand. Will help with stamina and weight loss as well.

This one is for DerEchte - it is an example of why it is good to have a good backspin serve vs. long pips players.

 

[Boogar]

Sick backhand NL! Also his serves were so illegal well didn't rly matter

 

[ttmonster]

Yes, the serving technique is hilarious ... in our club the thumb rule is anybody over 60 can serve illegal because it was allowed when they learnt the game, whats with this guy NL ?

 

[NextLevel]

Sick backhand NL! Also his serves were so illegal well didn't rly matter

It is easy to forget who you are playing and use general rules that keep you putting the ball on the wrong side of the table .

 

[NextLevel]

Yes, the serving technique is hilarious ... in our club the thumb rule is anybody over 60 can serve illegal because it was allowed when they learnt the game, whats with this guy NL ?

It's a league match - I either focus on winning the match or I let things distract me. In a tournament, I grab an umpire. He is serving with long pips anyways.

 

[Shuki]

Damn, I don't understand how you guys even notice illegal serves. The only way I notice is if someone points it out to me, or the illegal serve actually effects me (like serving straight out of their hand suddenly, I just feel unprepared for them to serve)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

1 vid for TTD CCers (will repost in Carl's TTD True Essence thread also)


Instead of looping vs her (1st time with her blocking, longstroke looped ok, 2nd time with her blocking both long and shortstroke loops sucked), i decided to just hit some fast FH, bordering on smashing... we had some good rallies, then it occurred to me to video and asked for her permission... once on camera, we both sucked LOL

Short vid, but as always, comments welcomed.

Will be posting a match vid shortly.

 

[JeffM]

1 vid for TTD CCers (will repost in Carl's TTD True Essence thread also)


Instead of looping vs her (1st time with her blocking, longstroke looped ok, 2nd time with her blocking both long and shortstroke loops sucked), i decided to just hit some fast FH, bordering on smashing... we had some good rallies, then it occurred to me to video and asked for her permission... once on camera, we both sucked LOL

Short vid, but as always, comments welcomed.

Will be posting a match vid shortly.

Nice smashes OSP! I don't want to be on the receiving side in a match xD

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

Nice smashes OSP! I don't want to be on the receiving side in a match xD

LOL ... thank you JeffM!! ... nah, you have more tools than me with the Reverse BH, suspect your loop is better and good serves! (EDIT: you would do well in a match vs me)

I have nothing but old man memories of when I was a kid LOL

 

[Archosaurus]

And I'm back. Played some more and did some self hitting.

I'm starting to feel the ball somewhat. I don't think it's an exaggeration if I say that up until recently, I couldn't feel much anything at all on the contact apart from just a vague "The ball contacted" at varying degrees of hardness. I could feel the ball better on serves before I could feel it at all on strokes, so I have some reference.

I suspect that once I get better, the feel will be at a level that I didn't even think possible.

Now the question is, which comes first, the feeling of long dwell time to enable contacting in a way that produces long dwell time, or long dwell time to produce the feeling? Somehow I think the answer is, both!

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

2016-09-19 vs K (-4, 7, -9, -5)

Although this video is indicative of my matches during my unretirement (mostly unforced errors on my part), one general comment is in order. I hit/played for 3 hours and pretty wiped out. It was close to closing time, K owned the net on the table and was about to take it and go home. I asked for a match and he acquiesced. We had played 3x in the past... all times he won the matches. We hit another time, where i looped some and he blocked and i blocked and he looped. K generally plays defensively, sometimes loops, sometimes bh smash, sometimes bh loop. i have been egging him on from the side when i watch him play to FH loop more. Wicked sidespin loops. Vs other players, he doesn't loop much. Vs me, he unleashes LOL

As always, comments welcomed.

A little less than 6 mins edited. I lost in 4 (-4, 7, -9, -5).

HIGHLIGHTS for Chit Chatters who don't want to or can't watch the full vid for now:

0:32 - 0:35 - sometimes I get a lot of sidespin on my pendulum serve - he misjudged and missed

1:05 - 1:09 - serve down the line to FH, 3rd ball smash (one of my staple tactics)

1:19 - 1:24 - prior to this point, a few points I was controlling the ball but lost on unforced error ... this is me in prime form, if i can get to do this consistently, i will not call myself 1400 but i don't do it consistently LOL

1:58-2:01 - my friend TTD member "42andbackpains" has been trying to get it into my head that modern TT is all about spin/looping ... especially shorter stroke loops, higher percentage and safer... sadly my reply, "The scorpion and the frog" (if any TTDers doesn't know that story, please ask)... like a baseball slugger swinging at a high fastball, i cannot resist and see a high ball and smash

2:15-2:19 - another of my staple tactics - serve wide to BH and 3rd ball punch to FH

3:44-3:54 - lost this pushing battle - generally i push better than this ... sometimes i get a feeling and am able to get an extreme angle on my pushes ... during this point, either too tired or did not have the extreme angle feeling

4:03 - 4:09 - i give you this TT haiku:

Like a pregnant yak
trudging in the Winter's snow...
HA! I made a loop!

The only loop i attempted and made in the match ... generally i would loop more, just tired mentally and physically

p.s. I am my own worst enemy! Told ya all I'm 1400!!

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

LOL ... thank you JeffM!! ... nah, you have more tools than me with the Reverse BH, suspect your loop is better and good serves! (EDIT: you would do well in a match vs me)

I have nothing but old man memories of when I was a kid LOL

Even in the video your technique is fine. But dead on dead doesn't go well with accuracy. And how often, in any kind of play, do you really smack the ball in a way where you want the opponent to get the ball back?

And you probably need someone who blocks like a robot to work on your looping.

Here is a technique for when you have a table to yourself for working on the touch and stroke of looping:

Self hitting is awesome for getting the touch. If you watch closely, with what I am doing, unlike feeding multiball, I let the ball bounce 2x so I can be in a set position to take a clean stroke without rushing.


Sent from Inside The Chamber of Secrets by Patronus

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

Ah, very cool Carl! Thank you!

Didn't think of self-hitting. For now, i don't have access to multi-balls, and generally won't have a table to myself where i play. If i make it to 42&bp's club, i will work on this.

Thank you again!

 

[NextLevel]

2016-09-19 vs K (-4, 7, -9, -5)

Although this video is indicative of my matches during my unretirement (mostly unforced errors on my part), one general comment is in order. I hit/played for 3 hours and pretty wiped out. It was close to closing time, K owned the net on the table and was about to take it and go home. I asked for a match and he acquiesced. We had played 3x in the past... all times he won the matches. We hit another time, where i looped some and he blocked and i blocked and he looped. K generally plays defensively, sometimes loops, sometimes bh smash, sometimes bh loop. i have been egging him on from the side when i watch him play to FH loop more. Wicked sidespin loops. Vs other players, he doesn't loop much. Vs me, he unleashes LOL

As always, comments welcomed.

A little less than 6 mins edited. I lost in 4 (-4, 7, -9, -5).

HIGHLIGHTS for Chit Chatters who don't want to or can't watch the full vid for now:

0:32 - 0:35 - sometimes I get a lot of sidespin on my pendulum serve - he misjudged and missed

1:05 - 1:09 - serve down the line to FH, 3rd ball smash (one of my staple tactics)

1:19 - 1:24 - prior to this point, a few points I was controlling the ball but lost on unforced error ... this is me in prime form, if i can get to do this consistently, i will not call myself 1400 but i don't do it consistently LOL

1:58-2:01 - my friend TTD member "42andbackpains" has been trying to get it into my head that modern TT is all about spin/looping ... especially shorter stroke loops, higher percentage and safer... sadly my reply, "The scorpion and the frog" (if any TTDers doesn't know that story, please ask)... like a baseball slugger swinging at a high fastball, i cannot resist and see a high ball and smash

2:15-2:19 - another of my staple tactics - serve wide to BH and 3rd ball punch to FH

3:44-3:54 - lost this pushing battle - generally i push better than this ... sometimes i get a feeling and am able to get an extreme angle on my pushes ... during this point, either too tired or did not have the extreme angle feeling

4:03 - 4:09 - i give you this TT haiku:

Like a pregnant yak
trudging in the Winter's snow...
HA! I made a loop!

The only loop i attempted and made in the match ... generally i would loop more, just tired mentally and physically

p.s. I am my own worst enemy! Told ya all I'm 1400!!

Nah. You just don't serve enough short no spin and backspin (a common issue with OSPHs like yourself). Your topspin game is fine but that guy likes to back off the table and you kept giving him the ball instead of taking advantage of your close to the table preference by bringing him in. It's hard to serve short consistently if you don't serve some backspin and no spin. Whenever you bring him in short, he pops the ball up, but then rather than moving to take advantage and attack the ball, you usually just bump it back to him. What's the point of being close to the table if you aren't going to punish the easy high balls or at least move them to wide angles?

Forget looping, you play with enough topspin for what you do. Just get consistent at it. Looping is for people with excess energy and power. I've had this discussion with 42andbackpains and if I was like him, I would play very differently - in fact more like you, and probably with short pips on forehand so I can get people to pop the ball up more.

 

[NextLevel]

Many people here don't realize that I became a true looper only very recently, hence the transformation that DerEchte was referring to. It wasn't until I got to 1900 that I started forehand looping per se, and even then, mostly by preparation vs. backspin. Here are a couple of examples of how I used to really play. I was around 1600 at this time. Yes he is not a looper but vs loopers, I mostly blocked and hit.

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

NL,

Thank you for your advice! About you playing more like me ...there was one point in your match vs D. Vila that was what i would've done... as i watched the point, i jumped up in my seat and thought coolness! Didn't note the timestamp, and didn't have time to watch it again, but will rewatch and note the timestamp.

I know i don't serve enough nospin, but old man memory, i'm fixated on serving the spinny unreturnable serves (think ttmonster was the one who mentioned it). Thank you for the 'refocus' ... will start working the nospin. Also ditto on the short... other partners, i would serve short, but somehow have it in my head to serve long and serve spin to K. So tired monday, not thinking clearly to begin with LOl

I am writing up a post about myself for Carl's TTD essence thread... i started off as pips. 42&bp from time to time joked with me about going back to pips. He has switched to it for his BH. Going back to pips is in the back of my mind. The main roadblock is my lack of a BH smash, which was why i gave up on pips to go to smooth. But i have a decent punch/push-block to compensate for lack of a bh smash.

Again thank you NL!!