Daily Table Tennis Chit Chat

[NextLevel]

BTW, many people underestimate the importance of a circular motion that almost finishes behind/besides your body on both vs backspin and topspin on the backhand (someone in the comments is saying that he doesn't see any pro do the full stroke that William does, though I would argue he doesn't know what to look at as I have seen Zhang Jike do this many times). In fact, if you carefully analyze your forehand topspin that goes to salute at your forehead etc., you will see that this is the only way to make your backhand topspin behave like your forehand topspin! You can cut the follow through short for recovery reasons after mastering it, but unless you have the proper swing trajectory in the first place, it is easy to have to wrong path and start having a bad swing and not knowing where the error is coming from.

That said, most of the magic is in the backswing.

 

[SchemeSC]

BTW, many people underestimate the importance of a circular motion that almost finishes behind/besides your body on both vs backspin and topspin on the backhand (someone in the comments is saying that he doesn't see any pro do the full stroke that William does, though I would argue he doesn't know what to look at as I have seen Zhang Jike do this many times). In fact, if you carefully analyze your forehand topspin that goes to salute at your forehead etc., you will see that this is the only way to make your backhand topspin behave like your forehand topspin! You can cut the follow through short for recovery reasons after mastering it, but unless you have the proper swing trajectory in the first place, it is easy to have to wrong path and start having a bad swing and not knowing where the error is coming from.

That said, most of the magic is in the backswing.

Lately, I've been trying to apply this concept to all of my backhand shots, even the backhand counter in warmups. I think of the stroke as a circular motion, rather than just pressing forward on the back of the ball. It has improved my counterhit and forces me to wait for the ball better for some reason.

 

[NextLevel]

Lately, I've been trying to apply this concept to all of my backhand shots, even the backhand counter in warmups. I think of the stroke as a circular motion, rather than just pressing forward on the back of the ball. It has improved my counterhit and forces me to wait for the ball better for some reason.

I don't think of the flat counterhit as circular. The recovery from the stroke could be circular and some people do use circular motions on the counterhits but the stroke itself is designed to produce a flat ball, so doing it in a line is fine and probably ideal to facilitate your flat block. If you want to warmup with topspin, this is okay as long as you understand the risks involved and can differentiate this from a flat practice block. But the one thing you should not do is lift the ball with arc or generate topspin on counterhits or blocks when blocking in practice unless you are deliberately kick blocking. When you block/counterhit, try to monitor your blocks/counterhits to avoid lifting the ball with arc. You want to hit the ball directly towards your target so to speak with minimal topspin. This makes your flat blocking technique good. Many people block with lifting technique in practice thinking that the arc of light topspin is a good thing, but not realizing that when you block without a lot of topspin, the lack of directional control and the arc is actually increasing the risk of missing the table. You either need to generate real topspin or rely on directional control.

 

[SchemeSC]

I don't think of the flat counterhit as circular. The recovery from the stroke could be circular and some people do use circular motions on the counterhits but the stroke itself is designed to produce a flat ball, so doing it in a line is fine and probably ideal to facilitate your flat block.

Thanks.

I think the stroke that I'm doing in warmups is producing a flat ball. I just think that visualizing the stroke as rotational is causing me wait longer for the ball instead of reaching out. I'll post a video of my basic warmup counterhit tomorrow night to see what you think.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

another day at the club. just one match, lost 1-3 to a guy around my age, defending with long pimples. He is not a robot, but he's not making that many easy mistakes. I have to fight for each point. Up to the middle of the 3rd set, i was still in the game, it was something like 1 set all, 5-7 or 6-6, but it went quickly downhill from here. Even when losing there were bursts of excellent play, some very good rallies but not enough consistency / focus obviously for every point. The set i won was 14-12, i had 10-6 lead but couldn't finish, i had to fight deuce and 2 set points against me to finally grab it.

Once the defender has 2-3 points lead against me, i find it very difficult to come back generally, with more pressure. Basically its difficult to maintain 100% focus and discipline, and as soon i lose two/three points be it bad luck, excellent play from the other guy, or stupid miss, etc... it's very tough. Even i don't want to give up in these situations, i feel unconsciously something gives.

I think (not 100% sure) i've beaten this guy before, so definitely beatable, but honestly if/when I win against him, it would be a good win.

My attacking game was good today, serve good as well, but i made a few mistakes in receive at times, and he surprised me with sudden attacks a few times as well. I should have been more careful about that. There are some positives.

 

[shinshiro]

Had a training today.

I have noticed my loops against backspin are becoming better since last week. I'm able to brush the ball better now on the forehand (I'm putting more pressure on the thumb to close more the racket and doing something close to a full arm swing). But my backhand sucks at this, doing it with tranditional penhold is a LOT more difficult than shakehand (wich I played before).

I'm having a hard time with chiquita too. I have to get a specific training to master this...

If someone has a video about these two points (I'm a traditional penhold), I would be glad.

 

[SchemeSC]

Here's a quick look at my BH counter. Hopefully there's nothing too noteworthy.

 

[Der_Echte]

Ringer, I believe you have a much better more instinctive control over the ball when you take it off the bounce with softer hand, you vid shows you are very natural adept at those balls to your wide BH deep that surprise you, yet, you take it off bounce soft no emergency return it well. You also are doing well when you let the ball come to you and look over the ball before impact on your counter.

I think you practice like this 5 min a day for a year that you are gunna develop one mean touch on BH wing.

 

[NextLevel]

Here's a quick look at my BH counter. Hopefully there's nothing too noteworthy.

Nothing at all.

 

[Boogar]

Got a new rating update made 61 points last month, which brings me to 860 points and rank 2200

Now I am going to have to defend those points :O Playing in a tournament on the 12. ( with group stages YAY!) then league match on the 14. and Cup match on the 15. :O Probably going to get destroyed in the cup match. But looking forward to be playing good players, I making sure that i can record those matches.

 

[Der_Echte]

Did my first time at Sacramento TTC Round Robin. Did as expected or better. Met the TT man himself James T. Very amicable fellow. Very good touch and allround game, was competitive but lose close games. Won vs others in my group. Dude there was a tough old C-Pen active player with SP/MP thin sponge could hit and land it, somehow got by him. I am certain this guy is the death of aggressive macho loopers.

Haha, Coach JT was delayed to venue and when he arrived, he heard there was a near 2000 new guy (me) and when he look at the table pointed, I was dinking it with a 70 yr old beginner 300 USATT level gent, so my practive strokes didn't exactly inspire confidence haha, maybe a typo? Nope, JT and I played first match and he learned fast enough a few things enough about me and I learned I wasn't gunna overcome his touch, placement and variety, even if he opens himself up to points sometimes.

Found a new Chinese full time club went there yesterday and at 30 USD a month, I'm going back tomorrow to become a member. JT is likely gunna show up too, so I will have any manner of drill available.

 

[Garrison]

Our team won 9-2 yesterday but I lost my match Guess I have been watching too much FZD again, it always makes me copy his style which leads to mistakes I normally don't make

 

[NextLevel]

Did my first time at Sacramento TTC Round Robin. Did as expected or better. Met the TT man himself James T. Very amicable fellow. Very good touch and allround game, was competitive but lose close games. Won vs others in my group. Dude there was a tough old C-Pen active player with SP/MP thin sponge could hit and land it, somehow got by him. I am certain this guy is the death of aggressive macho loopers.

Haha, Coach JT was delayed to venue and when he arrived, he heard there was a near 2000 new guy (me) and when he look at the table pointed, I was dinking it with a 70 yr old beginner 300 USATT level gent, so my practive strokes didn't exactly inspire confidence haha, maybe a typo? Nope, JT and I played first match and he learned fast enough a few things enough about me and I learned I wasn't gunna overcome his touch, placement and variety, even if he opens himself up to points sometimes.

Found a new Chinese full time club went there yesterday and at 30 USD a month, I'm going back tomorrow to become a member. JT is likely gunna show up too, so I will have any manner of drill available.

For people who don't know, JT is one of the best lobbers in the US.

 

[ajtatosmano2]

A few seconds of my younger brothers daily practice Seriously, he plays at least a half hour every day by himself.

 

[NextLevel]

A few seconds of my younger brothers daily practice Seriously, he plays at least a half hour every day by himself.

Kids... his forehand shadow technique is better than mine already...

 

[ttmonster]

the lobber video is very nice NL

 

[NextLevel]

the lobber video is very nice NL

Yes. The big guy is a popular forum guy called heavyspin who was around 2200+ back then and 2400 at his peak. He is pretty smart and has a good sense of humor (he did some Trump for President table tennis spoof videos). He and I describe him as 2400 skills and an athlete's heart in a 1000 level body.

Lots of funny videos on his channel. These are two of many classics:

 

[ttmonster]

His videos are awesome . He has a great sense of humor , cracked me up on a saturday morning NL , thanks a lot for sharing

 

[Der_Echte]

For people who don't know, JT is one of the best lobbers in the US.

I can believe that. His control and touch are obvious. He can also disguise spins extra well. You are often trying to much power from a sudden out of position. I had later success smashing right at his head, or dinking the ball back right when he was retreating to lob position (to better fight vs me an F me up)

8 of us went out for a meal after the league, which is very surprising community in light of normal rent-a-space US clubs that players show up, play, then go away. That is why I like full time 7 day a week clubs, much better sense of community.

 

[Archosaurus]

I haven't been playing much lately, but I've been doing a lot of drills and shadows.

I think I am kind of "getting" footwork lately. My movement has become a little bit less bouncy and a bit more efficient and structured. I can do small adjustment hops when blocking.