Daily Table Tennis Chit Chat

[Der_Echte]

Dust the cobwebs, dust the Goon Squad, do Spring cleaning... Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho...

 

[Der_Echte]

This past Wednesday, I was the Match Director of the Virginia Senior Games. Held for the first time at my city. I was thrilled to run the tournament and award the medals. We had over 60 people attend from across the state.

The TT events were: Singles, Doubles, and, Mixed-Doubles

Across the USA, men and women can compete in 'Senior Games' if over the age of 50. There are other enents too like: tennis, pickeball, bowling, etc. Each state can hold their events at different times. It follows USATT rules (that mostly follow ITTF rules), however, is not an USATT sanctioned event.

So, I've run 2 tournaments in two years. The second was harder than the first (it was 2X bigger). I kinda like doing this MD stuff. I want to try this a couple more times....

Did Smash TTC owner show up and take over the O50s ???

 

[Der_Echte]

@NextLevel

Its difficult to win a final, or to play the next match after a good win. i remember last year after i beat in the favourite in the group stage, i lost in semis to a "somewhat lower" rated opponent, playing quite badly (there is no rating system here so its a subjective assertion). if i had won, i would have advanced to the finals against the guy i had beaten in the group stage, with a real chance to win again (or so i thought at the time)

Yes his BH is nowhere as good as his FH, but i've seen play against other (stronger) players and he's able to play very good BH from time to time. The other truth is when you've beaten the same guy for more than 10 years with the same tactics, you don't want to change. It's very understandable he would just try to play the same in the 3rd,4th and 5th set, just waiting for me to play to my "average usual" level and to beat me as usual, and not try new tactics and try to use BH attacks in the middle of the match.

I knew that despite losing so many times to him, the mental aspect was important and that i had enough weapons to beat him. Now i think of it, i think his weak point is tactics (he didn't change) and his ball has always the same pace (he would always to drive hard to my BH, if he mixed strong attacks with slower but spinnier attacks i would be more confused for sure). so basically from the 2nd set i had adapted to his game, but he could not adapt to my tactics.

Even in a city level tourney, one must play a full level or maybe two above their playing level to win a final in a city or regional tourney... In a national level tourney, even two full levels above your normal level wont even get you into the round of 16.

That is the reality of a divisional system that your nation and Korea share. Stay strong and persistent. Tourney matches at that level and above under pressure are an entirely different animal than club matches.

 

[Der_Echte]

Der_Echte Mega-Sweated for over a year and deteriorated the neck of the battle ax Kim Jung Hoon and it is now cracked out unusable. Been using the Nexy LISSOM ALL to ALL+ blade with the prototype Karis M+... Every time I "Down Grade" in speed to that blade my game gets better when I get a new main blade. That rubber on such a slow blade is NOT slow. I can REALLY crack it on either wing with this setup. I just ordered TWO Lissoms as backups from Nexy Korea along with the New Karis "H" (Hard) rubbers and some new shoes.

I bought a couple of thin carbon Tibhar Samsonov CB blades form MyTT member Dreiz from NYC and slapped MX-P on it to see how it rocks... It rocked my shots out of bounds on every try. Today, Out on a new sheet of Nexy Karis M+ and now that blade is a puppy dog control with a burst of young love power.

I might keep this as my main blade... I had good touch on less forceful impact shots today.

 

[Der_Echte]

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA friggin hahah.

I had private conversations with Next Level about what blade he would best harmonize with Nexy Karis M... NL tried a lot out and settled on a faster BTY blade that he had better feel for it. Cool with me. That is the unknown sweet spot.

After thinking about my last few points... I can really rocket the ball with a 5 Ply ALL WOOD Nexy LISSOM, I absolutely crush it when I need to... yet Der_Echte is more concerned about how he can land the "Middle" shots... How ate up is Der_Echte for thinking this... why is he worried about the "Soft" performance of hiz blade and rubberz ???!!

A: Because he doesn't piss away 3-4 points a game from an uncontrollable fan-boy setup.

 

[chuckjordan2]

@der echte, No. Smash TT owner wasn't there. He's 50+ now??

 

[NextLevel]

Me today, I played tournament coach and EJ madman. Bought aTenaly and long pips and coached a friend who wanted to make me pull my hair out through his knockout matches in the U2000. He lost deuce in the 5th, coming back from being down 3-10 to lose 12-14.

If you care, here is the match. Coaching tournament matches is not for me - it drive me crazy when I am supposed to be getting my player to play his best table tennis.

 

[yoass]

But it is kind of cool how fast you get most of it back if you think about it.

Good for you! Wish I could say the same, but after my little bout with cervical disc herniation my FH is stubbornly refusing to get back in line. Timing and contact, I want them back. Ah well, working on it...

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Good for you! Wish I could say the same, but after my little bout with cervical disc herniation my FH is stubbornly refusing to get back in line. Timing and contact, I want them back. Ah well, working on it...

That is different. You had an injury. I just was not able to play because my priorities were taking care of my wife and daughter.

Now my priorities are still taking care of my daughter, so if I play, I will usually only get an hour at a time unlike how I used to train for several hours. But coming back from an injury, where your mechanics are affected in unexpected ways is harder. I hope your neck injury makes a full recovery. And so does your FH.

Are you still doing anything for the disks?

 

[yoass]

That is different. You had an injury. I just was not able to play because my priorities were taking care of my wife and daughter. [...]

But coming back from an injury, where your mechanics are affected in unexpected ways is harder. I hope your neck injury makes a full recovery. And so does your FH.

Are you still doing anything for the disks?

Of course your priorities were and are elsewhere! Just glad to hear you didn't lose your game. As for me, it was a longish rest period and unbelievably strong pain medication. It does not heal, unfortunately, but the body copes to a certain extent making it a more or less asymptomatic issue.

 

[Michal_Z]

I heared from my friend who plays pretty good stuff, he said, that in fact, chinese players use very slow blades.
They use OFF- and slower blades so they can control it.
They get the speed with perfect technique and with fast rubbers.
But the blades are slow.
Probably slower than most of the attackers here have

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Of course your priorities were and are elsewhere! Just glad to hear you didn't lose your game. As for me, it was a longish rest period and unbelievably strong pain medication. It does not heal, unfortunately, but the body copes to a certain extent making it a more or less asymptomatic issue.

Do you have x-rays or MRI images? There are things that can help that improve a lot. Are you doing physical therapy still?

I guess the bad news side of it is that the motion of TT strokes will likely not be so great for it unless it the disk issues do get significantly better.


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[NextLevel]

I heared from my friend who plays pretty good stuff, he said, that in fact, chinese players use very slow blades.
They use OFF- and slower blades so they can control it.
They get the speed with perfect technique and with fast rubbers.
But the blades are slow.
Probably slower than most of the attackers here have

That has not been my experience at all unless you consider Viscaria and HL5 slow blades. What they probably mean is that Schlager carbon is not common with young Chinese players (many older experienced players use it with Tenergy). What I find is that good players use a good offensive looping blade with boosted spinny rubbers.

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

Some people use Tenergy for years before replacing it - just keep it clean. No rush.

*mind blown* WOW! Thank you, good to know!

The loops look good. Yes, Tenergy kinda loops for you, but that is the whole point isn't it? And you still have to loop to let it loop for you, so don't take too much from yourself.

Thank you Sir for your kind words! Like 42andbackpains constantly reminds me, I'm stuck in the 1980's ... technology evolved by leaps and bounds since then ... there are some major points I'm still working on in my loops as well as FH like: loop vs drive, controlled 3rd ball spinny topspin loop, whip, wrist, compact stroke, and footwork ... I'm having fun along the way in getting used to the blade/rubber.

There are lots of ways of getting topspin with backhand.

Other than the finger being high up the blade, the strokes look decent. It doesn't affect forehand as much as backhand but does affect both sides. If I ever get a chance, I might make a video on why and whether one needs to fix it or not. But some players like to raise the finger on forehand and drop it back down on backhand and even me, when I play powerful forehands or block aggressively, the racket shifts in my hand and the finger is high up on the blade based on where I end up - I have theories why, but it would be dishonest to explain it as if it is something I try to do.

I'm not sure why my finger is high up, although i know the finger is usually lower on SH grip, when i hold the A.Hinoki, i seem to automatically hold it that way. Not sure if it's just I'm not a SH player and need to consciously think of finger placement or if the AH is a smaller blade or whatever LOL

SIDENOTE: former owner of the blade had his fingers high up also, can see the imprint ... puzzling to me as you mentioned the former owner used that blade for his SH play.

I will see if i get comfortable with BH loops as to not waste my partner's time in picking up my missed shots as well as trying the RPB block/punch/loop. Will record video if i ever get there.

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

... i'm down 0 sets to 2 but i've come mentally back in the match, tchoooing on every winner and i start to believe i can win.

in the 3rd set and 4th set, i am in the zone, ... but at this stage i feel nothing is done and that i could collapse any moment

Fortunately my mates keep cheering for me and i'm still pumped up tchoooing every point ... at this moment i'm happy like a cadet player having his first over 2000 win

... I just have the satisfaction to have beaten my usual enemy for the first time in so many years...

CONGRATULATIONS! GREAT NEWS!!

Almost all athletic endeavors, actually all of Life is 80% mental (if not more) ... once doubt enters or confidence leaves, you have one more opponent against you ... yourself! Seems like tchooing is one method that has helped your self-confidence ... recall it in your other posts. Whenever you need some confidence, start tchooing.

Because im on the lighter side of the draw, there is a long waiting before the final. I can observe my opponent, i never played before, ... I think i am way too anxious and also a bit colder than him when we play the final.

Yin-Yang / In-Yo... Yang/Yo - gives you time to observe next opponent but Yin/In - it may take forever for your next match.

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

I played for over an hour today. There was quite a bit of rust after not playing for about 2.5 months (aside from 10 min Wednesday).

Man it was fun. Timing and contact took a little while to warm up. But it is kind of cool how fast you get most of it back if you think about it.


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Carl,

I am so happy for you!!!

9 points! Too soon?

 

[yoass]

Do you have x-rays or MRI images? There are things that can help that improve a lot. Are you doing physical therapy still?

I guess the bad news side of it is that the motion of TT strokes will likely not be so great for it unless it the disk issues do get significantly better.

There have been MRIs, with an assessment that things should settle down in a couple of months, with pain subsiding over time and hampered movement diminishing. Surgery is possible if things turn worse, and yes, still having some physical therapy/excercises to perform. Yet, I'm also told to keep moving freely, keeping in mind not to put too much strain and not to overexcercise. That's what I've been doing, and don't feel restricted in my movement anymore. Getting a natural rhythm back, a natural feeling of free-flowing movement, that's a different thing. Training steadily, first and foremost trying to keep enjoying the game. It doesn't matter al that much if my play is good or bad, as long as there's something to enjoy in it.

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

I have Family duties on the weekend and generally don't play TT. This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to go and join 42andbackpains at his TT club, New York Indoor Sports Club.

Saturday

42andbackpains had his regular coaching lesson. I showed up afterwards. Saw PingPongHolic there and he's looking great as always! He says to 42&bp and me something to the effect of: "What is this, the old-timers get-together?" LOLOLOL

Deeply grateful to 42&bp for his time/advice/tips ... he pointed out a lot I still have to work on... he said something like: "this is not the 1980's, get with the times, gotta get rid of your 1980's muscle memory/mindset" ... LOL

I only played PH (sorry ttmonster!). We worked on:

1) multiballs with him feeding me ... I haven't done multiballs since sometime in the 1980's! Mostly worked on FH looping

2) Pushing - when i learned pushing in the 80's, it was adding downspin to the ball and placing the ball here and there, with the idea of setting up an attack. Sometimes I would be able to get an extreme angle on my push. 42&bp says that is the old days, modern pushing is really just touching the ball... ball control... ball quality. Although I understood what he was saying, my body automatically added some downspin and extreme angled the ball. Muscle memory - will need loads of time to undo this LOL

3) Serve receive - not sure how to describe this ... something like jabbing/stabbing at the ball. I need loads of work on this area as it's my weakest ... well that and shots consistency.

4) Serving mostly downspin vs serving side-down from a pendulum serve ... I understand this much better after 42&bp mentioned the scoop on the downspin serve - this detail really helped me understand. He asked PPH who was playing on another table to serve downspin. What i thought was downspin on my pendulum serves are really side down or mostly sidespin. *mind blown*

5) PPH hit a few shots with the American Hinoki/Tenergy ... says it's fast and bouncy ... good for loopers.

Also he mentioned the difference in ball sizes from the smaller ball in the 1980's to the current balls - something I don't consciously think of, and I need to update my strokes/game/mindset.

After 1 hour, 42&bp had to leave. I stayed another hour practicing serves.

I have video of the multiballs session and then ran out of space on my phone. Didn't have time to edit fluff out - will see if i can edit it tonight. Not pretty LOL

Sunday

42&bp was already at the club for sometime working on his training.

1) Like Saturday, PH only ... no video.

I started looping ... i have more of a sidespin loop ... relic from the 80's. Trying to get more into compact stroke and topspin loop only. Ball control/ball quality vs wild sidespin/no control. Have to trust the rubber more and let it do the work for me. Need loads of work on footwork LOL.

2) Pushing - think i'm finally getting what 42&bp is saying ... getting more touch on pushing vs me adding downspin. There are times to add downspin, but we were working on just touching the ball. Need loads of work on footwork LOL.

3) I don't recall (old man memory, it was only yesterday!) if we worked on other aspects or note LOL.

We played a match. 42&bp beat me 3-2. He wasn't playing as serious ... also he was working specific aspects of his game ... one of which was pushing, but it was also to hammer home the idea, ball control/ball quality. Don't need extreme angles... he won quite a few points on pushing. Don't recall scores, but iirc, 2 games went to deuce. One game i was up 8-4 and either lost at deuce or won at deuce LOLOL at me.

Only 10 shots or less that were highlights-worthy in the 5 games between the both of us LOL regardless, no video. I had 1 RPB loop that surprised me because it landed in and missed the followup shot ... iirc i was either 50-50 on smashes or 40-60. 42&bp has wicked FH loops!

~osph

 

[Michal_Z]

I heared from my friend who plays pretty good stuff, he said, that in fact, chinese players use very slow blades.
They use OFF- and slower blades so they can control it.
They get the speed with perfect technique and with fast rubbers.
But the blades are slow.
Probably slower than most of the attackers here have

That has not been my experience at all unless you consider Viscaria and HL5 slow blades. What they probably mean is that Schlager carbon is not common with young Chinese players (many older experienced players use it with Tenergy). What I find is that good players use a good offensive looping blade with boosted spinny rubbers.

I have been told, that they mostly have changed holding sticks (or how to call it) by obvious marketing reasons, so their bat represents some blade that they want to advertise.
But they play with slow blades. I dont know - its what I have been told, I didnt meet the chinese players in person.
He did on pro tours, he had also a chat with them (and one of the female players - a friend of him - got Zhang Jike´s sign on her bra ).

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Carl,

I am so happy for you!!!

9 points! Too soon?

Oh. It's okay. I'll take a 9 point handicap against you. Thanks. lololol on me! [emoji2]


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