Daily Table Tennis Chit Chat

[Garrison]

Behold EJs! This is your chance to turn your addiction into a job!

 

[hillwalker]

So at the club last night, one of the other left-handed players was there, and we got to do some lefty-to-lefty forehand rallies!

I also asked to drill, trying to loop long backspin serves from below the table. He has this shot consistent, I struggle a lot. Then I decided to try and put in more effort, and did a big grunt "HUH!" as I hit, and did a perfect loop! So I reckon adding the grunt when doing this shot could be important for me haha.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Here's a recent video of me playing in a tournament. I am not happy with my lack of performance
I feel I was very slow to react especially on the wide FH and made an incredible number of receive miss.

It was the first match of the day on a Sunday morning and we have very little warmup. I hate this...

I don't have the vid of the first set which was a disaster and put pressure on me after that.

https://youtu.be/jJ07Qb3u5aU

https://youtu.be/lB_TYOD25BQ

Despite that I think I'm more stable in rallies than before and when I can release my attacking shots they're really getting good.

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

Here's a recent video of me playing in a tournament. I am not happy with my lack of performance
I feel I was very slow to react especially on the wide FH and made an incredible number of receive miss.

It was the first match of the day on a Sunday morning and we have very little warmup. I hate this...

...

https://youtu.be/jJ07Qb3u5aU

Sir,

Given the lack of proper warmup, you are looking good in the rallies.

2:06-2:12 / 2:39-2:43 / 3:28-3:34 CHO!
2:50-3:02 Excellent point! Move him side-to-side and the block at 2:56-2:57 was Waldner-like!

I will watch your other set later.

Keep at it!

~osph

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

Videos of my practice yesterday.

1. Forehand

2. Backhand

3. Backhand punch cross court and down the line

4. Forehand and backhand at backhand corner

5. Alternate forehand and backhand

Any advice / suggestion welcomed!

Si-hing,

As I am going through learning new strokes and trying to correct my bad strokes, I am in no position to give advice.

Wanted to comment though with a thank you for the share of your practice videos! This confirms it, when we meet, I'm getting 9 points from you!! LOLOL

Seriously though, interesting you have a curled fingers grip ... i used to have that grip but trying to adapt to the extended fingers grip when I embarked on my RPB journey. I was not steady in my shots with the curled grip but was a bit more steady when i extended my fingers.

Keep up the good work!

~si-dai

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

Sir,

Do whatever it takes to help your game ... of course, within the rules of the game too.

I don't grunt or stomp my foot on serves, but I have seen others do it. With the stomp sometimes it's to disguise the serve and lack of sound on contact for different spins/no spins.

~osph

So at the club last night, one of the other left-handed players was there, and we got to do some lefty-to-lefty forehand rallies!

I also asked to drill, trying to loop long backspin serves from below the table. He has this shot consistent, I struggle a lot. Then I decided to try and put in more effort, and did a big grunt "HUH!" as I hit, and did a perfect loop! So I reckon adding the grunt when doing this shot could be important for me haha.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Thanks OSP
Warmup rules are the same for everyone. It’s just I don’t adapt well. I should go for one match first thing when I come to the club for training because tournament are the same. Then drills and matches at the end again

 

[janovewaldnersghost]

hey guys I’m training today and tomorrow there is a match any tips.Im vsing a 117 ranked player and I’m 711.Any training tips for today

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

hey guys I’m training today and tomorrow there is a match any tips.Im vsing a 117 ranked player and I’m 711.Any training tips for today

Sir,

Given the information in your post, if I'm understanding correctly, there is not many tips I, (and I may go so far as to say any of us) can give you with an almost 600 rank difference for you to win vs your competitor .

3 general tips though: relax, don't rush your shots, and have fun!

A Like for Luck!

~osph

 

[JeffM]

Thanks for the input Songdavid and OSP!

Perhaps because I have practiced serving all of a sudden in 2 consecutive days, I must have injured my back shoulder muscles, it is restricting my shoulder movement at the moment. I will probably not practice serving until it is settled down.
I will update you guys on my progress! From what I understand from songdavid, when I do the serve, my bat needs to go downward as it contacts the ball so the ball does not bounce up. I also need to practice so that the first bounce of the serve is consistent in the middle of the table and not so close to the net.

 

[Der_Echte]

Ironically, I impact the ball at a significantly higher height than many players and still manage good short serves. I may also experiment with the concept and approach David S. is showing.

One thing regardless is LOOSE grip during swing and impact, near impossible to get great spin and short control tightening up.

Many factors involved to get it all together and many try to practice getting them right all at the same time and often, it doesn't come together anytime soon.

Another approach is to isolate segments of the serve, like ball toss, short swing, timing to impact, first bounce, bat angles... then later put them together. Any of these not right will make a missed or poor quality serve.

 

[ttmonster]

If you are getting muscle pain , while its perfectly normal if you overused certain muscle groups,but I would want to relook at how relaxed you are and your technique of serving.

For example, I had a lot of trouble to get my backhand loop drive technique right because my forearm and shoulder was stiffer than it should be and I used to get unbearable shoulder pain. But once I understood how to do the loop drive with a loose wrist and forearm , I stopped struggling on how to create more spin and stopped getting shoulder pain when drilling backhand.

Thanks for the input Songdavid and OSP!

Perhaps because I have practiced serving all of a sudden in 2 consecutive days, I must have injured my back shoulder muscles, it is restricting my shoulder movement at the moment. I will probably not practice serving until it is settled down.
I will update you guys on my progress! From what I understand from songdavid, when I do the serve, my bat needs to go downward as it contacts the ball so the ball does not bounce up. I also need to practice so that the first bounce of the serve is consistent in the middle of the table and not so close to the net.

 

[songdavid98]

Ironically, I impact the ball at a significantly higher height than many players and still manage good short serves. I may also experiment with the concept and approach David S. is showing.

One thing regardless is LOOSE grip during swing and impact, near impossible to get great spin and short control tightening up.

Many factors involved to get it all together and many try to practice getting them right all at the same time and often, it doesn't come together anytime soon.

Another approach is to isolate segments of the serve, like ball toss, short swing, timing to impact, first bounce, bat angles... then later put them together. Any of these not right will make a missed or poor quality serve.

Most experienced players already do the things I mentioned without thinking about it. Since I spend a lot of time serving and experimenting with my serves, I've become aware of it. Of course, you can do it with just your wrist.

Isolating parts of the serve is great for analysis and testing; I do it myself when I want to learn new serves and/or makes serves better, although I focus more on the physical aspects and how they affect the serve. Like elbow placement, location and direction of contact in reference to your body, and racket speed.

 

[hillwalker]

Sir,

Do whatever it takes to help your game ... of course, within the rules of the game too.

~osph

Ah to be clear, I was grunting while *receiving* a serve. Not while serving!

 

[Der_Echte]

Most experienced players already do the things I mentioned without thinking about it. Since I spend a lot of time serving and experimenting with my serves, I've become aware of it. Of course, you can do it with just your wrist.

Isolating parts of the serve is great for analysis and testing; I do it myself when I want to learn new serves and/or makes serves better, although I focus more on the physical aspects and how they affect the serve. Like elbow placement, location and direction of contact in reference to your body, and racket speed.

The subject is way under-discussed and these are the kind things needed to provoke thought, action, and improvement.

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

Last week Tuesday - 4th week with new setup and really committing to RPB in earnest

Nothing extraordinary to report. Blocked for some friends a little. Went to a different table where the members have all beaten me easily mostly because I beat myself. Waited my turn. Played 2x and lost 3-0 both matches.

First - vs a JPen I've played before and I forgot how his BH has a little sidespin going away from me. Was able to make some RPB loops, but I've noticed I concentrate too much on the serve's spin, thinking it's downspin and I RPB brush up too much to overcome the downspin instead of brush and forward. On some he saw my responses and on 3rd ball FH smashed me LOL

Second - vs my friend K who has given me pointers in the past and I've never beaten. Easy win for him. He knows I love to smash and punishes me for that with sidespin lobs which I mostly misjudge. After this match, I have to reconsider if i should play with my glasses one. I am not used to playing with glasses on but may have to Only one memorable point for me, I RBP looped 2nd ball and FH smashed for a winner on 4th ball.

Weds night - generally go to my new club but had to go to our 2nd daughter's HS for a college info session on Hidden Ivies - schools - mostly liberal arts schools that are not as well known as the Ivy League schools but generally just as good in terms of education quality.

Thurs - just practiced ... slowly seeing that I cannot TPB punch/block consistently anymore! Very strange!! Either not used to the Donic Bluefire or RPB training has jedi mind tricked me or both LOL

Sunday - rare chance to get out on the weekend for me from Family duties. Went to my new club. My friend the coach there, gave me some pointers on RPB punch. He feels as I'm learning RPB, i should start from the ground up but more importantly, I don't have the timing down and i need to get the timing down. ~2 hrs practice with a teenager who probably can beat me easily LOL He is a lefty and he grooved his FH and I worked my RPB punch. Tried to TPB punch and balls didn't land. Really strange for me ... some internal alchemy at work? I jedi mind tricked myself? LOL

My RPB journey continues!

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

good training session today...

that good feeling when you beat a guy you've not beaten in months...
12-10 in the 5th only, but i take it. and actually i won 11-7 in the 1st after leading 9-3, lost 2nd 5, lost 3rd 9. In the 4th i win 5, and in the 5th I play well PLUS i have edges and lets, 10-6 lead. Then i miss a rather easy finish ball. He saves 3 match points with style with the help of lets and edges this time... 10-10... he plays the ball well and smashes it, but i have a reflex block with the edge... and i win it... LOL , but tbh i also lacked a bit of luck in recent defeats.

I also beated a guy who won 3-0 last week (but i had played poorly). It was a solid match from me.

I feel the hard work is starting to pay and feel even some improvements in the serve game, all thanks to the tips of my coaches and my team mates. My slow footwork and replacement is where i feel the most at a disadvantage to the better players of the next levels. Too many receive misses as well but I feel i can improve on that more easily.

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

Last night I intended to go play matches but practice was going well and I didn't play a match.

Old man memory - i lost track ... either my 5th or 6th week with new setup which I intend to play at least a year if not more. My wrist and fingers doesn't hurt as much as the discomfort/minor pain I've experienced since I started playing RPB in earnest.

Hit for 3 hours with 5 different partners ... outside of 1x where muscle memory instinctively TPB when ball flew over to my BH while we were hitting FH-FH, I was all RPB last night!!! So far it's only practice. I feel during gameplay will be harder to override the TPB however, slowly but surely overriding TPB with RPB.

"Progress not perfection."
~Robert McCall

1. Hit with a member I've never hit with before. I recognized him but have never watched him hit/play. He wanted to just hit for 20 mins or so. When I don't know my partner's level, I will just hit steady and return the ball. FH-FH he was steady ... i started meeting the ball earlier and although I may not be doing it subconsciously yet I think i'm slowly getting there. Must remember to meet the ball earlier.

2. Hit with my regular training partner next. Warmed up FH-FH and I actively meet the ball earlier, making progress. He then wanted to practice serve and attack. I push to his FH and he FH loop drive. In about 3 weeks time where he missed the 3rd ball, last night he smoked many past me! He plays 7 days a week. Happy he improved!

3. Hit with a partner FH-FH and we were slow and steady ... many a time we hit 50+ balls without a miss! Again, I was actively trying to meet the ball earlier and getting it into muscle memory slowly but surely.

4. Hit with a SH player at my level - he wanted to groove his BH loop. Lots of sidespin and steady. I tried to RPB block his shots, although I have not 'officially' learned RPB block yet. I had a challenge judging his sidespin BH loop as well as blocking the first shot, and if I made that, i had very little 2nd blocks making it. After blocking for him for 15 mins or so, I started spinning. Am happy to report against slow to moderated speed nospin/topspin serves (not a serve per se, but you know how the drill/practice starts, one player throws the ball against the racket and strokes) I found it easy to RPB loop drive ... was able to do it fairly consistent and my partner may have overstated my shot, but he said oh, "nice shot, strong and spinny." I didn't feel it was that strong or spinny. Must remember this feeling of easy to RPB loop drive and stroke for future practice.

5. Hit with a 1900 player ... he started on BH also. I have practiced with him before, very steady and very fast shots compared to me. Very solid foundation in his strokes. He said he got a new rubber and testing it. I tried RPB BH instead of RPB punch. I kept missing Then he slowed down a tad and I recall my session with songdavid98 and 42andbackpains. I was rushing my shots reacting to the incoming speed. I waited a bit longer and was RPB BH much more steadier. Must remember not to rush my shots and wait a bit longer before hitting the ball back.

Good practice last night.

 

[Garrison]

Hit for 3 hours with 5 different partners ...

Whoa this is a family friendly forum!

 

[OldschoolPenholder]

whoa this is a family friendly forum!

bwahahahaha!!