Played at the Russian church where they have a local outreach using table tennis to attract people.
I usually try to play more doubles... and did... and did have a singles match vs Sergey Scoobie Doo.
The usual happened. I lost (2-3), yet in many ways played measurably better in many of the quantifiable things (named a few several posts ago) and subjective "eyeball test" things.
vs Sergey, I try to focus and play smart... but it isn't enough. He doesn't make many mistakes - very consistent and makes good decisions, rarely over-commits. vs Sergey, I have to have courage, because he will attack if I do not attack or if I do not give him a ball he doesn't like. I did a lot of that more than before.
We usually have the average short rallies. If I attack, he blocks and I win it on next ball or don't. I misread his dead short bump from my short underspin return on his serve... then he brings out the hammer to punish my mistake. That bodes for the typical short rally.
This time, I was much more consistent on follow up attacks. Wasn't killing him with the first one, but I could place it where all he can do is retrieve. Had 4-5 rallies that went 6-8 attacks with a final finish away wide. Had another 3-4 like that where my finish shot just missed.
My flipping was more confident. I imagined I stepped in for a flip on only 40-50 percent of the balls instead of the usual 60 percent plus. After all these matches, it still can be tough to tell what depth Scoobie is serving to.
When I was down, whether it was 2 points or 4 points, I played tougher, more focused, and much higher pressure/consistent.
The angles on my flips and BH drive or medium loop to his wide FH were more severe and troubling. Usually, he can get to every wide ball I give him on first or follow-up attack. Sergey covers a surprising amount of real estate like many lefties.
My serve decisions and execution improved, especially on the "pull the carpet" short heavy-light underspin (ball looks heavier than it is) that get me a small pop-up to my wide FH near net. These, if I see in time and actually step in, I can attack strongly over the table into his body or wide BH cross court. (he is lefty, I am righty)
I usually am 50/50 getting to these and attacking... Sergey usually gets back a few of those... so my overall success rate is usually around 40 percent... not good enough to even try that tactic in a real match vs him... but for strategic reasons, I have to develop that shot, because when I get to 2000-2100 level, I am not getting easy points from serve and short game is much more important. This time, I was closer to 70 percent in seeing and getting to those. I still IMAGINE that I stepped in enough to hit those. My hips are big time worn out and weak, difficult for me to stay squatted long enough consistent enough.
Trying to start a step while very upright position is asking for trouble. I seem to like this kind of trouble as I continue to roll this way, but I am slowly changing my trouble making ways.
All in all, a loss is a loss no matter how anyone spins it... but I do not play vs Sergey solely for the "win-now" (although I still try - it is a competitive match) I play vs him for strategic growth. It is an excellent situation to grow the skills, thinking, and courage to do what contributes to winning points, games, matches all in a safe setting.
I attribute my growth in playing level over the last year (improving from just below 1800 to mid 1900s California) to talks with ttd member erm, changes in equipment erm advised (gearing down slightly on blade and switching to dynamic FH rubber) and mostly, the kind of match training I do vs Sergey and erm. (I should say "with" as we are essentially working together)
What does Sergey get out of this deal? The kind of ways I attack or the kind of spin or the kind of flips I do vs him... not so many players he plays do that and it causes Sergey to improve and cope with it... and Sergey is doing quite well in that. He has also improved his level 1.5 levels over the last year... a tough thing to accomplish without doing much real structured drills.
Sergey's basic approach to equipment selection is pretty close to my attitude. Select equipment that makes it easy to do the majority of shots you do with ease of control. Sergey likes to spin and play touch, so a blade and rubber that are more Offensive control oriented that make it real essy to spin up the ball and feel the ball are the middle zone. Not so surprisingly, Sergey can pick up any of the 4-5 bats erm and I have focused on and use any of them the same way achieving the same results with slightly different pros and cons.
I really wish we could get Sergey on TTD to discuss the more important aspects of TT, he would have a lot of things to say to cause people to grow and he would be very supportive people.