Europe Smash 2026, Malmö, 8/8-16

[zeio]

Could time zones have played a factor in Felix"s issues on Yokohama?

Harimoto reaching the final in Malmo after winning in Yokohama a week apart kind of cancels that out.

Felix having more time to prepare for the final is another factor.

 

[zeio]

View attachment 42949
I truly cannot understand at all. 90% of the points won by Felix is RPB. Is C-Pen BH so scary?

Is Gozo getting old and stuck in old outdated thinking?

Harimoto: Make Cpen great again!

He's actually talked about how RPB loops came with sidespin that gives him such a hard time.

【卓球】張本智和「コントロールできなかった」独特“ペンホルダー”に苦しみ1回戦ストレート負け「また良い結果を出せるように」
https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/sports/038104beccbc4b2db7967d48c64769fa

◇卓球WTTチャンピオンズ マカオ(9～14日、中国・マカオ)

張本智和選手（世界ランク3位）は薛飛選手（世界ランク45位/中国）と対戦し、0－3（8－11、8－11、9－11）で敗戦。世界ランクでは大きく上回る相手にストレート負けで初戦敗退となりました。

試合後取材に応じた張本選手。「今年の2月に対戦していて1回負けていて、その時が苦しかったので対策を練ったんですけど、1ゲーム逆転されてからそこからは…。各ゲーム競っていたんですけど、相手の方が落ち着いていたかなと思います」と話しました。

特に相手のスタイルに対応できなかったことを敗戦の要因に挙げた張本選手。この試合は特に相手のバックハンドに苦しみました。

「ペンホルダーで、ラケットの持ち方が特殊な相手。角度が違ったりに対応するのが難しかった。彼の打ち方自体が独特で、僕が合わせきれていないのかなと思います。特にバックハンドが独特で、どう打つかとか使わせないかでしたが、コントロールできなかった」

次回は北京で行われるWTTスマッシュ中国に出場予定。

「先月は（WTTチャンピオンズ横浜優勝など）結果が良かったですけど、今月はスウェーデンとマカオで良くなかった。残りの試合でしっかりまた良い結果を出せるようにしていきたいなと思います」

(◇Table Tennis WTT Champions Macau (September 9-14, Macau, China)

Tomokazu Harimoto (World Rank 3) faced Xue Fei (World Rank 45/China) and lost 0-3 (8-11, 8-11, 9-11). He suffered a straight-sets defeat against a significantly higher-ranked opponent, resulting in his first-round exit.

In an interview after the match, Harimoto said, "I played him in February of this year and lost once. That was a tough match, so I made some preparations, but after he reversed the score in the first game... Each game was close, but I think my opponent was calmer."

Harimoto cited his inability to adapt to his opponent's style as the main reason for his loss. He particularly struggled against his opponent's backhand in this match.

"My opponent uses a penholder grip, which is unusual. The angles were different, making it difficult to adapt. His hitting style itself is unique, and I think I wasn't able to fully adjust to it. His backhand, in particular, was unique; I struggled to control it, trying to figure out how to hit it or prevent him from using it."

Next, he plans to compete in the WTT Smash China tournament in Beijing.

"Last month I had good results (including winning the WTT Champions Yokohama), but this month I didn't do well in Sweden and Macau. I want to do my best to achieve good results in the remaining matches.")

---

FULL MATCH | Tomokazu Harimoto vs Wong Chun Ting | Asian Cup 2026
https://youtu.be/zZj9Q-yVUWY?t=446

 

[zeio]

I agree. I was slightly surprised that Sora was visibly panting after many of the rallies starting from
Game 5/6. Probably time to work on his physical strength. You do not see the same
From WCQ who is much older.

Some Tieba users have been telling him to lose weight (be prepared to get canceled here) because of that, whereas others tend to attribute that kind of loss to Matsushima's mentality.

好吧松竹能二天干出二个7:0开局输球的局
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/10948721218
timesdo 这不是第一次大比分被翻了，昨天松岛打兰弗利同样是第六局松岛7比1领先被翻，这次打张本是第六局7比0被翻，说明心态确实不太好
IP属地:河北来自Android客户端7楼2026-08-16 21:44收起回复
(This wasn't the first time a large point gap had been overturned. Yesterday, Matsushima was leading 7:1 against Ranefur but was overturned in the 6th game. This time against Harimoto, he was leading 7:0 in the 6th game but was overturned, showing that his mentality is indeed not good)
圆月无锋: 打王楚钦两次7：1被翻盘还有
2026-8-16 21:45回复
(He was overturned twice 7:1 against Wang Chuqin)
timesdo: 回复 圆月无锋 :从这就能看出松岛的心态确实不行，尤其是跟强手打的时候最容易暴露出这个问题
2026-8-16 21:48回复
(This shows that Matsushima's mentality is indeed not good, especially when playing against strong opponents, this problem is most easily exposed)

 

[Richie]

View attachment 42949
I truly cannot understand at all. 90% of the points won by Felix is RPB. Is C-Pen BH so scary?

Is Gozo getting old and stuck in old outdated thinking?

These different grips having a big effect is overrated imo.
As is shown when a pro player plays with a different grip for fun and doesn't have much trouble still playing extremely well. Also, look at Truls grip. As long as there is enough freedom in the swing to play all the different shots. Which there are in the penhold grip for Felix. The danger in the shots barely come from the grip. Okay, maybe I'm taking it a bit to the extreme considering the post above.

 

[Metaxa]

Harimoto: Make Cpen great again!

He's actually talked about how RPB loops came with sidespin that gives him such a hard time.

【卓球】張本智和「コントロールできなかった」独特“ペンホルダー”に苦しみ1回戦ストレート負け「また良い結果を出せるように」
https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/sports/038104beccbc4b2db7967d48c64769fa

(◇Table Tennis WTT Champions Macau (September 9-14, Macau, China)

Tomokazu Harimoto (World Rank 3) faced Xue Fei (World Rank 45/China) and lost 0-3 (8-11, 8-11, 9-11). He suffered a straight-sets defeat against a significantly higher-ranked opponent, resulting in his first-round exit.

In an interview after the match, Harimoto said, "I played him in February of this year and lost once. That was a tough match, so I made some preparations, but after he reversed the score in the first game... Each game was close, but I think my opponent was calmer."

Harimoto cited his inability to adapt to his opponent's style as the main reason for his loss. He particularly struggled against his opponent's backhand in this match.

"My opponent uses a penholder grip, which is unusual. The angles were different, making it difficult to adapt. His hitting style itself is unique, and I think I wasn't able to fully adjust to it. His backhand, in particular, was unique; I struggled to control it, trying to figure out how to hit it or prevent him from using it."

True, I believe him. Totally different ball-angle.

 

[zeio]

True, I believe him. Totally different ball-angle.

Wu Jingping on RPB, former CNT coach of MLin and WH.

https://hkttf.com/viewthread.php?tid=80873&extra=page=1

《乒乓》：直拍橫打如何發力？和橫板反手發力有什麼區別？
吳敬平：直拍橫打發力和橫板反手發力差不了多少，發力機制傳導順序差不多。都是腿部力量帶動腰部，再傳遞到大臂、前臂和手腕。只是直拍橫打手腕要靈活一些，手腕發力更多。直拍橫打的弧線帶點拐彎，往裡面拐，特別是中台的時候，和橫板有點區別。

(Ping Pong Magazine: How does one generate power in a penhold backhand topspin? What are the differences between it and a shakehand backhand topspin?

Wu Jingping: The force generation in a penhold backhand topspin and a shakehand backhand topspin is not much different; the force transmission mechanism is similar. Both involve leg strength driving the low back, then transferring to the upper arm, forearm, and wrist. The only difference is that the wrist is more flexible in a penhold backhand topspin, generating more power from the wrist. The trajectory of a penhold backhand topspin has a slight curve, curving inwards, especially at the mid-range, which is slightly different from a shakehand topspin.)

 

[kindof99]

These different grips having a big effect is overrated imo.
As is shown when a pro player plays with a different grip for fun and doesn't have much trouble still playing extremely well. Also, look at Truls grip. As long as there is enough freedom in the swing to play all the different shots. Which there are in the penhold grip for Felix. The danger in the shots barely come from the grip. Okay, maybe I'm taking it a bit to the extreme considering the post a

So you are saying that Harimoto was lying? Different grip. left hand right hand, Z03 K3 or H3, nothing has really big impacts on play if you play as good as Forest Gump.

 

[NextLevel]

So you are saying that Harimoto was lying? Different grip. left hand right hand, Z03 K3 or H3, nothing has really big impacts on play if you play as good as Forest Gump.

No, he is saying that the player's skill is broader than just the grip. He is 2200+ player who has even played Xu Hui, so he is just sharing his opinion/judgment.

 

[NextLevel]

These different grips having a big effect is overrated imo.
As is shown when a pro player plays with a different grip for fun and doesn't have much trouble still playing extremely well. Also, look at Truls grip. As long as there is enough freedom in the swing to play all the different shots. Which there are in the penhold grip for Felix. The danger in the shots barely come from the grip. Okay, maybe I'm taking it a bit to the extreme considering the post above.

You definitely are taking it a bit to the extreme, but what I like about your post is that it is definitely all relative for sure, but in this context, it might be more important than you give it credit for. Ultimately, Felix would have been a beast no matter what grip he played with though lol.

 

[latej]

These different grips having a big effect is overrated imo.
As is shown when a pro player plays with a different grip for fun and doesn't have much trouble still playing extremely well. Also, look at Truls grip. As long as there is enough freedom in the swing to play all the different shots. Which there are in the penhold grip for Felix. The danger in the shots barely come from the grip. Okay, maybe I'm taking it a bit to the extreme considering the post above.

Hi @Richie, welcome back, did you have a pause/break?

The grip, I think Gozo perhaps has a point. On my amateur level when I play with something unorthodox it makes it harder, say long-pips, say strange style, even unregular unexpected and rel. high balls... So I also tend to think this scarcity is an advantage for Felix ;-)

 

[Richie]

So you are saying that Harimoto was lying? Different grip. left hand right hand, Z03 K3 or H3, nothing has really big impacts on play if you play as good as Forest Gump.

I saw that post after I replied to to Gozo.
But I agree with Harimoto and what zeio wrote. I'll walk it back a tad as my post was on the extreme side. But generally I think it's more about Felix skill than the grip, but the grip would of course have some effect. But in my eyes it's less that the grip is so scary but that Felix skill overall is so scary. I don't think it would be a massive difference to if he played shake hand since a young age.

Anyway, the point is more one can be really good with a grip like Truls, regular shake hand grips, PH like Felix. Since that's possible it should suggest it's not extremely important which grip one chooses.

 

[NextLevel]

Hi @Richie, welcome back, did you have a pause/break?

The grip, I think Gozo perhaps has a point. On my amateur level when I play with something unorthodox it makes it harder, say long-pips, say strange style, even unregular unexpected and rel. high balls... So I also tend to think this scarcity is an advantage for Felix ;-)

I know one RPB player whose favorite player was Ma Lin, his backhand sidespin was very annoying to me. Not impossible to deal with but often annoying.

 

[kindof99]

Harimoto is more vulnerable to incoming spins as he blocks a lot. For someone like FZD, maybe the extra sidespin won't have as big an impact.

 

[NextLevel]

Harimoto is more vulnerable to incoming spins as he blocks a lot. For someone like FZD, maybe the extra sidespin won't have as big an impact.

Yes, his footwork to set up the forehand is not as aggressive. and he doesn't really pivot.

 

[NextLevel]

Harimoto reaching the final in Malmo after winning in Yokohama a week apart kind of cancels that out.

Felix having more time to prepare for the final is another factor.

Maybe you mean the event? Felix played the second semi.

 

[Richie]

Hi @Richie, welcome back, did you have a pause/break?

The grip, I think Gozo perhaps has a point. On my amateur level when I play with something unorthodox it makes it harder, say long-pips, say strange style, even unregular unexpected and rel. high balls... So I also tend to think this scarcity is an advantage for Felix ;-)

Hey Latej! Sadly I've been dealing with injuries/inflammation in several places on top of other life stress.. so I've barely played in the last few years.
I'm itching to play again, I even considered starting again right handed. But I'm having issues with the right side too. Hopefully I'll get back to it again at some point. I really miss it.

 

[NextLevel]

For this match specifically, I think ZQH was playing better than Sora. There were some spectacular shots from Sora, but I felt ZQH was dictating the rhythm.

Memory is a but foggy on the specifics, but I remember ZQH having a lead at multiple points and then Sora getting back into the match with some errors from ZQH.

I get you, my point though (I really have to finish that article) is that very often, a player takes a streak or semi-streak to get the lead, and the other player takes his own streak to win the game. The streak that got the lead is not seriously discussed, but the streak that lost the game is called choking. I prefer to reserve choking to certain forms of obvious nerves or bad shot selection etc. I just think the concept is to liberally applied to losing leads as if the opponent has no say in the outcome, especially when on form or history, the player who choked is the lower ranked player.

 

[latej]

Hey Latej! Sadly I've been dealing with injuries/inflammation in several places on top of other life stress.. so I've barely played in the last few years.
I'm itching to play again, I even considered starting again right handed. But I'm having issues with the right side too. Hopefully I'll get back to it again at some point. I really miss it.

Yes I think I remember now you mentioned the injury in the past. Sorry again... I'm not a doctor and I don't know the details, so take what I say with some reservation... I recommend to investigate fasting and its benefits, like autophagy and stem-cells... Best.

BTW. I think if @NDH is reading it, he is smiling, because he knows I evangelize it to everybody straight in the face... But I really believe it has huge potential...

EDIT2: @Richie the best match in this tournament was the Elias Ranefur vs Sora Matsushima. It was so great to see how Elias overpowered Sora, who otherwise overpowers everyone. It's a pitty he didn't win. There was this FH shot in 7th set that he missed, he had an advantage...