Even Yet Still More Table Tennis Tips

[larrytt]

Yeh!! I mean I have 4 of your books in kindle! This will be my 5th!!!!

I've had a busy few days and was planning to take today off and visit Harpers Ferry National Park, which is an hour away, but haven't visited in decades. But you inspired me to get going on this, and so I'm working on the kindle version now. I should finish it this afternoon, and typically it'll be online in about two days. I'll post here when it's up. I'll visit Harper's Ferry another time.
-Larry Hodges

 

[Oliverpool]

I've had a busy few days and was planning to take today off and visit Harpers Ferry National Park, which is an hour away, but haven't visited in decades. But you inspired me to get going on this, and so I'm working on the kindle version now. I should finish it this afternoon, and typically it'll be online in about two days. I'll post here when it's up. I'll visit Harper's Ferry another time.
-Larry Hodges

Thanks Larry! And again I really want to say I appreciate that you have posted a weekly tips article for so many years for anyone who wants to
Improve their game to read and learn for free.

 

[Tyce]

I note that Meryl Streep is scheduled for both the Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert shows tonight, since she has a new movie out this Friday. If you were in the audience or a co-guest on the show, would you boo her and sarcastically ask if movie attendance was down for her and complain that she only shows up on these shows to “peddle” her movies?

To be perfectly honest, those appearances are usually extremely fake and cringe. Stephen has a great sense of humour, but those shows are pretty much extended commercials for celebrities.

Other than that I agree, someone who makes a book wants to see it sell! I can't imagine how hard it is to market a niche like table tennis books without doing it all by yourself.

 

[larrytt]

Thanks Larry! And again I really want to say I appreciate that you have posted a weekly tips article for so many years for anyone who wants to
Improve their game to read and learn for free.

Appreciated! And after about three hours of wrestling with various formatting issues, I just uploaded the kindle version. There's a note that it takes up to 72 hours for it to be approved and go online, but it generally does it within a day. I'll post here when it's up. I also write science fiction & fantasy - but publishing that is a lot easier because for those I have regular publishers. (Getting them accepted, however, is the tricky part as there are a lot of writers battling for a few spots in the publishing world.) For my table tennis books, I self-publish.
-Larry Hodges

 

[mamedium]

there's only 1 tip you need to know. Adopt Long Pips rubbers, it will solve all your problems

when it does and if you want to thank me with a donation you can ask in DM for my BTC address

when is your book “Long Pips Long Overdue” is coming out? i want that book… if only it is not strictly over-65-only rated

 

[larrytt]

when is your book “Long Pips Long Overdue” is coming out? i want that book… if only it is not strictly over-65-only rated

That was top secret! The correct title is, "Harry Chopper and the Long Pips Ox," co-written by me and Pipsi Longblocking. It comes out Apr. 1, 2027.
-Larry Hodges

 

[NetProphet]

Okay, since you agree that I’m “free to post,” I’ll post my response as an appropriately “Top Eleven” list.

1. Thanks for the continued sarcasm, i.e., the made-up “It's a long-standing joke in the TT community that Larry Hodges wants you to buy his book!” Can you give us links to the many others who have posted about this as a joke? Or is it a secret thing that everyone discusses at table tennis communities around the world but never online? You just made this up. Plus, don’t you think it’s silly to make a joke that writers want people to buy their books? Why do you think they wrote the book? Think about it!

I didn't make it up. I've read it in a few places, possibly the first time was here....

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/new-rules-for-table-tennis.21991/

1. I notice that you didn’t respond to my question about whether, when a new person shows up, rather than use sarcasm, it might be a better response to say, “Hi Larry, glad to see you here! Why not join some of our discussions here?” Others did that and we’ve had some good discussions already. Why not you? Instead, you post anonymous sarcasm, while I post under my own name.

I didn't see your question.
But you've been a member since 2014 right? Belated welcome.

1. I note that Meryl Streep is scheduled for both the Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert shows tonight, since she has a new movie out this Friday. If you were in the audience or a co-guest on the show, would you boo her and sarcastically ask if movie attendance was down for her and complain that she only shows up on these shows to “peddle” her movies?

Are you really comparing yourself to Meryl Streep 🤣🤣🤣
You absolute Lunatic

1. If Ma Long wrote a book on table tennis and showed up here to let people know about it, would you also be sarcastic about his “peddling” his book? Do you think anyone on the forum would agree with you on this? (No, I’m not comparing myself to Ma Long. But the principle is the same.)

Yes, you are comparing yourself to Ma Long. And you are deliberately sidestepping my point because you know it's a valid point.

1. If you wrote a table tennis book, and knew that a major way to let the table tennis community know about the book was to post about it on table tennis forums, would you do so, or would you keep it a secret that you wrote a table tennis book? Or would you require that all authors have to post regularly on every table tennis forum where they post about their book before they can post about it? When a person puts huge amounts of time and effort into writing a table tennis book and then announces it on a TT forum, do you realize how shallow it is to complain that he’s just “peddling his book”? (So, Ma Long has to spend huge amounts of time posting on each forum if he posts about his book or you’ll complain he’s just “peddling his book,” right?)

I don't know Larry.
But point remains, you step in here only to promote yourself. Personally I think that's a bit shitty 🤷

1. Do you believe some people on a table tennis forum, who get much of their table tennis news from that table tennis forum, would be interested to know there’s a new table tennis book out?

Have no idea. Most TT things in here do spread by word of mouth. Not usually the author/creator dropping in to advertise. Except Butterfly, Donic etc who but ads around the place.

1. Since you think I’m just peddling my books (apparently for money), next time you or anyone sees me coaching at the US Open, Nationals Team Trials, or any other tournament, ask my students or their parents how much I charge to “peddle” my coaching. They’ll tell you nothing – I haven’t charged anyone for my coaching at tournaments in over a decade. I don’t need the money. I probably give away as many of my books as I sell.

Great that you help people Lar. I never said you didn't. You seem intent on dragging your entire life into this to smooth over the fact that contributing here is seemingly beneath you, until it comes to sales.

1. Heck, go to my main website, www.tabletenniscoaching.com. I’ve been blogging and doing Tips of the Week there since 2011. How much do I get paid to “peddle” my table tennis knowledge there? Nothing. See the list of ads on the left side? I could charge for them – and long ago, I did. But I lost interest in that, and stopped charging for them over a decade ago. I just pick and choose which ones to put there. (The only one I get anything from is Butterfly, who have sponsored me as a coach since long before I started the site.)

I have a coach, thanks 👍
I also use one of your books!

1. You wrote, “I'd have no issues if he was a more regular contributor tbh.” So, you think I need to be a regular poster on this forum if I want to post about my TT book on this TT forum. This forum is just part of the larger table tennis community at large. Would you like to compare credentials as to who has contributed more to the table tennis community at large? Do I get brownie points for my overall contributions? If someone decides to run a big million dollar table tennis tournament and shows up here to let people know, would you sarcastically complain that he’s just “peddling his tournament”?

Again, deliberately missing the point. You're here to sell. Lots of salt please.

1. Sometime late in June I’ll be posting about my next table tennis book, “Ping-Pong Paddles Can’t Talk!” When I post about it, will you again accuse me of just showing up to “peddle my book”? Let’s say I sell 500 copies and make $4 profit on each, so $2000, right? But I paid $4,500 for an illustrator for the book. I’ll never make a profit on the book. So, did I do it for the money, or as a contribution to the table tennis community? (The reality is I’ll likely give away more copies then I’ll sell. It’s a humorous Seussian rhyming children’s picture book that introduces table tennis to kids. It features a nervous boy and his talking paddle in their first tournament, where he meets and plays a girl who is really good, and they have an adventurous match. Along the way, kids learn about the sport, with themes on facing your fears, working toward a goal, honesty, and friendship.)

I didn't read this

1. I see that you post here a LOT. That’s great! However, I did so as well for decades on other TT forums, and I guarantee I’ve posted more than you have. I just got tired of dealing with the constant bickering and trolls and mostly stopped. Look what happened when I showed up here – you were the first response! When a writer finishes a book, he’s often excited and looking to discuss the topic of his book, i.e., table tennis. As I’m doing now, with others here, I’m discussing table tennis, just as we could. Instead, look what we’re discussing. What a waste of our time as you turn this thread about a new table tennis book into your personal bias against my letting people on this TT forum know about this new TT book.

I wouldn't say I post a lot but I understand that someone posting as seldom as yourself would call it that.

If I ever write a book I won't be visiting the world of TT websites that I don't frequent just to try to sell it.
Piggyback Marketing wouldn't be my thing.
Hey, if you and the world are happy that you drop in for shameless self promotion then go world 👊
My personal opinion of it is already clear.
Thanks for the myriad of irrelevant points above but thats hit my quota of pointless intake for the week, cheers 👍

 

[Archosaurus]

Netprophet, while I understand your point, where else would you go to digitally sell a table tennis book made for table tennis enthusiasts than a forum full of table tennis enthusiasts? I feel like the online target audience is probably in there.

 

[larrytt]

I didn't make it up. I've read it in a few places, possibly the first time was here....

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/new-rules-for-table-tennis.21991/

I didn't see your question.
But you've been a member since 2014 right? Belated welcome.

Are you really comparing yourself to Meryl Streep 🤣🤣🤣
You absolute Lunatic

Yes, you are comparing yourself to Ma Long. And you are deliberately sidestepping my point because you know it's a valid point.

I don't know Larry.
But point remains, you step in here only to promote yourself. Personally I think that's a bit shitty 🤷

Have no idea. Most TT things in here do spread by word of mouth. Not usually the author/creator dropping in to advertise. Except Butterfly, Donic etc who but ads around the place.

Great that you help people Lar. I never said you didn't. You seem intent on dragging your entire life into this to smooth over the fact that contributing here is seemingly beneath you, until it comes to sales.

I have a coach, thanks 👍
I also use one of your books!

Again, deliberately missing the point. You're here to sell. Lots of salt please.

I didn't read this

I wouldn't say I post a lot but I understand that someone posting as seldom as yourself would call it that.

If I ever write a book I won't be visiting the world of TT websites that I don't frequent just to try to sell it.
Piggyback Marketing wouldn't be my thing.
Hey, if you and the world are happy that you drop in for shameless self promotion then go world 👊
My personal opinion of it is already clear.
Thanks for the myriad of irrelevant points above but thats hit my quota of useless intake for the week, cheers 👍

Let's see, you found a humorous thread from seven years ago titled, "the definitive compilation of the Rules for Table Tennis as delivered by the Table Tennis Gods," where someone humorously wrote, "You must acknowledge that Larry Hodges is not part of the table tennis "Deep State". It is not allowed to suggest otherwise. Also he wants you to buy his book." And you took that seriously??? Talk about confirmation bias. Do you not get humor? Did you also investigate whether I am part of the "Deep State"?!! And is it really beyond your ability to understand that Ma Long and Meryl Streep were EXAMPLES, not comparisons of me to them (as I stated explicitly since I knew you'd deliberately misconstrue it)? And, of course, you didn't respond to either of those examples because you cannot. By your logic, you mentioned both of them above, so therefore you are comparing yourself to them.

Sorry, it isn't worth my time to respond to any more of your willful ignorance and hostility. It's so easy to be shallow, arrogant, insulting, and sarcastic when you hide behind anonymity. (Most who prefer to stay anonymous do not abuse it as you do. Note that every person who has commented or reacted has disagreed with you.) But I do have a small request. You said you have a copy of one of my books. After this, I implore you to throw out my book. I will reimburse you for it by check or paypal; in fact, I'll pay double the retail to get my book away from such malignance. I believe there is a tool here where one can put someone on "Ignore." Please do that for me, and I will do the same for you. (Can anyone point out where that tool is? I did a quick look-around but didn't find it.)
-Larry Hodges

 

[NextLevel]

@NetProphet , @larrytt ,

Are you guys really enjoying this back and forth or do you think it is worth posting a few final words and moving on?

I get it, @larrytt doesn't post here frequently, but honestly, his content on his website has been good and consistent and as much as we would love him to post here more often, his history of dealing with trolls is real and it's his prerogative. And honestly, posting on web forums can be a time suck.

And yes, @NetProphet can needle Larry with the point that he doesn't post except when it suits him, but honestly, this is true for those of us who have fun here as well, if we weren't extracting some benefit from it, we wouldn't post here either. And when it gets hard for us to post here, many of us take hiatuses.

The ignore list instructions can be found using a quick search but here is a good link:

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/how-to-ignore-some-members.31207/post-408539

Thanks for the entertainment.

NL

 

[larrytt]

@NetProphet , @larrytt ,

Are you guys really enjoying this back and forth or do you think it is worth posting a few final words and moving on?

I get it, @larrytt doesn't post here frequently, but honestly, his content on his website has been good and consistent and as much as we would love him to post here more often, his history of dealing with trolls is real and it's his prerogative. And honestly, posting on web forums can be a time suck.

And yes, @NetProphet can needle Larry with the point that he doesn't post except when it suits him, but honestly, this is true for those of us who have fun here as well, if we weren't extracting some benefit from it, we wouldn't post here either. And when it gets hard for us to post here, many of us take hiatuses.

The ignore list instructions can be found using a quick search but here is a good link:

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/how-to-ignore-some-members.31207/post-408539

Thanks for the entertainment.

NL

While I don't post much anymore, I've been a lurker here and on other TT forums for years. I will go to the link above and put NetProphet on ignore. And then I can go back to my next table tennis project in peace. I'm tempted to just give copies of my books away to people here to show how much I like to "peddle" my books. (Peddle means to sell, and these days I give away many of my books.)
-Larry Hodges
ADDENDUM: NetProphet is on ignore. I won't see anymore of his obnoxious postings. He will no doubt post more willfully ignorant comments. He can't help himself. I think readers can judge for themselves whether his continued attacks add to the TT community.

 

[NextLevel]

While I don't post much anymore, I've been a lurker here and on other TT forums for years. I will go to the link above and put NetProphet on ignore. And then I can go back to my next table tennis project in peace. I'm tempted to just give copies of my books away to people here to show how much I like to "peddle" my books. (Peddle means to sell, and these days I give away many of my books.)
-Larry Hodges

I think he was just pushing your buttons and I get the defense, and honestly, if you are both enjoying it you can carry on. I just wanted to give you both an out in case one or both of you had better things to do.

Thanks for posting and I read your website a lot when I started playing..

 

[NextLevel]

I'd say the four biggest changes in the sport in the last few decades, and how they influence decisions (tactical or strategic), would be:

1. Backhand banana flip. So opponents can't loop the serve, most serves are short or half-long (so second bounce of serve is right at the edge of the table). The banana flip now dominates as the preferred receive against this to the point that it's seriously overused by many aspiring players. Much of the game now centers around using and reacting to this modern backhand flip. However, it also means the new generation of players have their serving games centered around serve and attack against the backhand flip. Their entire games can often be shut down with a short receive, since they often serve and take a small step back so as to have time to counter-attack against the banana flip. (Many have trouble against a heavy push as well as they are so used to driving just forward against topspin.) Many players reach a rather high level centering their receive around this shot, and are pretty successful - but they don't develop their short receive as well as it should be, and so they become predictable. You need both, as well as an aggressive deep push. When a server has to be ready for all three receives, they have difficulty. (When I coach top players in matches, the right mix of receive is often the most important thing for them to get right.)
2. Strong close-to-table backhand topspins. These days every backhand is essentially a backhand loop over the table!
3. Less variety in playing styles. If you are a coach working with a new junior player, for what reason would you teach even a slightly unorthodox style? If you are an up-and-coming player, with access to top coaches and constant online videos of top players, for what reason would you develop even a slightly unorthodox style? If one style is 1% better than another, then essentially 100% of the time the 1% better style is taught. So, while there are always exceptions, every generation it seems that a higher percentage of top players all play like clones of each other. And then, because nobody is taught to do anything different from this, the circular argument is that therefore those other styles or techniques don't work. While it's true that the basic style that most top players use now is the best way to reach a high level, there are other nearly "dead" styles or techniques that, given the chance, would probably do pretty well outside the top 20 or 50 or so in the world.
4. Continued development against the 40mm plastic ball. The ball has less spin and slows down quicker than the old 38mm celluloid, so players can, in simple terms, better wind up and pound the ball back and forth.

-Larry Hodges

The second part of #4, the ball slowing down quicker and giving much more advantage to power players, is very much not discussed at all as affecting the game radically. It makes it harder for me to play my spin based countering style against players who back off the table, are there solutions for players with a power deficit but who try to play topspin like myself?

 

[larrytt]

I think he was just pushing your buttons and I get the defense, and honestly, if you are both enjoying it you can carry on. I just wanted to give you both an out in case one or both of you had better things to do.

Thanks for posting and I read your website a lot when I started playing..

I absolutely do not enjoy dealing with trolling people like NetProphet. You said he was pushing my buttons; that's pretty much the definition of a troll. I'm sure he's proud of himself for wasting my time. Since he did it on a public forum read by the table tennis community, I felt I had to respond. At this point, I think readers can see that he's just trolling and how idiotic and petty he's acting. I won't see any more of his responses. Thank God.

 

[Jslick89]

While I don't post much anymore, I've been a lurker here and on other TT forums for years. I will go to the link above and put NetProphet on ignore. And then I can go back to my next table tennis project in peace. I'm tempted to just give copies of my books away to people here to show how much I like to "peddle" my books. (Peddle means to sell, and these days I give away many of my books.)
-Larry Hodges
ADDENDUM: NetProphet is on ignore. I won't see anymore of his obnoxious postings. He will no doubt post more willfully ignorant comments. He can't help himself. I think readers can judge for themselves whether his continued attacks add to the TT community.

if you are so tempted, i would love to receive a copy! i've been following your blog for a while now!

 

[larrytt]

if you are so tempted, i would love to receive a copy! i've been following your blog for a while now!

Will you be at the US Nationals?
-Larry Hodges

 

[larrytt]

The second part of #4, the ball slowing down quicker and giving much more advantage to power players, is very much not discussed at all as affecting the game radically. It makes it harder for me to play my spin based countering style against players who back off the table, are there solutions for players with a power deficit but who try to play topspin like myself?

Yes - quick, close-to-table loops at wide angles (as well as to middle), along with consistency. Japan's Harimoto, currently #3 in the world, does this well on both wings. The top players all want to force him to back up and counterloop, and when he does, they usually win. Instead, he mostly quick-loops everything close to the table, using that quickness to force slightly weak balls that he then jumps on - and then he doesn't need as much power since he takes the ball quick and at such wide angles. Also, when playing someone who is comfortable backing off the table against you, don't play into his game by looping hard at him over and over. Once he's off the table, he's vulnerable to a softer loop or a block, and then you attack the next ball at wide angles or middle. Focus on consistency, quickness, and placement, with those wide angles. Also, against those big, strong loopers who like to topspin from off the table - try bringing them in first with very short serves and short receives, jamming them to the table where they aren't comfortable, and then attack at them.
-Larry Hodges

 

[larrytt]

Yeh!! I mean I have 4 of your books in kindle! This will be my 5th!!!!

The kindle version is up! That was fast. Both the print and kindle versions are there.
-Larry Hodges

 

[NextLevel]

I absolutely do not enjoy dealing with trolling people like NetProphet. You said he was pushing my buttons; that's pretty much the definition of a troll. I'm sure he's proud of himself for wasting my time. Since he did it on a public forum read by the table tennis community, I felt I had to respond. At this point, I think readers can see that he's just trolling and how idiotic and petty he's acting. I won't see any more of his responses. Thank God.

His criticism wasn't entirely baseless, it is something we screen people for all the time. Ultimately, it's a judgment call. We try to be as laissez-faire as reasonable while affirming that it isn't a free speech web forum. But if he pushes it too far beyond his main point, we can revisit. I suspect someone found his statement funny, even if more people appreciated your works (including himself, I might add).

 

[Jslick89]

Will you be at the US Nationals?
-Larry Hodges

unfortunately i wont, but my good friend will be there! maybe he could pick up for me?