First time with H3N Rubber coming from d09c - How to boost and what to expect?

[Zezima]

I watched the first 3 minutes and what i saw what very different from what i was expecting.
My memory of playing Nittaku Huricane 3 Turbo Blue unboosted was it being very hard and lower throw. I expected to see at least anything similar to what i experienced, but what i saw was a higher throw quite bouncy rubber. Considering the times you overshot the table even though you are standing nearly 4 feet away from the table and not doing a big fast arm swing but rather a gimped swing with youre backswing not even straightening your elbow joint i would guess you probably overdid it with the booster. When you found the angle you could repeatedly loop the ball, but in a match you will need to be on point from the first loop.
I dont know if it appears later in the video but i would want to see you loop half long underspin balls very close to the table. No point using a rubber you can only use from a far.

yes the video is not 35min of doing the same exercise. just skip forwards. I did a few different exercises later

 

[Zezima]

Todays Session. Looks a bit better but I still don't like my fh technique especially when I want to go fast. There is a good shot at around 2:26. But seems more of a lucky shot

 

[Zezima]

Also since I want to change my fh technique and relearn it. Would this be good enough? or do i need a different video since I play with h3n now?

 

[NextLevel]

Nothing wrong with taking the ball late but you don't get drive timing that way. And sometimes, the brush is too much. You can use thicker contact for sure.

 

[Zezima]

Nothing wrong with taking the ball late but you don't get drive timing that way. And sometimes, the brush is too much. You can use thicker contact for sure.

Are you commenting the video I wanted to learn from or my technique?

 

[NextLevel]

Are you commenting the video I wanted to learn from or my technique?

Commenting on your video. The video in German, I didn't translate but his mechanics look good so i doubt it can be bad. You are already at a stage where you need to work on getting extra out of ideas you can test many of which may not be standard. Quality is not everything in TT.

 

[Zezima]

Commenting on your video. The video in German, I didn't translate but his mechanics look good so i doubt it can be bad. You are already at a stage where you need to work on getting extra out of ideas you can test many of which may not be standard. Quality is not everything in TT.

I know but I havent found a way for me to consistently hit balls against blocks or slight topspin balls. I either miss it completely or hit the edge of my racket or just do an unforced error. Not so much against open up loops.

I didnt understand the last part. You meant I shoukd just test different types of strokes instead of copying a "clean" stroke?

Have you seen the 2nd video of mine at 2:26? That has less brushing if any but it feels super inconsistent.

 

[NextLevel]

I know but I havent found a way for me to consistently hit balls against blocks or slight topspin balls. I either miss it completely or hit the edge of my racket or just do an unforced error. Not so much against open up loops.

I didnt understand the last part. You meant I shoukd just test different types of strokes instead of copying a "clean" stroke?

Have you seen the 2nd video of mine at 2:26? That has less brushing if any but it feels super inconsistent.

Its because you close the racket and hit the ball from the back. Open the racket slightly more and hit the ball from the side while still finishing forward and adding topspin. It will give you more contact time and more room to add power and spin. That by the way doesn't guarantee the point will end, recovery against blocks is always a factor.

I saw the shot, even pros don't hit the ball with that timing consistently especially if there is real energy on the ball.

 

[Zezima]

Its because you close the racket and hit the ball from the back. Open the racket slightly more and hit the ball from the side while still finishing forward and adding topspin. It will give you more contact time and more room to add power and spin. That by the way doesn't guarantee the point will end, recovery against blocks is always a factor.

I saw the shot, even pros don't hit the ball with that timing consistently especially if there is real energy on the ball.

Yes I will try to work on a more open bat angle and add my hips and legs more and also the elbow more stable as suggested in the example video.

Your last paragraph is about my shot or something else? And is that good or bad?

 

[NextLevel]

Yes I will try to work on a more open bat angle and add my hips and legs more and also the elbow more stable as suggested in the example video.

Your last paragraph is about my shot or something else? And is that good or bad?

The shot is good, trying to hit the ball that way all the time is not realistic.

 

[Zezima]

The shot is good, trying to hit the ball that way all the time is not realistic.

Thats how it feels as well. So open the racket more and more brush for more consistency without giving up speed?

 

[NextLevel]

Thats how it feels as well. So open the racket more and more brush for more consistency without giving up speed?

You experiment and see what works with different swings and contact points, no magic way to hit the ball other than seeing what you can get away with and sustain. But opening the racket will improve consistency, right now you are brushing way too much because you are closing the racket way too much and since spin doesn't win points as easily, there is no real upside to it.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Thats how it feels as well. So open the racket more and more brush for more consistency without giving up speed?

Brush less. You pretty much only brush, which is why you struggle with recovery and consistency against blocks and countertopspins.

 

[zeio]

You've gotten better. Still, as suggested back in 2021, you need to hit through the ball more. It's fine to brush on the first shot at first, but there should be a more hitting element on your subsequent shots.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

As suggested back in 2021, you need to hit through the ball more. It's fine to brush on the first shot at first, but there should be more hitting element on your subsequent shots.

I had posted something similar probably close to a year ago at this point and felt like I saw no changes either, good to know I'm not imagining it.

 

[ttarc]

what would actually happen if you overboost?
for example, I have an old h3n blue sponge 39 degree that I used for about 4 months now. originally boosted with medium-thick 2 layers

can I go for another thin layer to put some new life into that old rubber? if its overboosted, would it just be slightly too soft or does the rubber become unplayable?

I usually decide if and how much I need to reboost when I reglue after a while (less training/matches more time between reboosts). Typically: one layer if the rubber is flat, two layers if the rubber has a reverse dome and the topsheet is still good enough. The other thing which usually holds is that softer sponges are easier to overboost.

H3n vs D09c Training Session
How can I fix my forehand backswing? I go from closed to open against block. Against long backspin balls my brain automatically opens up the racket more.

Seth Pech mentioned this (and how to correct it) in one of his videos https://www.youtube.com/@PechPongTT
e.g.

and

What I usually suggest: 1. try to stand (more) parallel to the table even when looping normal backspin/pushes 2. try to keep the elbow closer to the body when swinging back 3. don't copy anything blindly / looping should feel natural/relaxed (relax and explode)

Parallel stance explained

Perfect demonstration from Fan Zhendong (does not work for me/I need my right foot to be a litte bit further back)

Another really good source for tips is https://www.youtube.com/@GlobalTTStudio

 

[NextLevel]

I had posted something similar probably close to a year ago at this point and felt like I saw no changes either, good to know I'm not imagining it.

To be fair, breaking habits in TT is really hard, he might be hitting the ball much more thickly than before, just not radically so. It's hard to convince yourself that the risk doesn't outpace the reward when you miss the first few shots and without a coach to force you through it, you end up reverting back to what you have always done.

 

[Zezima]

You've gotten better. Still, as suggested back in 2021, you need to hit through the ball more. It's fine to brush on the first shot at first, but there should be a more hitting element on your subsequent shots.

I tried to copy what I learned from the video I posted earlier. Its much much better now. I didn't film myself though. But the hit itself felt really good and I could finally go in to the balls with power and spin. Was very demanding.

Thursday is matchday. I will prob still do old habits then but atleast I can self correct my stroke now since I now know what to aim for and understand it better.

My partner was also wondering why I don't loop my fh and bh like this in matches and only go for slow topspins. And that I will never learn if I don't do it in matches aswell. So I will aim for that too it's just not as easy.

I basically copied the same technique as in that german video. I wonder now if I can see atleast 1 topspin like how I practised today.

I also def got better. In 2021 nov I was around RC 1100. Now I am 1500RC.
Thats huge in our rating system. Keep in mind no coach and my trainingspartner being 900-1250 mostly aswell.

About the less brush more hitting the ball I am.not sure if I did it right today. Anyway I prefer a slower topspin for now till I get more consistent and work on my recovery and footwork and placement.

Also didnt understand why brushing makes my recovery worse. When I hit more consistenxy would be worse and the ball easier to block for them and me not being ready to loop again mostlikely.

 

[Zezima]

Alright matchday over. 1 player I beat 3-1 didnt want to get filmed.

Here I played much better I think

Here you can see his forehand technique is much smoother and with a much more open racket. I struggeled with quality receives. On Monday I will play him again (for the 3rd time lol)

From todays training session Feel free to skip forwards, we did a few different drills aswell. I also have another player blocking it with more consistency the first player struggeled a lot. I also still seem to have the backstroke wrong like the one I linked before this, where he loops hard with a much more open racket.
I still don't have my backstroke right but I have much more consistency and power, good arc and spin aswell I think. Thoughts? Also watch it from 18:13 onwards where a better player blocks and I can go all out. Also the first time I can go this hard trying to apply everything I learned but don't have everything quite right I think