I was waiting for LDM7 to make some comments about today here. LDM7 did not have his best day of energy or timing on some shots, but encountered, wrestled with, and achieved understanding and progress about how a shorter compact stroke with firming right at impact can make the ball move out.
There are some moments where a long swing is not desirable, optimal or helpful, but you still need some pace... FIRMING at impact is a thing.
LDM7 can do it well now on a FH pick hit, a smash, or a real hard drive from a block, but the timing to do it on BH wing was zero to start the day, and 20-30 by the end of the session. He sees several real life match rally scenarios where a short arm small wrist big firm would finish the point. before today, he would take way too long a back swing, then a way too long big swing and be basically flailing at it off time out of position. He is now getting the position, sometimes the shortness of stroke, and some of the timing of the firming. it will take some time, but this one can be developed pretty quickly. There is good hope here. For many players, it is more difficult to overcome the tendency to go for too long back swing and too long swing, instead of short power.
LDM7 also saw how sometimes at the table, he is rotating his hips some (which takes his target to the middle, instead of the BH cross court corner... and saw he can simply get down a little while getting the bat down some, then go up and forward... shorter path to impact the ball and less moving parts to wreck the timing of it. later, when he learns how to be relaxed more and how to make some more explosion, his BH openers will be really loaded. later, with a more open bat and forward swing, more power topspin on that wing.
Speaking of open bat impact, he is learning there is a good place for that impact when he wants to make a finish or real strong pressure from a block, so instead of crush hitting it, he hits solid with open bat angle, but a little off center and drives through ball to make spin for it to land when he really goes for that shot... and there are PLENTY of times in TT to go for that shot. You attack, opponent blocks, you power drive or fast loop. when he gets more consistent at this, he will have another reliable open/finish sequence on FH... but this can be done also on BH wing with an even shorter stroke and big firming.
These are all shots that have worth at his level and many levels above his level. Several times a game you get loose shots from opponents... you simply have to recognize them, realize what happened, be calm, and break out a step to the ball and a short firm and bingo, fertig is that point.
There is also of course a progression from practice success to good off success to league success to tournament competition success.
Even though LDM7 was wore the heck out, he insisted on going heavy on Falkenberg drill. of course after so much energy used in moving and hitting, you make a miss from being tired... but the value I see is LDM7 effectively moves his body with his toes and ankles and decent bounces... he gets the job done on time without waste of motion. This is sometimes unusual for a player, to get the feet moving right before they get the shots going right.
I always emphasize that reading the opponent's impact, knowing what happened and where/when/how the ball will go before it moves one foot, AND moving to the spot you correctly choose to set the strike zone with leverage and impact the ball in the effective strike zone... I always say THAT counts more than anything to get that right first, since failing to get that right usually wrecks your chances when you attack strong.
Even though LDM7 was taxed and a little weary today, I think he got a lot more value out of today than many other days.
