How Did I Win or Lose a Match?

[LDM7]

Hi all,

just in case y'all didn’t know: Tournament Pressure is a Thing!

My recent participation was a real out-of-body experience

I could not recognize that guy in the video, whiffing so many FH loops vs backspin

As I compete vs these year 2, year 3 professionally trained kids, I realize they are better at this pace brand of TT

These annoying kids are a fifth my age, barely table height … mobile & agile, quick reaction time, better hand-eye coordination and one thing in common – they all possess a devastating FH drive

Yet for me – I recognize 2023 is still the year of everything BH, service returns & perform under pressure

In closing I chronicle discovering nuances e.g.

how grip pressure at impact affects spin & pace

when done correctly, a push can be a real weapon

the need, when & how to create ball energy

recognize when & stepping towards a ball establishes an effective striking zone

and finally, using a shorter back-swing on wide FH loops

ta' ta' 4 now

 

[Wrighty67]

wut up @Wrighty67 ?!

i am staying focused, not sure about the getting better part tho

as i recall ... how's your FH loop coming along?

Welcome back brother!

It’s a slow process for sure, one step forward and two steps back sometimes.

It’s all good though 🏓

 

[LDM7]

Hi all,

may this post find you in good health, sound mental state & a devastatingly spinny BH loop

i am happy to share my monday league RR (1-2) earlier tonight had some exciting moments as well as of course, areas of frustrations

i continue to learn & discover holes in my game i need to fill up (there are many)

Yet, i am excited about after more than 9 months of talking about a BH loop (instead of a safe push) and a BH flick, i am looking for opportunities and starting to execute them in RR matches now

i am thrilled about the placement and varieties of tonight's serves (depth, spin, height & where along the table do i serve from), still i am and will always remember "it's good to have an idea what spin's coming back, it's even better to know spin and where the ball most likely be" for my 3rd ball

further most hopeful am i are the growth of my mental game e.g. self-talk after a make or a miss, in-between point routine (ritual), how to manage a plethora of emotions i.e. fear of missing a shot i've been working on forever, the joy of landing a ball wasn't confident it would, anxiousness of showing the fruits of my labor & the frustration of not able to compete the same way i train

even so, i recognize i need more match play (a lot more) in order to season

i need to discover at what rpm do i compete at my best

i really need to work on being in the moment, developing a presence & be able to focus on wining/or losing - one point at a time!

i am looking forward to the three up-coming tournaments (team, over 50 senior & local) 💪🏓

take care all,

LDM

 

[Oscarting]

The kids will get ya...

 

[Der_Echte]

LDM7 is back in action tonite in league vs some opponents he hasn't played in a LONG time.

I would expect him to do very well vs them, based on how far he has come in training and what he has already showed in local leagues.

LDM7 may or may not have shouted it from a mountain top, but he has settled on and committed to a blade and rubbers that make it much easier to generate slow, heavy spin and develop that shot sooner.

This setup has advantages close to the table in countering as well, so many aspects.

There is a very important teams tourney (888 Silicon Valley Teams) that he will compete in a couple weeks... the field is LOADED in each division, so it will make his team literally FIGHT for each game and match. Teams events have SO MUCH EMOTION and CHANGES of emotion and momentum that make them SO DAMN SPECIAL.

Right after that there is a SENIORS tourney he will play singles and doubles. His expectations and chances here are HUGE. This will likely be one of many BREAKTHROUGH tourneys.

BOTH of these tourneys will have TTD member ERM (World's largest EJ and former national youth team), the soon to register Sergey Tsos, and Der_Echte his own self along for the mission. (LDM7 has his own team of 1200-1600 players, we have our own 2000-2100 team) ALL of us gunna be there for the seniors competing.

This will shape up to be absolut EPIC without a doubt.

 

[Der_Echte]

What I just wrote may sound contradictory to what I would normally set expectations for, since it takes a while for improvement in training to make its way into matches at enough quality and consistency...

Still, I have seen enough and believe it will show in the local league level better than it has shown to date. He has improved enough, that even if he plays 2-3 levels below what he shows in training he will winn vs the players on the table he will be assigned to.

 

[IB66]

Hi LDM7 / Der

What was the equipment change? from what to what?

Hope you keep improving and are able to transfer this into some good wins and performances in the upcoming tournaments!!!