One thing that can just cap a players potential is vision problems. Under 2200 or maybe 2400 a player can control things to such an extent, they can predict where the ball is going. These problems can be dealt with and to some extent ignored. The higher the rating the more unexpected things happen and the player has to find the ball with their eyes, formulate a plan and act accordingly. This is where the vision problems will rear their ugly head.
Some people have horrible depth perception which makes finding the ball difficult.
Some people eyes will overshoot the target when searching for it, then go back to the target. This makes telling where to put the racket or how to move a nightmare. If you have this eye problem, there is nothing you can do to fix the problem.
Some people have a massive issue dealing with table glare and the type of lighting will impact their performance.
When watching that Yu Kayama video, when the ball does something unexpected he just returns it so smoothly. If you have a vision issue, you probably will look like a spaz trying to find the ball and not even contact the ball correctly. There is a technique people can research called "Quite Eye" which will help if you have any of these three issues but that will only take someone so far unfortunately.
correct
vision, or what we call, decision making - which incorporates vision and the actual strategy and decision making is all together. Some just don't have the brain or the ability to have such vision - no matter how hard you train, or what coach you hire.
The next is the execution ability.
overall, we have so many kids that start grade 3 ~ 4, which is 10 years old, and get to a cap of 2400 level at 18 years old.
it is naive to think that if you just continue training you could go from 2400 to 2450 or 2500 at 18~20 years old. It becomes tougher when your older, since growth at that level slows down when you so "old" already, and there is then also another factor bought into play - you are no longer a kid, and you need to start thinking about your future - and possibly friends and relationships - something that table tennis full time kids had to sacrifice in Asia for they entire school life. This is also the same with some USA kids, leaving the sports at university age, despite making Olympics, or national team, because they know the ceiling is there.
while I was chatting to some other forum member privately, I said, it is good for kids to have a dream, have the desire, but the problem comes when the kid thinks he is too good, too naive, and especially if in his or her training group - there is no stronger kid, the growth will slow down a lot.
It is so important to place yourself into uncomfortable situations where your peers are stronger than you, as that will push you further. Otherwise, you just end up having the edited version video - of every point I win, and I'm perfect mentally.
This is also why China is so strong, because they have an up or out system. Every 2 or 3 years, you need to be moving up, or you move out, from when you start at 7, by 10 you need to be moving up, by 12 or 13 you need to move to the next tier, and the same at 15 and 18. Forever, you become no longer number 1, and need to restart and take on stronger peers in your training group and to exceed them to stand out.
I also wanted to make a video talking about development and growth.
this kids flaw is clearly visible, and at his young age, his flaws won't be punished.
The moment when he turns 15 or 16, when it becomes a totally different ball game, his flaws will be exploited.
I have seen this with U12 or U13 national players that is too arrogant in there minds, due to early success, and not taking fixing flaws seriously, and come U15, they are no longer in the radar.
