Is it about equipment or playing style?!!!

[TareqPhoto]

Hi all,

Well, it has been a long time since i started a topic or asked about anything, i have nothing much in my mind to talk or ask about, but now i have something in mind i want to ask and see people opinions about it.

I met many friends in table tennis in different levels, but we are all at almost normal levels compared to coaches for example, and with those friends or players at different levels i always ask them about which is important or can make a difference, the equipment or playing style after having coaching or training, and here i get so many vary answers.

Those who are choosing equipment always giving a proof that even top players or coaches will use nice great equipment, no matter how great their styles and levels if they have a garbage equipment they can do something, but they won't win tours or many games or do much harm, so here the equipment really has the factor.

On the other side, there are people who said if you give the best equipment in the world to someone as a beginner or don't know how to play he can't harm a mosquito, so they have a point here, but they always using very low and beginners as examples and not pro high level players.

An example, let's talk about me, in the past i was so offensive style playing, it did good for me to the point i am no longer good enough, and i gained weight, and while i gained weight i changed to defensive style, i am not good in defensive style but it helped me to win many games that i can't win with an offensive gear, even if the players didn't change equipment or style, so is it about playing style here or the equipment? Even some of them asking me politely and frustrated to change back to offensive equipment so they can beat me, many of them really hate to play against defensive style even if they have training, so in this case what made the difference, the playing style or the equipment being used?

I remember once i think maybe in Olympics that when WCQ lost his match then we heard about that his racket being damaged or broken or so, that time i asked myself "didn't you have another racket as good or even better? How come that one racket made you lose if it is gone or damage?", I believe maybe that time he was #1 or just behind FZD in rankings, well, when players even top players lose most likely they will complain about rackets, and they always keep changing rubbers for example as i heard, so is that really important? Can't they keep using old rubbers or blade and keep using that for longer time?

Let me hear your.

 

[Souther]

Skill is always the priority above equipment, and your example is spot on that the better skilled player will be able to make the most of the equipment at hand.

As for the importance of equipment, table tennis is probably the most equipment sensitive of any sport due to the speed, spin, and touch required to play well.

At a basic level, it can make a huge difference for different matchups between players. A switch from inverted to long pips for a chopper may be enough for the defensive player to beat his/her opponent (and the reverse is true, a change from short pips to inverted may be enough for an offensive player to win).

At an advanced level, it can cost you olympic gold because your optimal play relies upon very specific equipment that you have spent many hours practicing with (your WCQ example). Can they keep using old rubber and blade for a long time? Yeah sure they can. They just won't be at their very best at the top level tournaments.

As for amateurs, Zhang Jike in one of his videos advised amateur players to use their equipment to the fullest "don't keep changing the blade when it can last for many years, and rubber when they are still very good for many months"
You'll get the most enjoyment from the game if you focus your time on improving your skills.

It makes sense. If you look at pro tennis players, they might switch through a number of rackets during a match just because the string tension has changed. At that level, it can cost the player a Wimbledon title.
But that's not the case with many amateur tennis players. In fact they would probably feel embarrassed to be switching through several cellophane wrapped rackets in a casual club match. You match your equipment needs to the level of your play.

 

[belllfador]

Skills are more important than equipment. But there is optimal equipment for every playing style and individual goals. For example, I can chop with Mantra Pro XH, but it will not be as effective as Slice 40 CS or Pimple Slide.

WCQ and FZD are far away from us. They use intuition and intuition work well when all variables remain the same. So, when Hugo changed his equipment, his performance dropped for months. He makes so many unforced errors, why? Because his muscle memory is based on his old equipment. Pros are complaining when the ball is different, from moisture in the air, temperature, etc. Playing at a very high level is demanding. Boosting, screaming, aggressive behavior, everything counts.

But in the average TT club, the game is different. I can win against people with Zyre, but I can lose from people with old Mars 2. There is no magic equipment that can give me 500TTR, but there is an optimal that can give me 100-200.

 

[TareqPhoto]

Skill is always the priority above equipment, and your example is spot on that the better skilled player will be able to make the most of the equipment at hand.

As for the importance of equipment, table tennis is probably the most equipment sensitive of any sport due to the speed, spin, and touch required to play well.

At a basic level, it can make a huge difference for different matchups between players. A switch from inverted to long pips for a chopper may be enough for the defensive player to beat his/her opponent (and the reverse is true, a change from short pips to inverted may be enough for an offensive player to win).

At an advanced level, it can cost you olympic gold because your optimal play relies upon very specific equipment that you have spent many hours practicing with (your WCQ example). Can they keep using old rubber and blade for a long time? Yeah sure they can. They just won't be at their very best at the top level tournaments.

As for amateurs, Zhang Jike in one of his videos advised amateur players to use their equipment to the fullest "don't keep changing the blade when it can last for many years, and rubber when they are still very good for many months"
You'll get the most enjoyment from the game if you focus your time on improving your skills.

It makes sense. If you look at pro tennis players, they might switch through a number of rackets during a match just because the string tension has changed. At that level, it can cost the player a Wimbledon title.
But that's not the case with many amateur tennis players. In fact they would probably feel embarrassed to be switching through several cellophane wrapped rackets in a casual club match. You match your equipment needs to the level of your play.

Well said, thank you

 

[TareqPhoto]

Skills are more important than equipment. But there is optimal equipment for every playing style and individual goals. For example, I can chop with Mantra Pro XH, but it will not be as effective as Slice 40 CS or Pimple Slide.

WCQ and FZD are far away from us. They use intuition and intuition work well when all variables remain the same. So, when Hugo changed his equipment, his performance dropped for months. He makes so many unforced errors, why? Because his muscle memory is based on his old equipment. Pros are complaining when the ball is different, from moisture in the air, temperature, etc. Playing at a very high level is demanding. Boosting, screaming, aggressive behavior, everything counts.

But in the average TT club, the game is different. I can win against people with Zyre, but I can lose from people with old Mars 2. There is no magic equipment that can give me 500TTR, but there is an optimal that can give me 100-200.

Understood, thank you

 

[andymagata]

Yesterday I played a guy that was never trained properly but developed his style in the ”basement”. He gave me some trouble playing defensively, but each and every loop he shot too long. He played a brand new cybershape carbon blade with a bit bouncy Stiga rubbers.

I handed him my Stiga Pure with Loki Rxton 3 green and suddenly his loops where hitting the table with great second speed.

So with one equipment his style gave me a problem, with the next his equipment gave me problems.

I believe that all of us have a certain style and if we find the equipment that supports that style, or form, we will immediately feel it. Let someone pick up a bat they never played before, and the strokes they first try are there ”natural” form.

Let us see if my new table tennis friend shows up with another bat next time or stubbornly bring the same.

 

[lightspin]

The absolute #1 thing to determine how good a player will be is how young they can start with good practice partners and coaches. Look at the LeBrun brothers, the Harimotos, the Matsushimas, etc. They all had family members who could train and coach them from a very young age.

There are players of all levels who play with different equipment and styles. Unless the player is doing something outrageous like playing a close to the table high lobbing style, equipment and style don't matter too much. There are good players who use all kinds of equipment playing all kinds of styles.

If you want to improve, get a reasonable setup and stick with it for years then practice as much as humanly possible. Maybe get a coach to ask questions when you have them. The pro players I know all started playing as kids and practice quite a bit. The semi-pros who started later are basically living in the club doing nothing but practicing.

 

[longle]

I saw one video where ZJK said beginners should not use outer alc - so IMO if you want to develop skills, use a slower blade, then you can upgrade to faster blade. In my case, I used an outer alc blade then got immediately improvement when switching to an inner blade - it gave me more control, more spin - meaning less errors.

and one video he said higher level players should try outer alc - so when you have fine skills you can think about trying it