ITTF WTTTC Finals London 2026, 4/28-5/10

[rpb23]

Yup, basically Kanak said FZD has neither the most powerful backhand nor most powerful forehand (even in his TTBL team), but his consistency is unprarallelled, so the ultimate power isn't the most important factor.

If Kanak played the young FZD 5 or more years ago ago, he sure would change his view. Just look at the upcoming youngster WRB, most of us will be impressed on how powerful his shots are and the young FZD exerted more power than WRB.

The fact is as a player matured and established through years of competitions, he rarely goes all out on his shots anymore, instead, he goes on consistency and control, especially against unfamiliar new players. That's the current playing style of FZD, or pretty much most established players.

Consistency is the most important attribute for a pro to sustain a long term successful career.

The best example? Ma Long, the GOAT, the common view by most fans and players.

 

[NextLevel]

If Kanak played the young FZD 5 or more years, he sure would change his view. Just look at the upcoming youngster WRB, most of us will be impressed on how powerful his shots are and the young FZD exerted more power than WRB.

The fact is as a player matured and established through years of competitions, he rarely goes all out on his shots anymore, instead, he goes on consistency and control, especially against unfamiliar new players. That's the current playing style of FZD, or pretty much most established players.

Consistency is the most important attribute for a pro to sustain a long term successful career.

The best example? Ma Long, the GOAT, the common view by most fans and players.

A lot of it is about the new ball as well. Quality doesn't get you quite the same premium it used to because the ball always slows down when it comes off the table, especially if you still use old school technique.

 

[Bollwerk]

WTF! Hursey just took down DHK 3-0. That little petite is like pocket rocket…. Miu Hirono in her prime. She got Wales two points and that is against Team HK, a strong team at that too.

Carey had match point as well, that was a big opportunity for Wales, quite worrying for HK

 

[NextLevel]

ITTF WTTC Finals London 2026 Stage 2 WT Draw
View attachment 41419
ITTF WTTC Finals London 2026 Stage 2 MT Draw
View attachment 41420​

It feels weird looking at a draw like this and not seeing China in a corner, especially the top left one.

 

[NextLevel]

Harimoto of KAZ: Welcome to the club, Hursey.

All the time spent in China every summer was well worth it.

WT R32
HKG 3-2 WAL
DHK 3-1 Kelly (5, -6, 5, 4)
Su Tsz Tung 1-3 Hursey (9, -5, -5, -4)
Ng Wing Lam 3-2 Carey (-8 10, 4, -8, 10)
DHK 0-3 Hursey (-13, -6, -12)
Su Tsz Tung 3-0 Kelly (7, 7, 8)

Carey almost did it though. And the team got her here smoothly, this is already a major improvement for Wales. I would give them a pass this time though I suspect this will be the regular entry in the future.

 

[job59]

It is generally not smart to estimate someone's ideal fat /muscle percentage based on just looking at them, especially when tendon strength and muscle mass are invisible. Most top athletes who are still into training do keep tabs on what weight they play best at. Also bigger athletes in TT are usually stronger and hit more powerful balls. Those with stronger lower bodies also have more explosive footwork because you need a lot of lower body strength to handle the most powerful movements

Yes there are somewhat obvious cases when someone is likely overweight or underweight but balancing that out with other considerations without working deeply with the athlete is difficult. That is why it is almost always a facepalm when someone goes on about an athlete being overweight. You cant tell someone's genetics just by looking at them.

I would like to answer on two levels.

1. I basically agree that we, as non-specialists, certainly cannot make a perfect analysis from the outside. As long as it is not "extremely wrong" or offensive, I think such debates among fans are correct. We fever and suffer with our favorite players and discuss professional concerns of our sport as amateurs. Whether it's technique, tactics or fitness. As in other sports too (e.g. football!?). If we don't take the matter “deadly seriously”, that should fit. Where else than in sports forums like here, should we exchange ideas and, if necessary, learn through contradiction?
   
   
2. Hardly no-one will deny here, that various physical aspects as a whole play a role. But we all know that special dynamics are in demand in modern men's table tennis. If we compare this with other sports (except for special strength sports such as hammer throwing, where body mass is relevant), we will not find such phenomena. The athletes are visibly trained. All over the body. If this is not the case (you can quickly see on the neck and face), it can still have different reasons. I would only like to address (latent) injuries, inflammations in the body, the medication of which can lead to (partly considerable) storage of fat. The stress hormone cortisol "loves" these fat pads and stores itself. With such a "stress depot" the general stress level increases and cannot be effectively reduced. A very high stress level prevents fat loss in the body. A vicious circle. 


   To trace this back to our debate here: LSD would have to do a strong fat-loss-diet in this assumed case, which of course would significantly affect his performance as a player. Maybe he could get to the target with a special athlete ketogenic diet, because it can combine fat loss with increase of power. Professional supporter will know. On the other hand, even at professional levels there are trends and even bans on thinking.
   
   BTW: nobody talks about the belly fat of Alexis Lebrun 🤣

 

[job59]

Tom is a Stiga sponsored player. He is using DNA Hybrid XH both sides

I'm learning how many orange sponges are on the market

 

[job59]

Coton said he didn't give up when down in G5 and changed some tactics. (Togami: Am I that dumb?)

MT
TPE on 3-1 GER
https://weibo.com/6040160273/QDKeH6VkR
FRA on 3-2 JPN
https://weibo.com/6040160273/QDNy0klsU

I only watched the consumption of Harimoto vs Felix Lebrun. What happened to Harimoto? Completely out of balance.

 

[Lando]

Whats that squeeze thingy the Japanese players eat?

 

[job59]

Whats that squeeze thingy the Japanese players eat?

This will be a quickly digestible carbohydrate gel. Possibly with trace elements.

 

[dewnyc]

There goes USA's hopes with Kanak losing to Coton. Too bad we most likely won't see Kanak vs Felix.

 

[NextLevel]

There goes USA's hopes with Kanak losing to Coton. Too bad we most likely won't see Kanak vs Felix.

I struggled to see a path to any result other than 3-0. Kanak has beaten better players but it would have taken a lot given his opponents would be playing more freely than he would.

 

[M51]

Felix barely breaking a sweat against the best Liang.

BTW: nobody talks about the belly fat of Alexis Lebrun 🤣

Because he's clearly as strong as a horse.

 

[The0rigina1]

Anyone eyed Ri Jong Sik using PRK-520X?

 

[dewnyc]

Gauzy ruthless with his bh's vs Nandan

 

[NextLevel]

Will Ursu do Ursu things or Jarvis do Jarvis things?

 

[NextLevel]

Will Ursu do Ursu things or Jarvis do Jarvis things?

Jarvis wins a match for England!

 

[rpb23]

A lot of it is about the new ball as well. Quality doesn't get you quite the same premium it used to because the ball always slows down when it comes off the table, especially if you still use old school technique.

Well, the ball slowing effect applies to all players. What Kanak said was compared to current players, including German league players, FZD's shot was not considered powerful. I can see his point; many German league players do hit ball harder.

 

[NextLevel]

Well, the ball slowing effect applies to all players. What Kanak said was compared to current players, including German league players, FZD's shot was considered powerful. I can see his point; many German league players do hit ball harder.

You were citing when Fan was younger - the ball slowing down has made consistency more important than quality unless you have extreme amounts of energy. The truth is that even when comparing players nowadays, no one's rally ball other than maybe Hugo is that special anymore. Even Quek said nowadays, to beat top players, you are forced to dominate the rally more these days.

 

[Metaxa]

Het grappige aan Harimoto is dat hij weigert zijn atletische vermogen te gebruiken, tenzij hij relatief ontspannen de leiding neemt. Hij zou het juist constant moeten gebruiken en stoppen met al dat controlerende blokkeren en counteren – wat een verspilling van talent!

Nee,
Een schitterende prestatie van Nuytinck!
En jongens, Harimoto is ongetwijfeld een briljante speler, maar tegen een linkshandige speler als Cederic kwamen zijn zwakke punten wederom aan het licht.
Iets wat we hier al jaren en regelmatig aanstippen: Harimoto's reactiesnelheid is trager bij het wisselen van backhand naar forehand. Cederic zag dit goed en speelde veel parallelle slagen met zijn forehand en backhand, of een paar ballen naar Tomo's backhand om vervolgens diagonaal af te maken met zijn forehand.
Linkshandige spelers zijn werkelijk sublieme spelers...