My 15 month EJ journey in table tennis (Xiom offensive S+ Xiom 36.5 ALXi + TMXi + Viscaria)

[Tyce]

Your FH is looking good for this stage. As mentioned by others it's a little stiff, but for less than 2 years on the clock I think you've nailed it technically. Don't go overthinking this stiffness, it's something to adjust slowly over time.

I wouldn't worry about equipment too much if you put these hours in, you'll get used to most of it pretty quickly.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Now we know what you look like when ball comes back to you with nice consistency; next you show us what you look like when ball comes back all over the place like:

 

[pedro.dantas]

Now we know what you look like when ball comes back to you with nice consistency; next you show us what you look like when ball comes back all over the place like:
View attachment 35818

Nice forehand gozo

 

[JJ Ng]

Your FH is looking good for this stage. As mentioned by others it's a little stiff, but for less than 2 years on the clock I think you've nailed it technically. Don't go overthinking this stiffness, it's something to adjust slowly over time.

I wouldn't worry about equipment too much if you put these hours in, you'll get used to most of it pretty quickly.

I agree with you. OP's forehand looks good. I can definitely see some weight distribution and core being used. When he is in rhythm and the ball is coming at him, it looks good.

The OP can certainly relax more and has a bit more explosion in the loop. But I also agree that it is something one needs to slowly adjust over time if there is no coaching.

At the club, we have a young 20'ish player who has been learning for a couple years at the school club. He has progressed along the way but finally got serious the last 3 months and coming to our outside club at least twice a week. It is interesting because once he comes to the club more, many many players give him lots of tips. In order not to confuse him, I just told him relax and then explode on his forehand side. I kept on telling him that he is too tight even in resting position; how are you going to explode when you are already tight standing there? Recently a lightbulb went off in his head and he is playing so much better now. Sometimes, you need time for the brain to click.

I would not mind hearing OP's opinions about the equipment.

 

[FH_Project]

I found your forehand topspin against block good compared to the 1 and a half year. It is hard to develop game on the first year such as playing safe, loop spinny open up, fast block, slow block, fishing, fast drive, counter topspin etc. You haven't explored probably what works for you best.

As a person who has years of failing experience, I advice you strongly to use equipment according to your level. Being able to hit a few balls doesn't mean you mastered the equipment. Being able to not drop in TTR doesn't mean you are OK with the harder, faster equipment. Watch your matches to detect your inconsistent techniques if you don't believe me. Hard/fast equipment requires you play precisely. Slight racket angle change may cause net or out. This causes you to loose confidence and make your strokes less effective. Chasing the maximum is the worse thing you can do to yourself and your time. Max spin, max speed, max sponge thickness, max hardness.

Using not the top rubbers or blades, can make you feel bored or too slow. I assure you intermediate or even low-advanced level players can play better with the equipments below than their current equipment, carbon blade, dignics, tenergy, hurricane if they are honestly open minded to adjust...

I hardly suggest you to stay in this zone:
Wood: 5ply OFF-
Rubbers: 40-45° hardness, choose one level below of top esn grippy rubbers(Butterfly: Tenergy -> Rozena, Andro: Rasanter -> Hexer)

 

[pedro.dantas]

I found your forehand topspin against block good compared to the 1 and a half year. It is hard to develop game on the first year such as playing safe, loop spinny open up, fast block, slow block, fishing, fast drive, counter topspin etc. You haven't explored probably what works for you best.

As a person who has years of failing experience, I advice you strongly to use equipment according to your level. Being able to hit a few balls doesn't mean you mastered the equipment. Being able to not drop in TTR doesn't mean you are OK with the harder, faster equipment. Watch your matches to detect your inconsistent techniques if you don't believe me. Hard/fast equipment requires you play precisely. Slight racket angle change may cause net or out. This causes you to loose confidence and make your strokes less effective. Chasing the maximum is the worse thing you can do to yourself and your time. Max spin, max speed, max sponge thickness, max hardness.

Using not the top rubbers or blades, can make you feel bored or too slow. I assure you intermediate or even low-advanced level players can play better with the equipments below than their current equipment, carbon blade, dignics, tenergy, hurricane if they are honestly open minded to adjust...

I hardly suggest you to stay in this zone:
Wood: 5ply OFF-
Rubbers: 40-45° hardness, choose one level below of top esn grippy rubbers(Butterfly: Tenergy -> Rozena, Andro: Rasanter -> Hexer)

Hey thanks, i'm currently using 36.5 ALXi, wich isn't too fast blade, as for rubbers i'm liking Hurricane 3 39º with 2 layers of falco and fastarc G1 on BH. This is the setup i most spend hours playing, so i think i'll stick with these a bit more, if it looks like it's too fast i'll try to downgrade rubbers, but keeping the blade.

 

[Tyce]

Hey thanks, i'm currently using 36.5 ALXi, wich isn't too fast blade, as for rubbers i'm liking Hurricane 3 39º with 2 layers of falco and fastarc G1 on BH. This is the setup i most spend hours playing, so i think i'll stick with these a bit more, if it looks like it's too fast i'll try to downgrade rubbers, but keeping the blade.

If you come to the point of having to consider a downgrade softening, yet you feel comfortable with the character of your equipment:
- Hurricane 3 can be found in 38 degrees, I would strongly advise to not use the 37 version which is quite different.
- Fastarc G1 -> C1. Very similar character, just a softer version.