Table Tennis Crisis

[Der_Echte]

Yeppp bup sure,t there is nothing sweeter than nailing an outrageous FH pivot loopkill or even better, a C-shaped chiquita loopkill to their wide FH or a no-look flick, and then having the opponent glare at you xD.

Sometimes it is not about winning, but sending a message lol.

But I agree that it is much better to stay disciplined, make a safe steady spinny shot and then recover swiftly and play out the rally, and always try to have 1 more shot than the opponent.

Of course true,

However, if you did a good job seeing what was happening and were decisive early, choosing to play a well leveraged aggressive shot is not out of order at all... you still have good percentages on your side if this shot is within your technical capabilities.

Where people get in big trouble repeatedly in games and matches is where they choose such a shot without the good perception/discernment of what happened and go for such a shot out of position, off time, out of leverage and it is wild low percentage stuff.

 

[NextLevel]

Of course true,

However, if you did a good job seeing what was happening and were decisive early, choosing to play a well leveraged aggressive shot is not out of order at all... you still have good percentages on your side if this shot is within your technical capabilities.

Where people get in big trouble repeatedly in games and matches is where they choose such a shot without the good perception/discernment of what happened and go for such a shot out of position, off time, out of leverage and it is wild low percentage stuff.

I know people who play that way all the time and I have absolutely nothing against it. The problem is when they get bothered by their missing because they haven't figured out how to adjust and remain relatively consistent or they cannot accept the missing and then complain about why they don't have better results. With no in-between offensive game, they are usually 100 mph or 0mph players, no 20-80 game. I will stress again, it is their right to play that way and sometimes, I can look like that kind of player when I am on. But the difference is when I am not, I have my slow looping and blocking and 80-20 game which may not get the job done, but at least it is there for me and keeps me looking somewhat like the same player. Not looking like someone who has given up because he isn't making his favorite shots.

 

[blahness]

Of course true,

However, if you did a good job seeing what was happening and were decisive early, choosing to play a well leveraged aggressive shot is not out of order at all... you still have good percentages on your side if this shot is within your technical capabilities.

Where people get in big trouble repeatedly in games and matches is where they choose such a shot without the good perception/discernment of what happened and go for such a shot out of position, off time, out of leverage and it is wild low percentage stuff.

Yep exactly. This is also why footwork, recovery and anticipation is probably one of the most important skills because you can only reliably (ie consistently) hit big shots if you are well in position and in time to hit it.

If you're not in great position or were late to the ball it is better to play safe instead of going crazy.

One good thing about the 'side angle' WTT crap is that it allowed us a much better view and understanding of the pro's footwork.

You can definitely see a lot about how they move and adjust for balls on the left, right, shorter or longer very clearly, much more than the usual angle which really downplays the forward and backward movements.

 

[Der_Echte]

You playin' against a mental strong and consistent player in Thomas F. Dude is Der Zersteorer in German. Killing people softly by getting it back.

 

[Danttgeek]

Hey Caskal

So you are a great player.

What you are experiencing is normal, a great deal of us experience this (including me).

I think it's quite simple; when you play when you think it matters, your aim changes!!

So normally, you play relaxed and you go for your shots trusting your technique.

It looks like when you play an important match, you play not to lose - you don't want to make a mistake, you play 'safe'. But 'safe' is NOT safe, because without a full stroke, you don't get the spin, speed or accuracy.

The key I believe is to shift your focus to playing the points, going for your technique, letting go of the narrative of needing to win.

Here is a nugget for you; former world Number 1 Timo Boll was asked about a match playing against some guy I don't even remember the name of, somewhere between 100 and 200 in the world. Timo's attitude was, "I will probably lose, but I am in with a chance". I couldn't believe my ears, what a crazy thing to say. This was around 2018 I think when he was doing really great. It shows you how important it is to take the pressure off and the expectation.