Table tennis Tactics for Thinkers!

[coolchap]

Hello Friends,

I have started reading this book and I quote kinda hit me hard. "If you couldn't write a book about your game, either you don't know your game, or you have no game."

That made me wonder what is my game? I think an all round style where I do anything and everything possible to put the ball back on the other side of the table (chop, block, lob, loop (not that good), backhand drive, backhand flick). As per the skills, I cannot still do lot of them good but I can do many of them not so good.

Is that my game? Am I thinking it right?

Any inputs and insights are appreciated.

One of my current tournament video to provide more context

Thanks,
Coolchap

 

[Lazer]

"If you couldn't write a book about your game, either you don't know your game, or you have no game."
Or you are a poor writer...

Sounds like a defensive game, Your setup could be too fast...

Cheers
L-zr

 

[PhoenixTT]

Hello Friends,

I have started reading this book and I quote kinda hit me hard. "If you couldn't write a book about your game, either you don't know your game, or you have no game."

That made me wonder what is my game? I think an all round style where I do anything and everything possible to put the ball back on the other side of the table (chop, block, lob, loop (not that good), backhand drive, backhand flick). As per the skills, I cannot still do lot of them good but I can do many of them not so good.

Is that my game? Am I thinking it right?

Any inputs and insights are appreciated.

Thanks,
Coolchap

Interesting thought exercise. Maybe the book should include chapters like:
- My progress history
- My thought processes during a game
- My tactics
- My equipment (20 pages)
- My strengths and weaknesses
- My favourite accessories (15 pages)

 

[coolchap]

@Lazer , For sure my setup is not fast. 5 all wood blade with two spin oriented all round rubbers.

Yes game wise it is defensive where I wait for others to make the mistake. That I need to change one thing at a time have more shots to score points.

 

[jk1980]

That made me wonder what is my game? I think an all round style where I do anything and everything possible to put the ball back on the other side of the table (chop, block, lob, loop (not that good), backhand drive, backhand flick). As per the skills, I cannot still do lot of them good but I can do many of them not so good.

Is that my game? Am I thinking it right?

You simply don't have a game yet. Your game would be comprised of your strategy to win matches . This strategy would would be comprised of tactics that would lead to situations where you can use your most dangerous shots. These tactics are usually a combination of a serve where you know quite well how it is received for 80% of the time and where you are able to attack the receive.

This early in your development you will not have these tactics, because your consistency is lacking and the experience on how serve X is returned most likely will not enable you to do anything but simply "react to what the opponent does" and that is what you do.

 

[Lazer]

Pretty fast for a chopper...
A defensive blade with i.e, Mark V 1.5 would be a better choice.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

after a couple of months conversing to and fro with ChatGPT, I am disappointed when Chad says I do not play like Aruna.

 

[NetProphet]

Pretty fast for a chopper...
A defensive blade with i.e, Mark V 1.5 would be a better choice.

Cheers
L-zr

Where does he say that he's a chopper???

 

[KM1976]

Hello Friends,

I have started reading this book and I quote kinda hit me hard. "If you couldn't write a book about your game, either you don't know your game, or you have no game."

That made me wonder what is my game? I think an all round style where I do anything and everything possible to put the ball back on the other side of the table (chop, block, lob, loop (not that good), backhand drive, backhand flick). As per the skills, I cannot still do lot of them good but I can do many of them not so good.

Is that my game? Am I thinking it right?

Any inputs and insights are appreciated.

Thanks,
Coolchap

I own this book too and I do refer to it now and then. I understand where you are coming from and this is a good
thing to introspect. I can share with you what I realized after looking at my serves and my game recordings.
Spin Vs. Hit
I figured that I prefer spinning the ball rather than hitting it flat. As I mostly learning on my own or by practicing with other players, I was always fascinated by the spin and also by the sidespin which makes the ball move either way (blame it on Xu Xin!).
Serves
As explained above, I saw too many ghost serve videos and thus got bitten by the bug, so I learned it and became good at it. Unknowingly, this was my start of my journey which shaped up my game in years to come. So, I started with short heavy backspin serve and then later learned (and still learning) on how to handle my own spin on the return and loop it.
Speed Vs. Placement
I started playing seriously when I was 28 yrs. old, and not in best of shape. Based on my work, I have to spend prolong hours sitting and then in the evening I want to be a fusion of Ma Long, Timo Boll and Kreanga combined. Not possible, but my mind accepted it very late. So, I chewed my ego and started look at my match with non-detachment. I figured that since I can spin the ball well, I often get more points, when I can place a loop well on the table on the other side.
Further improvements
All the above points basically put my game in a box, but I still need variety so that I can keep my opponent guessing and I have more options based on the situation. So, I started working on my footwork, variations of spin on my topspins and also on long surprise serves.

I am a science student and still love reading a lot. I prefer logic and analytics, which when I try to map to my game suggests that I prefer playing more with variations on spin and speed and with placement. Ruling out the bang bang approach for me. So, see if this makes sense for your game and Good luck.

 

[Lazer]

Where does he say that he's a chopper???

The description of his style…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[coolchap]

Just to clarify, I am not a chopper, I just chop back the ball long push chop. No way chopper from far from the table. I may do one by fluke as I have seen chopper playing videos but dont have that skill with me as of yet.

One of my current tournament video to provide more context

 

[coolchap]

I own this book too and I do refer to it now and then. I understand where you are coming from and this is a good
thing to introspect. I can share with you what I realized after looking at my serves and my game recordings.
Spin Vs. Hit
I figured that I prefer spinning the ball rather than hitting it flat. As I mostly learning on my own or by practicing with other players, I was always fascinated by the spin and also by the sidespin which makes the ball move either way (blame it on Xu Xin!).
Serves
As explained above, I saw too many ghost serve videos and thus got bitten by the bug, so I learned it and became good at it. Unknowingly, this was my start of my journey which shaped up my game in years to come. So, I started with short heavy backspin serve and then later learned (and still learning) on how to handle my own spin on the return and loop it.
Speed Vs. Placement
I started playing seriously when I was 28 yrs. old, and not in best of shape. Based on my work, I have to spend prolong hours sitting and then in the evening I want to be a fusion of Ma Long, Timo Boll and Kreanga combined. Not possible, but my mind accepted it very late. So, I chewed my ego and started look at my match with non-detachment. I figured that since I can spin the ball well, I often get more points, when I can place a loop well on the table on the other side.
Further improvements
All the above points basically put my game in a box, but I still need variety so that I can keep my opponent guessing and I have more options based on the situation. So, I started working on my footwork, variations of spin on my topspins and also on long surprise serves.

I am a science student and still love reading a lot. I prefer logic and analytics, which when I try to map to my game suggests that I prefer playing more with variations on spin and speed and with placement. Ruling out the bang bang approach for me. So, see if this makes sense for your game and Good luck.

Thanks for the reply. This somehow resonates with me. There are few things I also sometimes try but have not thought about them consciously. This book is making me do that. I remember before I stopped playing I have had serves when I knew that it will come to my back hand I will do banana flick to place it at corners. But that skill is gone after not playing for 5 years and being in the game for last 5 months. I need to get some tactics with the skills that can back that tactics.

 

[dingyibvs]

Hello Friends,

I have started reading this book and I quote kinda hit me hard. "If you couldn't write a book about your game, either you don't know your game, or you have no game."

That made me wonder what is my game? I think an all round style where I do anything and everything possible to put the ball back on the other side of the table (chop, block, lob, loop (not that good), backhand drive, backhand flick). As per the skills, I cannot still do lot of them good but I can do many of them not so good.

Is that my game? Am I thinking it right?

Any inputs and insights are appreciated.

One of my current tournament video to provide more context

Thanks,
Coolchap

I think you answered it yourself already: "I cannot still do a lot of them good but I can do many of them not so good." In other words, you have no game right now. Keep playing and you'll likely get develop a lot more skills pretty quickly, then you can work on figuring out your game.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I have started reading this book and I quote kinda hit me hard. "If you couldn't write a book about your game, either you don't know your game, or you have no game."

That made me wonder what is my game? I think an all round style where I do anything and everything possible to put the ball back on the other side of the table (chop, block, lob, loop (not that good), backhand drive, backhand flick). As per the skills, I cannot still do lot of them good but I can do many of them not so good.

Is that my game? Am I thinking it right?

there is just so much things to master, I think, don't worry about writing a book or figuring out your game.

for most beginners, there is no game - but rather still a learning curve.
because a game is heavily dependent on the opponent and if you are not able to be proactive and take control, then, you are mere playing the opponents game.

I feel you should just focus on the basics and until you have a clear strength and weakness, only then you can start looking at how you would like your game to be and see if it works or not.
in other words, you need to still develop yourself into some game.

 

[Lazer]

Just to clarify, I am not a chopper, I just chop back the ball long push chop. No way chopper from far from the table. I may do one by fluke as I have seen chopper playing videos but dont have that skill with me as of yet.

One of my current tournament video to provide more context

OK, but still pretty defensive.
If You don't want to be a chopper you should practice to do the first attack and keep the pressure up.
If You want to be a chopper you will benefit from slower equipment, then take a step back and start slicing and dicing...

I would say Your style is more defensive than allround as it looks in the video.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Tyce]

More tentative than defensive. It looks like you're nervous and don't have a game plan, so you wait for the other person to make a move and react in usually the safest way.

The next step from here is conscious placement, so the ball you get back is more predictable and your opponent is pressured to produce less quality.

Once you get that in your system, you will find good opportunities to take over, speed up and attack.

 

[jk1980]

I remember before I stopped playing I have had serves when I knew that it will come to my back hand I will do banana flick to place it at corners. But that skill is gone after not playing for 5 years and being in the game for last 5 months. I need to get some tactics with the skills that can back that tactics.

this reminds me of that meme "what others think i do, what i think i do, what i actually do". perhaps a hard reality check is more helpful to not build castles in the sky and try too much too early.

The video you posted did not show any indication that you ever in your life could do something sophisticated like a banana/chiquita flick.
I mean sure, if you had a stroke and you are recovering from it and need to relearn everythink that you lost i would say "kudos to you", but the level of your technique is that of a beginner, not somebody who knew how to banana flick to the corners at will and beating players with it.

I have seen quite a few players that played in their youth and then returned after decades to the sport. All of them, even on the second training would show a much more refined technique but just lack the consistency and timing.

in your match you had dozens of chances to backhand flick and did not even make any attempt to not push them. On top of that your backhand topspin lacks the wrist flexibility to banana flick.

Perhaps you have a video of the "old" you doing all the stuff you said, but i would be very surprised if that was not a figment of your imagination.

Learning to properly loop underspin would still be the first priority, if i was you.

 

[Yuomay]

this reminds me of that meme "what others think i do, what i think i do, what i actually do". perhaps a hard reality check is more helpful to not build castles in the sky and try too much too early.

I like this analogy.

Like in the way that my brain is convinced that pros have more time to do their shots than I at my local league level while obviously their game is much faster and therefore they have less time.

 

[NetProphet]

Hello Friends,

I have started reading this book and I quote kinda hit me hard. "If you couldn't write a book about your game, either you don't know your game, or you have no game."

That made me wonder what is my game? I think an all round style where I do anything and everything possible to put the ball back on the other side of the table (chop, block, lob, loop (not that good), backhand drive, backhand flick). As per the skills, I cannot still do lot of them good but I can do many of them not so good.

Is that my game? Am I thinking it right?

Any inputs and insights are appreciated.

One of my current tournament video to provide more context

Thanks,
Coolchap

It's a good book and there's no harm in reading it and becoming aware of what you should try to do in matches to make things as difficult as possible for the opponent.
Training, thinking is all about your game.
Matches, thinking is all about your opponents game and how your game can cause difficulty for them.
Your own game is something to do in the training hall and starts with basic FH and BH drive then continues with an extensive list of all the shots you need to play and things you need to practice, see the photos.
Altogether there are 74 in this compilation!

A coach won't overwhelm you with all of this immediately and not all of it is necessary to master opponents at your level but until you've figured out and become competent at what is needed at your level then you can't really say you have a game.
I don't know which player you are in the video above but neither of you pushed with any pace or intent, neither of you looped v backspin or served with any real quality or tactic from what I could see.
Start there and go step by step.
Develop a strategy for your own development and things will start to move more quickly.
You should have a clear game within 6 months even.
Enjoy and good luck! 👍

 

[KM1976]

Thanks for the reply. This somehow resonates with me. There are few things I also sometimes try but have not thought about them consciously. This book is making me do that. I remember before I stopped playing I have had serves when I knew that it will come to my back hand I will do banana flick to place it at corners. But that skill is gone after not playing for 5 years and being in the game for last 5 months. I need to get some tactics with the skills that can back that tactics.

I have a good fortune of playing with and against some very good players. I also was very lucky to have a very candid conversation with Eugene Wang once when I was practicing at the same club where he was coaching. In short, all players made the same comment. You choose the serve which makes your 3rd ball effective. It is always good to try your serves in your practice and practice different motions as well, but when you play, I believe that if you 2-3 serves with the capability to change the placement, depth, spin and speed then you already are in a good position.
Since you have mentioned banana flicks, I remembered how I started focusing on the consistency of my backhand topspin. Maybe you can draw an analogy here.
I tried improving my push game for my backhand topspin to be effective. Why? Because I wanted to take away the pressure on my mind that I have to do a backhand topspin everytime. Now, if I can push with little sidespin, or a dead fast push I know that where the ball will come and with less spin. This works good for me since I do not want to tackle a very heavy backspin ball and make a mistake. As I climbed the ladder of consistency, slowly my loop against backspin also become more effective, but I still find that if I can box my opponent with my push then the next ball is relatively easy.
So, develop a framework which does not breaks when stressed. Know and master shots which require less moving parts and focus on placement.