OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Thanks for asking Reb.

Think I played about 10 matches in the day across various events. My deepest run was making the semifinal of Div 4 singles. Ended up losing in the 5th set to a wheelchair player with LPs on the backhand. Still fairly happy with that match though as I usually don't do well against LPs.

Apart from that, it was a mixed day. Played some matches well and some badly. Occasionally I was able to put together a good set in an otherwise ordinary match. Highlights included playing Brian Berry. I lost in straight sets but got some decent third ball attacks in. I was impressed by how fast he was, and your serves really have to be perfect otherwise he tees off on them too. Lowlights included getting beaten by Barak Mizrachi again in straight sets. Was hoping I would have gotten a little closer to at least taking a set but actually felt like the gap has widened since I last played him in July.

Overall, it was a good learning experience in terms of pulling myself of a hole mentally after a bad set/match and trying to focus on the current situation. It's definitely a skill I need to learn as I can be pretty critical of my own game sometimes.

Ended the day with a recovery sequence of hot and cold water immersion. That was a new experience. It involved alternating 3 minutes each under a cold shower and a warm spa bath. Apparently the number of repetitions isn't that important as long as you start and finish with the cold. Not sure of the exact science behind it but supposedly it alleviates muscle soreness after physical exertion. Maybe it was my imagination but I think I felt more soreness afterwards than before! I think I'll stick with my usual stretching regime after play for the time being

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"Despair says, I cannot hit with the speed of my opponent. Happiness says, I do not need to."
Committee Member @ Gold Coast Table Tennis, Queensland, Australia
Audio Table Tennis Interviews

Playing Brian would certainly have been an experience for you. He saw me play at Mornington Vets and said he'd have to watch out in future for how I use the pips if he meets me in a future vets. I think I could take quite a few points off him, but I doubt I'm yet anywhere near a place where he'd have to worry too much

I've seen Barak play in vid against my friend Ed Cotter. He doesn't look too slouchy, even if he had nothing on Ed. I took 2 sets off Ed on Sunday in a friendly best of 5, but in competition I doubt I'd get anywhere near that.

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I'm always in the dark, but the Dark sheds lights upon everything!! Beauty is only pimple deep! Beauty is in the eye of the pipholder!
S/U 1: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Andro Rasant 2.1 . BH Red Tibhar Grass Dtecs
S/U 2: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 . BH Red GD Talon
S/U 3: Blade: Bty Gergely . No rubbers...thinking of adding Red Dtecs and Black Rasant
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