OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Wanted to check, is anybody from here going to the 4 star tournament in Hammond, IN this weekend? I'm playing on Saturday in U-2100, O-40 and U-2300, so I don't expect to go deep in any event. Heck, advancing out of a round robin group would probably be a good accomplishment. I'm finally going to take my video cameras again, so I might have some videos to post. Been a while since I've done that. Anyway, hope to see some of you (GrumpyJoe?) there.

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"The greatest teacher, failure is"
USATT Rating: 1725
Blade: Stiga Cybershape Carbon
FH Rubber: Butterfly Tenergy 19 2.1
BH Rubber: Dr Neubauer ABS3 1.5

You know I'll be there.

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Equipment:
Victas Koji Matsushita, Yasaka Rakza 7 2.0, TSP P1r Curl 1.5-1.7

USATT Rating: 1869

MOLON LABE!!!

Cool! Maybe we'll get to play. It's been a while since we have. What events did you enter?

_________________
"The greatest teacher, failure is"
USATT Rating: 1725
Blade: Stiga Cybershape Carbon
FH Rubber: Butterfly Tenergy 19 2.1
BH Rubber: Dr Neubauer ABS3 1.5

Because I'm driving so far I'm in 5 events. U-1875, U-1950, U-2000, U-2100, and in the Over 40. I will be at the venue Friday night if you get in. Maybe we can have a hit then.

_________________
Equipment:
Victas Koji Matsushita, Yasaka Rakza 7 2.0, TSP P1r Curl 1.5-1.7

USATT Rating: 1869

MOLON LABE!!!

So, we have two opportunities to be matched up. Cool! I'm sure I'll run into you at some point during the weekend. Won't be going to the venue on Friday, but maybe we can warm up on Saturday morning, since U-2100 is at 9. I'll probably get to the venue at 8.

_________________
"The greatest teacher, failure is"
USATT Rating: 1725
Blade: Stiga Cybershape Carbon
FH Rubber: Butterfly Tenergy 19 2.1
BH Rubber: Dr Neubauer ABS3 1.5

It was nice to see so many friends at the tournament that I've met over the years. It really is amazing how many people I know and how fun it is to see them all.

Played ok. Beat everybody below me, lost to everybody above me. This has been the consistent story for me at tournaments, which probably means my rating is pretty accurate. It's really interesting how big of a gap there is between a 1900 player like me and a 2000 player, though. I feel like I can get there, but I have a LOT of work to do.

It's amazing that I can do as well as I can and still make so many silly mistakes and unforced errors. Continuing to work on my consistency will be a big key.

Also, my movement is atrocious. Against the 2000 level, I am barely able to get my forehand into play. I need to work hard on moving in matches to get on the forehand much more often, because I can't rely on the pips to win me matches against that level.

Third, I serve long far too much. Again, a habit I got into because it works well against the levels that I've moved through. I need to break that bad habit.

_________________
"The greatest teacher, failure is"
USATT Rating: 1725
Blade: Stiga Cybershape Carbon
FH Rubber: Butterfly Tenergy 19 2.1
BH Rubber: Dr Neubauer ABS3 1.5

Some long serves are useful. I believe in mixing it up and being unpredictable as well as I can. Sometimes long serves play into your strength vs someone, even a better player if you can make him mis-read it.

You just described being fairly rated.

I can say there is even more a gulf than many realize in the NE region at the 2000 level. Difference between low/mid 1900 and low 2000 is huge, more than one would think.

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Goof-off chopping bat
Gambler All Rosewood
Aurus Soft / Gambler GXL .6 sponge

Status - Out of Business Janitor/Babysitter

I totally agree about that ratings gulf. It feels to me, as I have gone from 1100 when I started to 1900 now, that at lower levels the "steps" come about every 200 points, but then they get more narrow as you rise. I think there's a big step between 1700 and 1800, 1800 and 1900, and now even bigger 1900 and 2000. I have got to get active and get my forehand into play more frequently. I can win with the pips against many 1800 players and some 1900 players, but if I'm going to get to 2000 I am going to need to seriously increase the amount of forehands I hit and the success rate of my forehand shots.

_________________
"The greatest teacher, failure is"
USATT Rating: 1725
Blade: Stiga Cybershape Carbon
FH Rubber: Butterfly Tenergy 19 2.1
BH Rubber: Dr Neubauer ABS3 1.5