OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Thanks, haggisv. Trying really hard to do small things to get my feet moving while hitting the ball as it is likely my largest area for improvement right now.

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Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

On one hand, I lost all my league matches yesterday. On the other, I have never felt as mobile before. Given that my body felt like crap most of the day before the league, it was hard to explain.

I also figured out a couple of things that I think will help my base forehand and backhand topspin a lot. I would like to think that they came from watching two of my opponents and their approach to the forehand and backhand (they both coincidentally beat me 3-0 in the league two, though both games were more satisfying than the scores indicated for me).

Play a practice match with Big D after. Best point linked to below (cheap ending, I know).

https://youtu.be/vE677g9AcN8?t=380

_________________
Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

Some improved blocking play:

https://youtu.be/CNfh8LxlfoY?t=404

_________________
Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

My knees feel like crap, but if someone tells you that very slow footwork drills don't pay off, don't listen to them.

In real time, I thought I just made a good shot, and the coach watching the match said very good and I didn't fully realize why. But watching it again, all the work I had put in slow drills into moving the correct foot first paid off beyond belief on that single shot.

https://youtu.be/VVm6T7AHoaA?t=790

_________________
Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

I am playing a lot better. I think the technical changes I made to my forehand and backhand last year are finally kicking in. Also, coaching has made me rethink a lot of my technique for hitting and blocking as teaching others has made me more aware of flaws in my technique.

The work on movement has helped as well. It's still in its growing stages ans will never be a full focus but my balance when taking many shots is better as well.

Serving practice has helped with my wrist acceleration and timing and I haven't even practiced serves that much in the past month. I am now working on shaking my racket into every stroke, including blocks and pushes .

I think all this improvement was finally helped by going to a rubber and blade that suited my overall game much better. It is easy to put too much focus on it now and forget all the technical changes but my attitude to looping with 5 ply all wood plus classic 4th gen ESN tensor is very different from X-Carbon plus latest gen hard sponge ESN tensor. Maybe I was just using rubber.that was too hard and and a blade not suited for my looping style.

I am also reading serves a lot better. I guess you all know why....

_________________
Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

I see your profit.

Kim Jung Hoon emphasizes that footwork should be "walking" footwork, you move a lot more efficiently doing it as walking style over running style.

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

Status - Out of Business Janitor/Babysitter

What do you mean by a "slow footwork" drill?

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My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

Drills where you do things deliberately and at your own pace, as opposed to trying to do everything as fast as you can.

_________________
Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

Looping to long pips chop with both my forehand and backhand. I switch about 15 mins in or so. About 20 mins in, you get a better idea of why I used to play choppers more with my backhand coming up - the sequence starting at 21:32 is my best one. I only developed real confidence in my forehand as a consistent weapon in the past year or so. I have learned that my real issue is hitting the ball while moving so I try to put in some movement in the end but cannot get consistent enough. But it will come with time.

_________________
Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

A selection of good points from yesterday.

First my favorite - good footwork but Brett would hate the shallow strokes. But that is probably the best sounding and powerful down the line shot I have hit in my life so it is my favorite shot of all time.

https://youtu.be/wEjprBPluR4?t=2243


I hit a few down the line shots during that game but this one has good form:

https://youtu.be/wEjprBPluR4?t=2186

I love this for a different kind of LTT 47 - not a thirdball like I usually do:

https://youtu.be/wEjprBPluR4?t=1909

Of course, I can't have all the fun - here is a great defense from my opponent:

https://youtu.be/wEjprBPluR4?t=439

Here is great defense from me though I was ultimately saved by the net - my opponent would likely have brought that last shot back too...

https://youtu.be/wEjprBPluR4?t=1450

It's fun to play beautiful shots.

_________________
Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

Practicing forehand counterlooping with a USATT 900 player.

_________________
Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

I will be in Washington, DC on Wednesday and Thursday evening. Will try to visit WDCTT on at least one of those days and possibly Friday afternoon as well.

_________________
Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

We just played League there a week ago !!!

Too bad you can't make it out west to Chantilly or Smash...

Maybe I should just TRY to roll over there Wed after work. Might be Thursday. I might have to get some Nexy stuff to someone who comes out only once a week near my area.

TRY is the operative word as traffic from where I work (Right behind the CIA HQ) (Yup, that is where all the NSA phones Carl got came from) to that club is pretty much a PARKING LOT instead of a highway.

Gimme a FB message or call or PM when you are for sure and I will make it a point to get out there by hook or crook.

Forum members who never lived and commuted in DC area would never understand why someone would avoid going only 20-30 miles...

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

Status - Out of Business Janitor/Babysitter

IF my car can handle it, I might try to get to you, Der_Echte. We'll see.

For people who think this was an accident, not entirely - I planned to play with heavy topspin in that game even when given drive opportunities and this was one of the results.

https://youtu.be/5xhsUfZGP8k?t=680

_________________
Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training" - Archilochus

Haha... BJ sez F#$$@##K... Great Shot. SHYT. Good Shot. Damnit. Good Hit.

Dude rolls like me haha.

You got my mobile NL? I gotta work at regional HQ right next to the National Mall, so I should be able to pop into WDCTTC after work. Should only be about 10 miles or 2 hrs of traffic.

FB message me if you dont and let me know you are going there.

I am all wore out from the last month of constant tourneys and Super League, so I will be generally just goofing off. I also got Super league this weekend.

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

Status - Out of Business Janitor/Babysitter