OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Ok, I've just started playing my first season of table tennis comp and I'm pretty much getting killed. I've played a LOT of back yard table tennis, but obviously it's just not the same. I can't combat the spin. I've also played a lot of high level tennis, which I don't think is helping either as I tend to have very big, tennis style swings. I'm basically looking for any beginners advice. At the moment I'm using the Stiga Performance WRB bat, but I've learned that this might be too hard for me to control. I'm thinking of getting the the Stiga Allround WRB from this website. Any recommendations on this? Is this a good beginners bat? How do beginners learn to combat spin? Once I get into a rally i'm actually ok. If it's a big crosscourt forhand rally I usually win. But serves and returns are hopeless for me. Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

The allaround would be your best bet. Get some sriver 1.7 or 1.9 also. Has some good control. As far as getting your butt handed to you. Try to stay away from the better players at your club and just play the lower level guys. If there is a club coach try to set up some training time with them. It might cost anywhere from $10 to $25 an hour but it would worth it in the long run. But keep your head up we all have been there.

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i echo grumpyjoe's words.. get a coach! the coach will cut out ur bad habits.. put u on the path of good habits. you can then opt to continue getting coached or stay there.. but at least u will enjoy the game more!

Yes spin is so much more critical in table tennis!

I agree with the others though... a few $$$ on a coach is a much better way of spending, then spending it on equipment...

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Hi Cloud,
Untill you get some coaching, I can help you with reading spin.
When receiving serve, watch intently for the moment of contact. "What ever direction his bat was going at "the moment of contact", that is the direction the ball will tend to go when you return it". Everything else the blade does before and after the "moment of contact" is just smoke to cover up the direction of the bat.
For example, lets say he does a forhand pendulum and contacts the ball with the bat going down and to your right. When you hit the return, the ball will have some chop (down ) and side spin that will make the ball tend to go to the right of where you aim. Just aim left some and treat it like a chop serve. This works on ALL serves. The hard part is getting through the smoke. The ONLY thing that matters is the moment of contact and the speed of his bat at the moment of contact.
If the bat was going up at the moment of impact, your return will tend to go high. If it was going right to left at the moment of impact, your return will go left. With sidespin, you may even have to aim "OFF" the table to get it on.
Have someone feed you some different serves till you learn to read them.
This rule actually applies to ALL returns EXCEPT anti, LPs and SPs with spin reversal abilities.
Welcome to the game,,,,

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Shakehand, left handed.
Blade, Yinhe, W-1
Forhand, H-3 National
Backhand, Sriver FX Max

Very nice summary hookshot!

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Thanks hookshot! I didn't know that and I'll try it. Think it'll make a big difference. In the mean time I'll try to get some time with a coach. Have to drum the tennis player out of me!

There are places where the tennis skills will come in handy bro. Just get your basic strokes, and body positioning all correct first. I played four years of tennis in college, and then picked up table tennis. It's pretty fun huh? I just love it. My advice is every moment you aren't playing, and others are. Be observant! You'll learn alot just by doing that. It won't take long to tell who has the better strokes too.

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Photino
My rubbers are 9 years old. They won’t be there long.

The best way is to ask someone, the guy who beat you, to teach or show you how to do each serve. It's easier to read it when you know HOW TO do it.

One advantage that, I think, tennis player has when playing TT is backhand. If you are a one handed player like R-Fed, a little adjust and you'll be a mini-Kreanga. If you slice your BH most of the time......guess what? Welcome to the dark side........buy a cheap LP and become a mini-Joo se hyuk.

Wait for my new serving instruction video.

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Listen to bogeyhunter, most of the TT players I play with are very nice, and willing to help.
Plus work on blade angles/stroke angles to combat spin. TRUST ME it is not like tennis at all(coming from a top 50 in the US doubles player in 1984).

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