Hi all,
I'm just getting back into table tennis, having found an active local club. I'm also excitedly watching all the Olympic matches!
I've played a bit in the past, and one season in the lowest division of one of the local English leagues, but I'm broadly a beginner, I think.
One thing I wanted to share, and perhaps get some input on, is that the players and coaches at the club when showing me things seem to assume I should be pushed down the standard funnel of super-aggressive fast-rubber power players. My inclination, both in terms of my temperament, what I admire in other players, and what I feel I would like to learn isn't quite that approach. I feel much more inclined to a defensive game with a quick pounce, or perhaps a close to the table counter-attacking game.
To this end, I wonder whether I should say or do anything different, in terms of buying new rubbers (mine are nearly 8 yrs old now - Donic Vario and Tibhar Grass Devil), and communicating with club members and coaches, or whether I should learn the standard game first, and then look at moving to a more defensive aspect, having mastered the main offensive tools?
I guess what I am asking is this - if I decide right away I want to develop as a defensive player, should I start by learning chops and pushes, or should I still start with top spin forehands? Similarly, if I decided I wanted to pursue a closer, more hitting and blocking style than spin-dominated loopy style, would I put in place different foundations?
Hope some of this makes sense, and trusting for a gentle but informative response
