I desperately want the aggressive pivot video you talked about in LTT29.

An attempt to practice pivot against topspin balls. I feel like there is something fishy going on. Somehow when I lunge to the side I start to swing shallow. Is it because I don't get away from the ball enough? I also feel like my shots are too flat. The move is so fast that it is impossible to control the contact.

fastmover, I want you to watch LTT67 and think of your current pivot shot as a fade. Go to 2:00 and consider the lesson. Then go to 3:30. That's the mistake I feel you are making and I offer some sort of solution. If I was coaching you live, this is the process I'd go through.

Yes, I was thinking about it. On this pivot I am fading the ball even if don't consciously try to. There is one thing I feel I should do but don't know for sure: should I try to jump even wider away from the table? Or just to lunge more to the left and it will be enough?

Russ, as you focus on one side (e.g. forehand), the other side tends to deteriorate. You need to train both sides regularly, and combine shots, or you'll find that your game goes out of balance.

LTT50 is an okay video. I feel we need even more content on the topic of timing the backhand topspin.

I know we aren't an equipment junkie thread but...

On my backhand for the last 2 or 3 years I've either used Barracuda or some form of Tenergy. Lately I've been doing some experiments with harder tacky Chinese rubber, specifically H3 Neo. It's a pretty dead rubber when used passive but when the whip technique is used its pretty amazing! I'm noticing looping backspin is nearly impossible for me to miss. Pushes tend to be much heavier with a little wrist too. Dead balls can be looped with a certain amount of confidence I was lacking previously. Now there is a downside to it...being passive is pretty weak and you may even struggle to get some balls over the net.

So my question is: does a good whip technique somewhat favor a harder sponge?

Thanks to the regular updates of LTT & DTT series, I feel excited each Sunday evening now.

Every Sunday I learn more...and learn just how bad I am

After watching some footage I realize I pretty much do this side step already. Probably inherited from some other sport I played long ago. Basketball maybe?

When I play 1900+ players I tend to always feel a little slow.

At practice yesterday I saw a Chinese coach feed multiball random balls extremely fast to her student. Faster than I've ever practiced myself. I noticed the student's feet constantly hopping. Is this the secret to having a faster tempo?