OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Well, I am back.
I never wore any more than a tee shirt and shorts, (and a swimming suit for the ocean) the whole time there. Nights were in the 80s and the days, 90 to 105F. Humidity was always very high. They have bad pollution also. It is from all the charcoal cookers, not autos. I played almost every day. Many times morning and night.

I usually hit at one of 5 outdoor places for an hour in the morning and then 2 or 3 hours indoors. I got to play people from basement level to provincial level, even a couple women pros. I think I played some of the most illegal pips in the world. Some had no logo area, just pips all over and many rubbers that make teflon look sticky.

My old coach has a big schedule change, has to teach kids 4 hours a day and then practice. I never got to hit with him this time. But, I think I got to hit with his coach. He was coaching kids and adults at the indoor place. First time I saw him he was teaching a 12 year old girl, (about USATT 1800) He was doing multi ball so I grabed his ball net and chased balls for him. Then I blocked while he helped the girl with some fine points about looping. He knew just enough English I could talk to him.

After watching me play some people later, he asked to hit with me. I was playing Seemiller style. He had never seen it before. He was impressed! He also was impressed with my serves! He gave me alot of coaching for free. He normally plays shakehands but I saw him teaching the finer points of C-Pen to some high level players. I saw him take a 1000 level C-Pen lady to about 1600 in 5 weeks. Whenever he was there, I would spend half of my time chasing balls or blocking for his students. (and watching his teaching methods!)

I used his bat many times. It is SLOW compared to mine. After much thought and experimenting, I am going to slow my setup down. I kept track of how I did against different styles and levels. My fast equipment works fine to a certain level but when playing the real good players, "slower is better". I could still hit winners with his setup and a much higher % on the table in a tight spot.

I took 4 bats, two made by Ross and two of mine. Did alot of switching rubbers and tried a couple new ones. H-3 Neo is going to be my new forhand rubber. More control and spin than the Tibhar Nimbus. It is just right, on the Juic, one ply. Even the coach liked it. It is slower than the Nimbus and VERY spinny. It works in the high humidity. (so does Nimbus)

Well, more later. Night is still day and day is still night.

Sounds like paradise. Thanks for the update. Would love to visit China sometime, but none of my Chinese friends want to go back even for a vacation...

Interesting about the coach using a slow setup. Was this an older gentleman or a younger guy? It just seems strange to see a younger guy with a slow setup. I know my friends who live here now that used to coach in China (about 2300-2400 USATT) use really fast setups, but they are both 25/26.

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USATT rating - 1971

That is "comparativly" slow. My setups were all pretty hot when I went. I had Genius, Nimbus, Tenergy, Red Diamond, Venus and Sriver FX with me. ALL my blades were fast, Ross's especially. My Juic one ply is 103g. It is fast.

This man is about 30 years old, in terrific shape and a tremendous player. He plays classic, two winged looping style. There is NO SAFE Ball. He seems to be able to hit anything. My old coach won the Provincial tourney last year and I am sure this guy would beat him.

I enjoyed reading your report very much thanks hookshot. I look forward to reading the next installment. Roughly what US rating would the 2 winged looper with the comparatively slow set-up be? It sounds like 2600 plus??

How's your wife's TT progress Hookshot? Had she touched a racket while you were back in the US?

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I'm always in the dark, but the Dark sheds lights upon everything!! Beauty is only pimple deep! Beauty is in the eye of the pipholder!
S/U 1: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Andro Rasant 2.1 . BH Red National Pogo Ox
S/U 2: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 . BH Red Tibhar Grass Dtecs Ox
S/U 3: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 BH Red Dornenglanz Ox
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Carbonman, my first coach beat one of the best players in Canada when he came to visit. This coach with the slower setup would beat my old coach! My old coach is a provincial champ. When they are that good, it is hard for me to guess a rating.

Reb,
My wife only plays at her school where she teaches. And not very often. When I finally get her here, I plan to raise heck in some mixed doubles tournies!

Hookshot kicked azz and took down names. Heck, he haz a Dirty Harry Avatar, what did we expect? I bet he was taking down more notes than names though. He shapes up to be in better TT shape than ever. Anyone want a match vs him? Do any of you feel lucky today?

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BTY M. Maze Tibhar Aurus
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Yang, Jian was good enough to come over here for the U.S. Open and obtain a 2670 rating. Now he coaches outside of Atlanta. My friends from China said that he would not even be a provincial champ in China, otherwise he never would have been allowed to come live in the U.S. So provincial champ level is probably between 2700-2800 if I had to guess.

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USATT rating - 1971

Pip,
I do have an idea but did not want anyone to think I was inflating ratings.

Welcome back, now, when are you coming down so I can learn from you?

Yes, I remember that conversation we had. I was just trying to give people a basis for understanding using someone who competed here in the U.S. I was probably being a little too modest with my rating estimation as well. But noone would have believed it if I had said any higher.

_________________
USATT rating - 1971

Hi Tat,
I would love to come back to "The Garage" again! Having played so many pip players now, it would be a blast to hit with you again.
There was one lady about 45 years old. She never smiled, used C-Pen with pips. Most do not "warm up" here. Even before the game starts, it is war. The first time I hit with her, she served a ball and I netted it. I served to her, she hits it and my ball never even made it to the net, hit the table half way there! After netting everything for about 5 balls, I walked over to look at her bat. It had pips on one side, wood on the other. The pips covered the whole side, no logo area. That was not the only one I saw like that. What ever it is, it is hard as hell with MAX reversal! What is amazing is how she could hit with it. I would have had a hard time beating her but used my Seemiller setup and my anti gave her as many problems as her pips did me. I was better at figuring out what was happening to the spin. I probably met 3 or 4 using the same rubber.
I will try to come there if I can in the next year. It all depends on my wifes visa. Still working on that. Frustrating!

Good things always take time, when it is done and she is here, you would forget all these troubles.

I am looking forward to your arrival.

My Senator contacted USCIS and I am supposed to get an answer on her visa in the next 30 days. I sure hope she gets it. Been over two years so far.