Enjoying table tennis
Ed
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Today was another marathon table tennis day. Around six hours with various playing partners. One was Hans, from Austria,and I really enjoy playing against defensive players like him, as it gives me, and my slow footwork, a chance to move and play the next shot. Of course many shots go into the net! I enjoy the cut and thrust of the defence/attack and the looping and trying to do a drop shot. It's a cat and mouse game.
I was lucky enough to play this afternoon with John Bozi and he is playing the best I have seen. My natural tendency is to sit back and block and wait for him to make a mistake. I really enjoy trying to block a fast spinning loop but he just keeps them coming. I also like to throw in the mid-rally backhand chop, which disturbs the rhythm of play. Anyway, John encourages me to attack with topspin whenever possible.
You may have seen John play on youtube and I can say it is very difficult, but a genuine pleasure, as you experience every aspect of the game with him.
I have a new racket which is Nittaku Wang Nan [maybe the greatest female ever] coupled with Tenergy 64. I like the idea of a ladies racket because us amateurs have less power and maybe have more in common with the women. I am learning to like it. My other is Tie Yana with Tenergy 05. The 64 seems to block very nicely.
Favourite players right now; Wen Jia and Peter Korbel.
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pink bats
Submitted by TT energy on 22 January 2012 - 10:56am.Yeah I think you play better when you do a stroke instead of holding your arm out. You have a paddle combination that reloops loops now, and is a shame to just block with.
On the womens rubbers front: I don't really think it is a valid arguement that we don't have much power as the top players to use their blades. I certainly don't have enough muscle to play extended hours of table tennis with a 90 gram blade and two tenergy on it, but in that case we don't enough power to use tenergy as well. We should use light rubbers and light bats.
Just be honest Ed, you have some sort of fetish for women table tennis players and the closest you can get to them is by buying everyone of "their" blades. (joking)
Feel like a pulled my calf muscle on the ride back home last night.
Hopefully it will come good in some hours, just hurt when I woke up and try to walk...
Ma Long vs Joo See Hyuk
Submitted by Ed on 23 January 2012 - 1:51am.Just watched the Hungarian Open final and what a great match it was. Ma Long would have been under some pressure as he was expected to deal with Joo comfortably. I also watched Joo demolish Zhang Jike in an earlier round.
OK I hold my hands up. Because I like the look of Tie Yana, Wang Nan, and Kasumi, I want to own their rackets with their nice colourful handles. The bats are unisex though and can be played by men too. They wouldn't sell many if they were 'ladies' rackets as you hardly see a female playing the sport. Everyone is different so try not to poke fun at me!
I really enjoyed the TT today. Although you were just chopping and messing about for long periods I still had to avoid sticking the ball in to the net, and I was pleased with my success ratio. I am into table tennis in a big way and want to improve. I am thankful to you, John, for teaching me. In fact, virtually every decent player I have come accross has been only too happy to impart some of their knowledge on to me.
One of the great things about a long TT session is the beers after taste too damned good. Cheers!
messing around leads to sickness
Submitted by TT energy on 26 January 2012 - 6:46pm.I felt weak at that day physically, I thought it was because I had pulled a muscle and ridden my bike so much and ridden to your place after going around the town doubling my wife, had no real energy to do the full shots properly.
Had diaria for about 20 hours and felt like vomiting for a day and a half, did throw up in the morning finally and had a fever for two days.
I recall having a kind of black out dizzy sensation I told you during one point where I just totally gave up trying to see where the ball was. That was a sign of what would come.
Called in sick the next day and laid in bed for about 24 hours.
Still could only eat bread and cookies for a day and am starting to regain strength only enough to go to work and lie in bed.
Hence no table tennis until I feel fit again.
Hope you're back in action soon!
Submitted by Ed on 28 January 2012 - 3:00am.Since we last played John, I have played a lot, and with various partners. Miyake, Stefan, Vincent, Hans, plus Frank from Slovenia. All of the matches are pretty tight, except with Hans. I do manage to win the odd game but I know he isn't quite at full throttle. Often he is giving me balls which he knows I need to work on etc. Miyake is frustrating with his pips and is always a tense battle. Stefan's style doesn't gel with mine but it was close at 3-2 last time out. Vincent is good to play, as when he comes at me with the topsin loops and my blocking is on form I stand a chance. The last match was 3-2 in favour of Belgium. I was 2-1 up and was starting to dream of winning my first match. Alas, it all came to nothing. Had some great rallies. The chap from Slovenia, Frank, is here on holiday, and like many players is trying to trying to get his game back after years away from the sport. We are practically the same level and a very similar style of play.
I look forward to playing with you soon, when you get back in action.
Yeah, table tennis is a drug!
Not playing but enjoying watching
Submitted by TT energy on 29 January 2012 - 10:55am.Have really been enjoying watching the Slovenia Open. I don't feel like playing as much as studying at the moment.
I am trying to watch all the videos on youtube all the way through and am collecting all my thoughts on the playlist I have made here: http://tabletennisyoutube.com/content/slovenia-open-2012
Let us know what you think, it is an ongoing article, will only be finished once the open is finished.