Consistency?

[speedplay]

How to improve? Obviouslt practice, but the thing is, I can stand and loop fh against block pretty well, tempted to say darn good, and actually, the same goes for bh against block. So, what is the problem? Easy, in a game, I rarely get the oppurtunity to do this, as my opponents (those little buggers!) try to move me around and force me to use different strokes all the time! Now, the problem isn't to move around, I do this pretty neat, the problem is, before I get that nice consistency with my strokes, I need a couple of practice hits, which I don't get in a match!

So, how do I improve this? In what way should I practice to make my first bh as consist ant as my 21?

[Der Echte]

I don't have the world winning answer for you Speedplay. All I can do is add to the troubleshooting list.

I get myself in a jam against the top players who are insanely consistant after I hit a lovely high spin opener by poor initial position, poor balance, being to upright, poor anticipation and using too full of a swing on the opener. That opens myself to a host of trouble in continuing my attacks. When I can use my head for its intended purpose of thinking and get half or more of this right, I do well in continuing the pressure and finishing.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

The issue with consistency is to control the game and put the opponent off balance. The reason for not being able to play the shots you want to play is because the opponent has control of the game flow (or at least more of it than you want them too). A stronger player who is directing the game flow will try to keep you from getting in a rhythm and force you to play "weaker" shots, so they can play their stronger shots with the aim obviously of winning the point. Now its a much superior player who will completely dominate the game (and that's when the scores become 11-0,1,2 etc). If the players are closer to even with the balance tilted just to one side the weaker player wins points based on either the misses of the opponent or the winning adaptation shots of the weaker player. I've been on both sides of this and you always know which side you are on. Its pretty easy to feel.

[speedplay]

Guess there is some sort of misunderstanding here, at least, that is what I assume there is. I'm not talking about being caught out of position, I can be in perfect position to play the shot, but for some reason, I often feel like I need to hit a couple of bh's before they become consistent. It's like my muscle memory forgets how to perform the shot, but if I hit it for a couple of minutes, it is there. Then I play fh for a couple of minutes and all of a sudden my body have forgotten how to hit the bh again.

[pingpongrob]

Could it be that you out of position, thats why the shot fails.
I know that when I'm out of position, my shots a re screwed - and lately thats whats been happening. I doubt very much that the largest storage capacity know to man forgets how to do the shot.

Table Tennis Coaches always state, that you should practice the shot till it becomes second nature. In other words INSTINCT. Not think then do.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Not quite sure if I understood the issue here or not. I thought the issue was the opponent not allowing you to play the shots you can play in practice because they are controlling the game flow. Perhaps the issue is more that the first few shots don't go in, but start going in after a few of them, and why can't the first ones go in? If this is the issue, then I think it comes down to body rhythm getting adjusted. Sometimes you can hit for ages in practice and have this rhythm and then start a match and it checks out on you. Comes down to either nerves or the pressure the opponent is putting on. Once again, can come back to the "who's in control of the game" issue. It all ties in IMO.