I'm very frustrated at the moment.

[pingpongrob]

Hello Friends & Visitors. As most of you already know. I had my knee reconstruction about 4 months ago, and have tried my hardest to regain my match fitness (although I still should not be playing as yet). One of my biggest weaknesses at the moment is getting into position to make a proper stroke. Its not easy pushing off with my left leg, and sometime you get the feeling something may go wrong.
Here is a small clip (last week playing a friendly against my Doubles partner - Ranked about 200 points above me.)

David & Robert "friendly" 19 July 2009 Part 2

Also we won the Section 1 Double at this years Victorian Veterans Open. Even though we win, we have several faults when playing together. Here is the Final Set.

David and Robert Doubles Final veterans MSAC July 2009 Part 3

Can you list the Faults that we have.  ;D

[JKC]

Can you list the Faults that we have.  ;D

Setting the video recorder on widescreen.

Personally I have become obsessed with movement, footwork, balance etc, but it is difficult to criticise someone when you don't know how much is down to the weak knee. You don't look like a 'Level B' player to me at the moment though Rob.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Does that mean he looks like an A or a C then JKC? lol

I can't see the vid as I'm on dialup at the moment. I know that once you have one leg injury it makes moving hard. Have one on each leg and your thankful to be able to stretch out, letalone take steps.

[JKC]

Probably 'C' I would say. Your partner punishes the high ball very well, leaving no way back into many points for your opponents. Unfortunately his high first push would mean that most 'Level B' players would not let him get a chance to play this shot (if Level B is the standard I think it is).

[pingpongrob]

Not Quite sure what you mean by Level B or C.
We both play Section 1, and above. There is only one level above this & thats the open.

I'm not asking at which level we are at, but instead - how we can improve our doubles play. I can see a few mistakes that my Partner David is making - causing me inturn to make some lousy mistakes.

Make no mistake about our oppenants - they are both experienced veteran players - both are ranked above me.

[supachop]

Why are returning a long push with a push?????

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Not Quite sure what you mean by Level B or C.
We both play Section 1, and above. There is only one level above this & thats the open.

JKC is referring to the Forum ranking topic Rob, c'mon get with it. Even I knew what he was talking about lol. ;)

Just wish I could view the vid.

[pingpongrob]

I'm still lost - even more than before

[supachop]

What JCK means is, based on that video, you should be moved down in the forum ranking to Level C.

[big ears]

Hey Rob, i like the way that you play within yrself and keep the ball on the table. you have a problem with yr footwork when opening with a f/hand loop, you are not fully comitting to the stroke, far too square, no weight transfer from right to left foot.

[pingpongrob]

What JCK means is, based on that video, you should be moved down in the forum ranking to Level C.

Then go ahead and do it - see if I care  :D

[Der Echte]

Rob, when you recieved serve, you hit deep pushes that got the opponent to open with a high, spinny slow loop. it looked like your partner wanted this to happen as he countered nearly every one of those slow openers for a winner. When he recieved serve and pushed, it landed high and in the middle depth that resulted in an incoming powerloop, which it appeared you did not want. You also got into a few pushing contests and it looked like you were looking for a chance to BH hit, which you did several times. Playing with this partner with this set of tactics and his poor pushing makes you look several levels below where I think you are. The smallish court and your partner not moving very far out of the way make it hard for you to step in and commit to an attack, except for when the high ball comes to the BH. I wouldn't call this video very definative for formulating an idea of levels. I see in other videos you open or punish every long push. I see where the outcry to move you down the ladder is coming from, but I have seen your other vids and they tell a different story than this one does. A USATT 1500 player (nowhere near an advanced player) would punish a lot of those high pushes he gave the opponents. At least a lot of your pushes worked into your partner's strengths and mostly resulted in points for you.

[Der Echte]

Saw the singles match.

You moved around, but didn't wxactly flex the left leg much. My right knee is 75-80 percent recovered and I am now just beginning to be able to put weight on it and torque it some, so I know what it is like to play hampered a bit. Your inability to transfer weight completely stopped you from getting way down and powering up and through on openers against those nice juicy long pushes your partner kept giving you. That didn't put you in a good position in the rallies, unless your opponent messed up and hit one right at your backhand. The Rob before the injury would make a strong opener against that long push and would also make a strong counter against incoming topspin. Still, being at this point, instead of still recovering and having weak-ass muscles and ligaments from lack of exercising is a world of difference. You look like you are exercising the knee and its stuff to the right conservative extent. You gotta be hating not being able to do what you want RIGHT now, but you are way further along than a lot of bloke would be at this juncture given your injury and treatment.

[pingpongrob]

You must all remember that its only 4 months since the knee reco, and my first tournament for the year. In fact after the friendly, one of the selectors asked if I would play for my state (this can be seen at the end of the video, when asked if I have actually had a knee reco). One other point to remember, is that I am purposely protecting my knee from movements that would otherwise cause the graft to fail.

My partner David, does normally push high (can be seen in the first friendly match). as the return will always be a fast drive, that he block to get the oppenant out of position, but in double this can be disaster.

My serving position also creates problems, as does the way I receive the serve. If you look closely at the video, David position's himself relatively close to me, which doesn't give me room to swing my arm, thus the well placed push.

In this Tournament, I had many wins, and in fact lost to the winner in a close 5 setter (8-11). Both our oppenants also lost to him in 5 setters - looks like he had a long day, playing the final at 9pm.

As for me, my match fitness is pretty poor at the moment - I'm panting for breath after nearly every rally. With just 5 hours sleep a night, its even hard to get on the treadmill.

On Thursday I filled in at my old club, where I and just one other fella hold the undefeated players award - yet I lost 2 of my matches in 5 sets. A lot of work is required to get back upto my previous fitness level.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Can see you put on some er "condition" Rob. 5 hours sleep a night won't help you get fitness back. Its not good for your health. Slow down a bit and treat yourself better or you'll give yourself a heart attack mate.

[Der Echte]

Haha. I had a real rough last two weeks, averaged 3-4 hours sleep a night, had to stay up to 1AM fixing computers Fri, got up at 5AM Sat and drove 3 hours one way to Dallas/Ft Worth for a tourney and failed against those players one level above me. It won't kill Rob, but it certainly won't be conductive to being one's best at a tourney. The trip back was rougher and I had to stop a lot to avoid being a public safety hazzard.

[shagga]

I'm playing against Rob on Monday Night.

Any tips on how to beat him?  What are his weaknesses?

[pingpongrob]

I'm playing against Rob on Monday Night.

Any tips on how to beat him?  What are his weaknesses?

You are - thats the first. I must have a double out there. :o

[shagga]

Aren't u filling in in the NSTTA on Monday Night? with the person u played with last season a bit?

That's what he told us anyway as his normal partner is overseas and he told us he was going to get u to fill-in.

Now he's decided to go on holidays to, so they've forfeited.

[Der Echte]

I'm playing against Rob on Monday Night.

Any tips on how to beat him?  What are his weaknesses?

Liberally spike his drinking water with laxatives. Give him balls you want him to attack and be ready to counter.

[Skippy]

Interesting thread.  This speaks to what I'm feeling as well Rob.  Not for the same reasons.  I have been away from table tennis for over a year as far as actually playing.  I'm probably 15 lbs. heavier, and my knee is fine, but I'm constantly out of position, and standing straight up again.  I'm going to study some more Alex Swanson videos, and really work on the mental side of table tennis, and fitness should come in the practice of good habbits.  I don't know that I have ever been more upset with my play than I have the last month.  I can't seem to get comfortable with how I'm playing.  Every bad shot is due to lack of focus or positioning.  Those kinda mistakes will keep your attitude down for a long time. 

[Der Echte]

Skippy, you should see how pissed I get when I am caught standing, instead of crouching.