The worst piece of advice you have heard/been given?

[speedplay]

We often talk about all the good advices we hear, but we all know, a bad advice can affect our level at least as much as a good one, unfortunately, in the wrong direction. Now, what is the worst advice you have been given or heard given to someone else?

[speedplay]

I'll begin to answer this my self, to make sure there is some high quality replies in this thread ;)

The worst piece of advice I have heard (or, actually read) is when people asks for advice on how to receive spiny serves, and people tell them to get pips or anti. This is truly a useless piece of advice, since it won't help them the least! Sure, they might be able to learn how to return serves with pips/anti, but they will still not understand a thing about spin or how to deal with it. At the same time, they  will seriously hurt their game by restraining them self to play a very one winged game.

Pips/Anti should be selected by those who have a style that will benefit from the extra control/deception they bring, not by those who don't understand spin and needs help to cover up this weakness.

[Vinnie]

That I should trust this guy.
He told me that he could get any blade for $7 each because he had contacts, and that ALL blades are made in Hong Kong, even if the company says otherwise. I've heard others, but I'd better not delve into them.

He's a good player though, and he gave me my bat, so I like him nevertheless.

[Der Echte]

A rumor that operating a Schildkrot 900 with lead gloves and a full hazmat suit will be a guaranteed winner.

You know anything about that Speedplay?

[speedplay]

*Looks innocent*

Nope, don't know anything about that, but if I did know anything about it, I would say that using a Schildkröt is never a bad advice, as this is the superior blade, for each and every style, if you are skilled enough to handle it...

[big ears]

The worst piece of advice I was ever given, '' In Table tennis, the service is really only used to put the ball in to play'' by a low level club coach when I was about 14 yrs old. The same coach.

And Finally, I have won my regional mens singles title 5 Times, the first time when I was 32 yrs old. A local 'expert' advised me when I was 25 that if I did mot win it by the time I was 30, I never would.... :)

[speedplay]

Actually, the serve advice given to you is a well known advice. I think it was a pro coach way back in the time who gave this piece of advice in a coaching book. The same guy said that there was no point in trying to develop a bh loop since this shot was to hard to master and would rarely be put to use. Guess he must feel good about him self now days >:D

[priior]

I still hear the BH comment quite a lot ("you're better off working on footwork and use a FH loop than working that BH too much").. meh.. both views make sense... i favour working on my bh :)


as for the serve thing... i donno.
A few years ago, when playing against a weaker player base in general, i used to make points w/my serve and it felt great! now, when playing with no-nonesense loopers, all i want my serve to do is not get looped on (or flicked hard)

so over the years, i would say, my serve objectives have turned from making the point, to giving me that 3rd ball choice.

(disclaimer, im not a great player!! lol)

[Tenergy]

Worst advice is when someone i was playing at the end of the game told me i need to do a big swing like a tennis racket.