Play with in your level!

[speedplay]

Mpow, this might be all wrong, so I look forward to the more experienced crew's view on this, but!

Having watched loads of forum member videos all over the web, I have noticed that a lot of players are reckless with the points, going for shots they don't master at all. If I were to compare my game to a lot of the videos I've seen, one of the biggest differences is that here, we do push a lot more before we open up, while the Usatt rated players seems to think that it is a crime not to open up at the first shot. Well, if you are capable of opening up, then by all means, go for it, but in the videos people miss more openers then they actually land. They are all giving away free points by aiming for strokes they don't have in their arsenal.

Now, some one might say, the only way to learn is to go for it and I agree, but that is what practice is for, not matches. By realising their capability, I think they would be able to get to a higher level with the shots they have, while practising new shots, but instead the stubbornly insists on going for the big shots all of the time.

Any thoughs from you guys about this?

[JKC]

TT is all about weighing up the risks. In some cases it is more risky to attack and in some cases it is more risky to wait an extra shot or more. It is all about going for the shot which will give you an advantage in the point. It depends on the strengths of you and your opponent which shot is the best. It is never the best choice to go for an over-ambitious opening shot and miss, but against a better player, you might decide to risk things a little more.

Experience tells you how much risk to take in different situations. Managing this risk well or badly is probably the difference between thinking you are playing well or badly.

[speedplay]

Yes, against s tronger opponent, we have to be prepared to take risks, but looking at videos from members, I've often found that they are of similar level, but most of the points are earned due to mistakes rather then winners, simple because the players attempt shot they can't make. My advice is, if the incoming shot catches you out of position or you see that it has huge back spin, if you aren't comfortable attacking those shots, then you are better of pushing it back and wait for a better ball to attack.

[priior]

i think it depends if the objective is to win or to improve.

Playing it within the comfort zone is a sure way to plateau imo.

[Der Echte]

Vrai. Where U been ol friend?

Good point about the objective.

[priior]

heya der! check the intro thread :)

been rearing babies ;)

[speedplay]

i think it depends if the objective is to win or to improve.

Playing it within the comfort zone is a sure way to plateau imo.

You can't be serious??? Matches aren't there to be improving your skills, they are there to be won. When you practice on the other hand, then obviously you should allow your self to try and work on shots that you have yet to master.

[big ears]

Have you been tracking me on MYTT Speedy? I have recently made the same comments regarding a clip of BOZ vs Fruitloop,

http://mytabletennis.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27934&PN=2#347816

 It just bothers me so much, it shoulden't but it does. These guys just don't know what to do to improve, so they just blindly copy the top stuff, it will never ever work, they will be no better in 5 yrs than they are now. Sad really really sad.

[speedplay]

LOL!

No, I hadn't read that before, but I have now. As said in that tread, I agree with everything you said, but you are a forum veteran now, you should know, people who posts videos don't want advice, they want praise ;)

[big ears]

a forum Veteran :-* Its all I've ever wished to be ::)

[pingpongrob]

LOL!

No, I hadn't read that before, but I have now. As said in that tread, I agree with everything you said, but you are a forum veteran now, you should know, people who posts videos don't want advice, they want praise ;)

Speak for yourself.
Both supachop and I both accept constructive critisism.

[speedplay]

I would love to be able to find the errors made by Supachop, but unfortunately, I haven't been able to find something to complain about... But, I will continue to look for it! >:D

Rob, you might want constructive criticism, but it was still obvious that you didn't like being called a C-grade player ;)

[JKC]

You would need to see superchop playing another B-Level player before he will be forced into errors.  ;)

[pingpongrob]

I would love to be able to find the errors made by Supachop, but unfortunately, I haven't been able to find something to complain about... But, I will continue to look for it! >:D

Everyone make errors - Even Waldner. Supachop although an Alien, makes lots of errors, its just I make more than him due to the unpredicability of his long pips shots, and his excellent Footwork. Very rarely will you see him out of position. We are trying to organise some other players to come for the training session, that way you can get a better idea of his level. And now that I have a new Video camera, I will record some of his Tournament Matches.

Rob, you might want constructive criticism, but it was still obvious that you didn't like being called a C-grade player ;)

Speedplay, thats because there is not one comp in Australia, where I would play as a C grade player or even a B grade player. Even some of the better juniors find me hard to play. Just the other day, I beat a Sub Elite player, and my last tournament I beat another Sub Elite player.

I'd still fancy my chances against both JKC and Wiggy, if I lost it would not be to easily. I would like to know if both JKC & Wigs have peaked in there level, As I have not.

[speedplay]

Rob, I don't doubt that you are an A-level veteran in Australia, but the C-grade rating you were once given here was probably meant in regards to the forum ranking system I made, were A-grade is professional player, like Waldner, Henzell and those guys. Now, in comparison with them, you are not a A-grade player, right? Now, I don't know if you are B or C grade compared to those players.

[JKC]

still fancy my chances against both JKC and Wiggy, if I lost it would not be to easily. I would like to know if both JKC & Wigs have peaked in there level, As I have not.

I reached my highest ever ranking towards the end of last season, so hopefully I haven't peaked yet. Obviously it is far harder to move up the rankings here, so whether I will get higher I don't know. >:D

[big ears]

  I would like to know if both JKC & Wigs have peaked in there level, As I have not.

 How the hell do you know that?

[pingpongrob]

How the hell do you know that?

How do I know if you have peaked, Or how do I know that I have not Peaked. The answer to that question is easy.

How do you base your performance - is it by some fliffy feeling in your head, or do you use methods such as ranking, points etc.
Do you think your backhand strokes can get better, what about your footwork. These are items that I contantly work on, and can see an improvement week by week.

What about fitness level, I know my fitness level could increase by at least 50%, I'm sure that olone would help my game.

Or should I place a big Question mark here  ???

[big ears]

You can never know whether you have peaked of not, how can you? its not happened yet, some players stay the same standard for years whether they get fitter, practice more or not. Once a players standard has set in, it takes a gargantuan effort to shift it higher. You just can't make up standard in play with fitness, you can be as fit as a butcherd dog, but if you can't get my serves back, I win. And vice versa.

[speedplay]

While I agree with what's being said by Biggy, I still have to say that we can make a pretty educated guess whether we have peaked or not. If I look at my self, I do hope I'm still improving and will continue to do so for a couple of years more before I reach my peak,simple because there are still so many obvious flaws in my game that I need to work on. Like, working on my serve, as I feel a better serve would bring my up a level. Working on my inverted bh shots is another thing that might help me yet another level up and so on.

How ever, age sooner or later becomes a problem, along with the talent we are given. Some people will never get beyond the basement level, simple because they aren't willing to learn new stuff, others are willing, but not capable, as they might not understand spin and stuff like that.

[big ears]

I agree, most players believe that they have not peaked, that is what keeps them keen. Having been almost a full time player about 10 yrs ago, I can assure you I have though, It won't help you though for a long time yet Rob, even If you have not peaked. :D

[pingpongrob]

It won't help you though for a long time yet Rob, even If you have not peaked. :D

I dont quite understand what you mean here.

[big ears]

I mean that me playing below my peak, and you not having reached yours, still leaves a massive gap for me to get considerable worst and you to get considerable better, before we meet in standard. Thats just my view, I'm sure you will see it differently ;)

[pingpongrob]

I mean that me playing below my peak, and you not having reached yours, still leaves a massive gap for me to get considerable worst and you to get considerable better, before we meet in standard. Thats just my view, I'm sure you will see it differently ;)

Maybe So, but this we will never know until we meet. ;)

[Der Echte]

Hall of Fame Thread.

[big ears]

Maybe So, but this we will never know until we meet. ;)

 True, but if that meeting was tomorrow, I wonder which one of us would be stipped off ready to play at the venue first? I vote me ;)

[speedplay]

LOL!

I got the smart remark made by Biggy and even though I would put my money on him right now, I'm not as confident as he seems to be, but I like that in both players and posters, self confidence, even though it have to stay with in realistic level. So, I don't like it when basement players claims to be advanced intermediate! ;)

[pingpongrob]

So Ive been downgraded from a C Grade Player to a basement player now.
How much does my salary drop, do I lose my car allowance. What will I have to do to a least get back to my C Grade Level.

[big ears]

I don't even know what 'C' grade is, Is it the lowest grade, or is there a 'D' ? How wide are the grades? Surely this all revolves around your perspective. There are players who would whip my butt, who other players who whip their butts would consider me 'C' grade.
Then again there are players who's butt's I whip who also whip other players Butts, those players at the bottom of the butt whipping stack probably think I'm 'A' grade cos you can only whip a butt to a certain extent. Now where does this leave you Rob ? wielding the whip, or applying the sore butt cream? I'm afraid I have to do a bit of both. :'(

[JKC]

At the last BL weekend, I lost to a player in four including an 11-1 hammering in the 4th end. Then in our second match I beat a player (who the rest of the team seemed to think was quite good) 11-1, 11-2, 11-5. The following day I looked across from my table to see the 2 players were playing each other and the one I hammered was just finishing off the one I lost to 11-1 in the 3rd. It just goes to show what a 'funny old game' we all play and individual matches don't really mean that much anyway.