My friend Joel visited the club

[Der Echte]

I have a few American TT friends who pop into Korea from time to time. This is Joel. He is officially rated mid 2200's but he plays a little higher than that. He is playing against our club number one player, who is a div 1 player in city and regional standard, and top div 3/middle of pack div 2 national standard. sometimes, our club is lucky enough to get this guy on our team for a few tourneys, which we do quite well when that happens. Sometimes we get an even better US player. Our club no 1 in US standards is 2250-2300. He always finds a way to win and make the semis or finals of every tourney. Our club number one asked me what Joel had been doing, because the last time he was here, Joel could keep even at best. Jeol was training with a girls High school TT team for a few months last year. To give you an idea of that, those chicks are USATT 2300 for starters and go a lot higher.

There is no one else in the club, because we had the matches after the club closed. Joel took a long time getting here on the trains.

These vids will give you all a small idea of of the Korean standard described above, and a little bit about US standards.

Well, here are the vids. I do not know how to embed Photobucket vids, so if a mod knows how, have at it.

Der_Echte - JoelvsGyuhyukGame1.mp4

Der_Echte - JoelvsGyuhyukGame2.mp4

Der_Echte - JoelvsGyuhyukGame3.mp4

Der_Echte - JoelvsGyuhyukGame4.mp4

[pingpongrob]

I'm actually Surprised that Joel is 2200 standard.  Do we have any other vid's of 2200 standard players.

[JKC]

Here we go.

[Der Echte]

Joel is easily 2200+. You have to be here to see his spin and reactions. Our club number one is also easily 2200 plus and simply could not handle him. Our club number 1 is a winner who nearly always makes it to the finals. Jeol had his number that night.

In a month or so, a 2300 player will be here for a spell, but he hasn't done much due to Uni the last 6 months, but I reckon a month here in Korea will put him back on track. One of this friend's 2300 friend will follow him to Korea and it will be on. I think this is the guy who put up that Pushblocker tutorial a bit back. Could be wrong, but it shapes up to be him or someone like him.

[pingpongrob]

Here we go.

I dont know what standard 2200 is, but for sure Bigears is much better than that.  But as we know its hard to tell from clips. But Joel missed many balls.

[JKC]

Clearly a pretty good player. Looking to flick the ball when returning serves. Strong BH. Awkward serves. Moves well.

For me though he sometimes plays too strong early in the rally or plays fast shots down the middle when something with more control to the corners would give him more of an advantage. It is probably because it is just practice though. Personally I couldn't criticise him for playing BH's from the FH side though some might.

[big ears]

I dont know what standard 2200 is, but for sure Bigears is much better than that.  But as we know its hard to tell from clips. But Joel missed many balls.

 I beat John Hilton Today, I would have thought John would be US 2500, he is a very good win for me however, easy as good as P. Pinkewitch.

[JT]

Is Joel using his normal blade and rubbers. We all know it's hard/impossible to play as well as you normally do in clubs that are not your own let alone other countries so that's worth remembering. I spent a bit of time once cross referencing lots of players rankings on the ITTF list for 2200+ and seeing videos for under 2200 and and came up with a bit of a conversion. The general idea is that.

200 Vic = 1100 US
300 Vic = 1400 US
500 Vic = 1600 US
800 Vic = 1800 US
1000 Vic = 2000 US
1200 Vic = 2200 US
1500 Vic = 2300 US
1700 Vic = 2400 US
1900 Vic = 2500 US
2100 Vic = 2550 US
2200 Vic = 2600 US

That can vary a bit depending on where you are in Vic, with the country ratings being a couple hundred points lower than the city and I guess the same is true in the US but is fairly accurate.

[big ears]

2500 US is well above Vic 1900, that would put the Vic 1900 standard at 39 ranked in USA, impossible seeing as you've got 2 other levels above that.

[JT]

No we don't Brian Berry is almost at 1900 Vic which is in the "Elite" section, that's the highest we have and his ITFF ranking is 1004th outright in the world, the same as US players on 2500. If you don't think my conversion is accurate, then fell free to make a more accurate one but I'm sure it's very close.

The two comparable guys from England at that level are WALKER Samuel (ENG) and GRAY Lewis (ENG), are they 2500 US ? I don't really need to ask that because obviously they are

[Der Echte]

Joel was using his normal setup of T05 x2 on a Timo Boll Tricarbon. Believe it or not, that setup feels more like a control setup than a speed monster after hitting a few with it. The Galaxy T-1, T-4, and T-8 all felt bouncier/faster.

[JT]

I haven't see the Boll Tricarbon but it sounds fast in name at least :).

p.s On current ITTF US world rankings Brian Berry at 1875 VIC points would actually be ranked 15th in the USA not any 39th. I don't know how Paul Pinkewich compares directly but I'm sure he would be somewhere in the 1700-1800 Vic range as I know that players near that level (1600's) have close games with him. Paul Pinkewich had a world ranking of 1113 last year. I believe Big Ears has beaten Pinkewich? so even if you say that was a guy that suited him or whatever he must be at least still 1600 Vic. The difference between 1400 and 1600 Vic is quite larger than say 1200-1400. 1600 and above is where the really good players are and good enough to play in the mix at the nationals

[speedplay]

ITTF ranking don't really mean much once you are outside of top 100, it's more about who gets to participate.

Look at a player like Wally Green, who I think have a ITTF ranking? We have loads of players here, with out a ranking, that would beat him. They don't get to play international events to earn the points.

I've had a look at the Vic vs Usatt rating, it don't make sense. Could still be accurate, but it still don't make sense, since in the beginning, you add 900 points to get the Usatt rating, then you add 1100 points, but at the end, you only add 400 points. A little to much ups and downs to make sense.

[JT]

Yeah the Vic rating is weird with the range it has and how it ramps compared to the US system. It's not a very easy thing to make sense of but that conversion is the best I can come up with. There's a bit of a difference between country and city Vic ratings so I've gone somewhere in the middle for those under 2200 US. You can rate Rob as about 1300 for my chart because he would be about 1200 points in the country or 1400+ in the city, that gives you a US ranking of about 2250 US which I think is pretty close without being unfair on anyone. I've got to be within 100 US points right through the chart anyway, best I can do :0

If it makes any sense an average guy that's played pennant most of his life without any coaching will peak at age 40-50 with a Vic rating somewhere between 700 and 1000 points. That should be the same for people anywhere in the world. A more naturally talented guy doing the same will normally peak before he reaches 1200 points without any serious practice or coaching somewhere along the line. A woman that's been playing pennant and chopping, playing most of her life will be ranked about 400 Vic points when she's 40, roughly the same as a Junior that's been having part time coaching for 2 years.