Premier league final between William Henzell & Simon Gerada

[speedplay]

they must have some good stuff over there man, as I still have no idea what you are talking about.

Then enlighten me about what it is you fail to understand and I'll do my best to explain it to you.

Is it the video part? If so, the noob level you wanted to see is already posted by Biggy, as the play (note the play, not necessarily the players) in that clip is of noob level, al though advanced noob.

The rating? If the guy in the clip is ranked higher then you, then how on earth have you reached the conclusion that you are 2300 Usatt rating??? The guy in the clip shows no signs of being higher then 2000 him self, yet you claim to be 2300, while roughly 45 places behind him on the ranking list?

If nothing else works, then try this, the guy in the clip plays the O60 final. Not sure about Aussie, but here in Sweden, that is the same as he is at least 60 years old, despite this, he is rated as number 15 in VIC??? Please tell me that you do understand that this is a sign of the poor depth you guys have?

Ask Biggy how many 60+ years old that is in front of him on the English ranking, I doubt there are many, if any. Mikael Appelgren, who you might have heard of, isn't even 50 (49, if I'm not mistaken) and his Swedish ranking is 48, which I think is a sign of weakness here. I do how ever believe that he would trash the guy in the clip. To have such an old player with such a high ranking is a sing of weakness and it makes me wonder what all the up and coming juniors (that you seem to have such problems with, as they prevent you from climbing the ranks) are doing, as they haven't been able to get past this guy...

If there is still some things that are unclear, don't hesitate to ask, I'll do my best to explain it to you, although it will be hard to explain it any clearer then this. It seems to me that it's reality that you have a problem understanding. Or, at least accepting...

[pingpongrob]

Then enlighten me about what it is you fail to understand and I'll do my best to explain it to you.

Is it the video part? If so, the noob level you wanted to see is already posted by Biggy, as the play (note the play, not necessarily the players) in that clip is of noob level, al though advanced noob.

The rating? If the guy in the clip is ranked higher then you, then how on earth have you reached the conclusion that you are 2300 Usatt rating??? The guy in the clip shows no signs of being higher then 2000 him self, yet you claim to be 2300, while roughly 45 places behind him on the ranking list?

If nothing else works, then try this, the guy in the clip plays the O60 final. Not sure about Aussie, but here in Sweden, that is the same as he is at least 60 years old, despite this, he is rated as number 15 in VIC??? Please tell me that you do understand that this is a sign of the poor depth you guys have?

Ask Biggy how many 60+ years old that is in front of him on the English ranking, I doubt there are many, if any. Mikael Appelgren, who you might have heard of, isn't even 50 (49, if I'm not mistaken) and his Swedish ranking is 48, which I think is a sign of weakness here. I do how ever believe that he would trash the guy in the clip. To have such an old player with such a high ranking is a sing of weakness and it makes me wonder what all the up and coming juniors (that you seem to have such problems with, as they prevent you from climbing the ranks) are doing, as they haven't been able to get past this guy...

If there is still some things that are unclear, don't hesitate to ask, I'll do my best to explain it to you, although it will be hard to explain it any clearer then this. It seems to me that it's reality that you have a problem understanding. Or, at least accepting...

you only read what suits you.  The guy in the clip has ammased a huge number of points by beating other 60 year olds, he does not play in the O40's events - what part of that do you not understand - I keep trying to explain this to you. Does your system also work like this.

[big ears]

If he's beating all the other 60 yr olds then surely he's the best 60 yr old or very near to the best, which would mean he gets very little points for beating players below him. Don't the juniors amass loads of points beating other juniors? What is most likely the truth, is that the standard is not high enough below 20 to cope with his pip style game, that is why he has a good ranking.

[speedplay]

you only read what suits you.  The guy in the clip has ammased a huge number of points by beating other 60 year olds, he does not play in the O40's events - what part of that do you not understand - I keep trying to explain this to you. Does your system also work like this.

I must say I wasn't aware of this, about him only playing the O 60 event's, but for him to hold such a high spot as 15 on the ranking must mean that there are players in the o 60 events that holds enough points for him to earn points.

Besides, his style looks to be one that is more suited to grab points from up and coming juniors then from experienced veterans who should be familliar with it.

As for our system, I don't know how the points will be calculated for different events, but I do think it will even out, as our league play also will be added to the system and there is no league for 60+, or veterans. So, the only way to only play other vets would be to only play tournaments, which I doubt many players here do. If any thing, it is more likely that they only play league.

[DTopSpirit]

As someone who's played Mick Wright in a "friendly" practice match when he came over to Perth for a while (last year I think), I just thought I'd mention that not only is he chopping with two different long pips on each side, but he can vary between a heavy chop and float deceptively well. He also has a nice pick-hit with the long pips, which can be tough to get back.

Anyway, he's darn awkward to handle, and a good example of someone who's game doesn't look all that impressive until you are on the other side of the table and you are called upon to read his variation in his long range chops, and if you are too scared to loop the heavy chop (and it is pretty heavy), to avoid popping the ball up when you push it back.

Mick may or may not quite deserve to be at the 15 level in Victoria, but unless you can eat choppers for breakfast, you'd better not expect to walk through him either. And playing against Tommy Sammuelsson (who kind of chops, retrieves, and hits a bit), probably isn't the best visual example of Mick's skills either.

Big ears has the skills to handle Mick's game (although I think it wouldn't be a cakewalk either), but there are a number of young players who play great against topspin who I would imagine would crumble when called upon to play against a tricky backspin player like Mick.

Anyway, just thought I'd throw that in there.

Greg

[big ears]

Thanks Greg, I think this guy suffers with mobility due to his age, he may well mix the spin well, which is why I would say his ranking is relatively high, coupled with the fact that there are not so many quality players of that style around these days, I can imagine him getting good wins against younger players and players who are not competent against LP's. Though it may not be a 'cakewalk' If I was not confident of beating such a player, I'd pack up, there is only one player who is O60 in England ranked above me, and that is John Hilton, and He's very mobile, fit as a fiddle, and I don't need to explain his deception qualities do I, I did beat him recently though.
 The only reason we have this constant banter on here is because Rob tells us what fantastic depth there is to the standard in Victoria to justify his own standard/results, As you well know, the Guy above would struggle to get in the top 100 Vets in England, let alone the men, where he would be in the 3-500 range.

[speedplay]

you only read what suits you. 

This could be said about you as well, cause there still haven't been an answer to the short game discussion, where I ask you why you didn't continue with the short game against the high level player, who you, according to your self, did beat in the short game. Or, have you perhaps realised that you have been confusing pushing rallies with short game?

A guy in our team actually managed to beat a guy who plays 2-3 divisions up, by out pushing him. Not by playing short. I still question the tactic used by his opponents, as he had all the shots needed to win, but failed to perform. Goes to show, TT is so much more then having the strokes.

[PF_4]

The guy in the headband has no ranking in Victoria. Mick Wright (the other player) is from Victoria. The guy is the headband has a ranking in Queensland Over 60's

[pingpongrob]

This could be said about you as well, cause there still haven't been an answer to the short game discussion, where I ask you why you didn't continue with the short game against the high level player, who you, according to your self, did beat in the short game. Or, have you perhaps realised that you have been confusing pushing rallies with short game?

See Speedplay, he started off playing short and I continued, till I won the first game - Old news.  Then Pinky told him to serve long and follow up with winners,  Back then (Over 4 years ago, I was just a NOOB, now I have a forhand, I hardly push, can flick pretty good - as good as a noob can, So now I'm an advanced noob.

[speedplay]

The point is, if you have a good short game, then you can return long serves short as well. This isn't how it's usually done, because most player's play short to get the oppurtunity to attack first, but if you, some how, managed to beat him in the short game, then why not continue? The answer is simple, you didn't have a short game. Not trying to put you down here, I don't have a short game, not even close to it. Why? Cause it's not needed at my level. Like you, I can get away with long pushes with out being punished. Trying to play it short is a much bigger risk, as a short ball that goes high will leave me stranded, but a long push that gets attacked still gives me time to react.

[pingpongrob]

The point is, if you have a good short game, then you can return long serves short as well. This isn't how it's usually done, because most player's play short to get the oppurtunity to attack first, but if you, some how, managed to beat him in the short game, then why not continue? The answer is simple, you didn't have a short game. Not trying to put you down here, I don't have a short game, not even close to it. Why? Cause it's not needed at my level. Like you, I can get away with long pushes with out being punished. Trying to play it short is a much bigger risk, as a short ball that goes high will leave me stranded, but a long push that gets attacked still gives me time to react.

Speedplay, I hardly ever push these days, and yes I do have a short game even though you say I dont.  MAybe I dont have a swedish short game.

[speedplay]

Would love to see a match where you use your short game, cause I doubt you have one.

There was a time when I thought I had a short game, but then I realised what a short game was and what it looked like. Now, I know I don't have it.

As for the pushes, I'm sure you still push a lot more then you think you do. Again, this isn't to put you down, as I know that I also pushes a lot more then I think I do.

Pushing has it's place in TT and al though you seem to think it's a bad shot, it's not necessarily so. A push is a bad shot if you use it because it's your only option. Or, rather, it's a sign on a weak player. My complaints about your pushes have never been that you push to much, my complaint was that you used your bh to push from your fh side. This seems to be hard for you to grasph.

[pingpongrob]

Would love to see a match where you use your short game, cause I doubt you have one.

There was a time when I thought I had a short game, but then I realised what a short game was and what it looked like. Now, I know I don't have it.

As for the pushes, I'm sure you still push a lot more then you think you do. Again, this isn't to put you down, as I know that I also pushes a lot more then I think I do.

Pushing has it's place in TT and al though you seem to think it's a bad shot, it's not necessarily so. A push is a bad shot if you use it because it's your only option. Or, rather, it's a sign on a weak player. My complaints about your pushes have never been that you push to much, my complaint was that you used your bh to push from your fh side. This seems to be hard for you to grasph.

Speedplay its wasnt hard for me to grasp, as it was the whinning of yourself, Bigears & Blocker, and the conversations that Supachop and I had that caused me to have a close hard look at my game, especially my Stance which was backhand orientated, and stopped me from converting those balls on the forhand side, unlike some players you know - I learn quickly once I relize the mistakes I'm making - Anyway think what you like it dont matter to me, I have good people around me letting me know when things need correcting.

[speedplay]

Yet no one of these good people had pointed out the obvious flaws that Blocker spotted on the first video he ever saw of you? Gee, I do hope you aren't paying for their coaching.

As for the whining comments, well, since you have adapted (or, at least claim so) then it must have been constructive critisism, which you should be greatful about instead of crying over.