Table Tennis
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:52 am
So I have decided that I don't want to abdicate my self-proclaimed table tennis throne here in Central Mexico (well, no one has stepped to beat me more than I beat him/her). A couple of weeks ago, I was played evenly -- 8 games each -- for the first time since I came here. This is really a comment on the pitiful state of table tennis in Central Mexico, because last summer I got thumped in a round-robin tourney in Ft Collins, Colorado (I will visit that TT center when I go to check on the Cobra in a month or so, for revenge.)
I am going to bring up my game level a bit. More practice, more specific drills. More conditioning.
I am converting my game to more of a forehand priority than backhand (which has always been my strength). It allows the full swing of the arm, more speed and spin and I will still use the backhand slam, but more tactically instead of as my main weapon.
Give this vid 6 minutes. You will see why the game is fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5YrwALBOM8 ignore the 5 second ad in the middle of vid. If you only have 2 minutes to spare, skip to 4:45 Two minutes of excellent play. These are the best players in the world, but playing 2-3 times a week, and working in more practice and less just hitting the ball around, each day we have 1 or 2 "moments" of good table tennis. Multiple slam returns, shift from offense to defense back to offense. It is a great test of reflexes and hand-eye. Amazingly, one of the best slammers is an 80+ year old guy who was a multi-sport jock his whole life. He can't compete strongly due to a foot issue, but I can hit him returnable balls in his wheelhouse and he will kill them, which gives me great slam return practice.
I am going to bring up my game level a bit. More practice, more specific drills. More conditioning.
I am converting my game to more of a forehand priority than backhand (which has always been my strength). It allows the full swing of the arm, more speed and spin and I will still use the backhand slam, but more tactically instead of as my main weapon.
Give this vid 6 minutes. You will see why the game is fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5YrwALBOM8 ignore the 5 second ad in the middle of vid. If you only have 2 minutes to spare, skip to 4:45 Two minutes of excellent play. These are the best players in the world, but playing 2-3 times a week, and working in more practice and less just hitting the ball around, each day we have 1 or 2 "moments" of good table tennis. Multiple slam returns, shift from offense to defense back to offense. It is a great test of reflexes and hand-eye. Amazingly, one of the best slammers is an 80+ year old guy who was a multi-sport jock his whole life. He can't compete strongly due to a foot issue, but I can hit him returnable balls in his wheelhouse and he will kill them, which gives me great slam return practice.