February 17, 2015

Tip of the Week

Playing Off-Table Two-Winged Topspinners.

Snow!

We had about five inches last night, so schools are closed here in Montgomery Country, Maryland (and pretty much everywhere else in the region). No afterschool program or coaching today, so I'll either catch up on work, reading, or sleep. Lots of coaching articles and feature videos today!

Adult Beginning/Intermediate Class

On Sunday night my new Adult Beginning/Intermediate Class began. We have 16 signed up, though four had to miss the first session due to a combination of Presidents Day/Chinese New Year/Bad Weather. The class will meet at MDTTC for ten weeks, Sundays from 6:30-8:00 PM. (You can still sign up.) On the first day we covered the grip, ready stance ("Like covering someone in basketball, a soccer goalie, or a shortstop in baseball or softball"), forehand drive, and spin serves. (I brought out the soccer-colored balls for that.) Afterwards I let everyone stay for about half an hour, and hit with the players. Assisting in the camp are Raghu Nadmichettu and Josh Tran. This is about the 20th time I've taught this class.

The class is for adults (though we allow players as young as 13), from complete beginners up to about 1500. This is one of the best ways to bring in new members for your clubs. Think about it - your average first-time player comes in, is told to call winners on a table, he gets killed, and unless he's insane in some way, we never see him again. So we lose most potential players, and the ones we get are the insane ones. This explains a lot, doesn't it? But when I say "insane," I'm talking about people who are already so crazy about table tennis that getting killed the first time they play a real club doesn't turn them off. The first time I showed up at a club was back in 1976 when I was 16 - and I lost to Herb Horton (rated just over 2000), 21-1, 21-0, 21-2. (He was getting tired in that third game.)

Such classes introduce new players to the game, teaches them the basics so their ready for real club play, and creates their own peer group, i.e. the other members of the class. If you're a coach or experienced player, why not set up such a class at your club? Here's a rough draft of the topics covered each week in my class, though I vary it depending on the players.

  • Week 1: Intro; Grip; Stance; Forehand drive; Spin serves
  • Week 2: Backhand drive; Down the Line practice; Deception on serves
  • Week 3: Forehand and Backhand practice; Footwork; Pushing
  • Week 4: FH, BH, and Pushing practice; Footwork drills; Forehand Loop vs Backspin
  • Week 5: FH and BH practice; Backhand Loop and Drive, and Blocking
  • Week 6: Smash; Smash & Block drills; Loop and Smash combo; Receive
  • Week 7: Footwork drills; Loop against Block; Serve practice (serving low, fast serves)
  • Week 8: Blocking; Serve & Attack Drills; Random drills; Equipment
  • Week 9: Drills (countering, footwork, smash); Serve practice; Tactics Against Different Styles; Doubles
  • Week 10: Drills; USATT, MDTTC, tournaments, leagues, books; Smashing lobs; Player's choice

Smash Table Tennis Demonstration, Exhibition, and Clinic

On Friday afternoon I joined Mike Levene at Smash Table Tennis in Sterling, Virginia, for a two-hour visit from 29 local fifth graders. We did a demo, an exhibition, a clinic, and then (after a pizza break), played games. Here's a 34-sec video of during clinic (ball bouncing), and here are pictures. And here's a video (2:26) where I take on Josiah and demonstrate the various spins and now to react to them - and he gets to make me look silly.

Waiting for USATT Committee Appointee Approvals

One of the hardest things in dealing with USATT issues is the constant waiting. Right now I'm working out various plans, but I can't move on many of them until we appoint and approve the new committee chairs and members. Most of that will likely take place over the next one to two months, and then I can work directly with these committees on the various issues they oversee. While I will be working relatively independently on some issues, I do need to consult with the specific committees assigned to the topics. For example, before I do anything regarding a USATT Coaching Academy I need to go over the plans and work with the USATT Coaching Committee. There's also the problem of burning out some people if I keep bringing up new issues. Apparently the human mind can only handle a certain number of issues at a time before it explodes!!!

Sometimes to Win the War You've Got to Lose a Battle

Here's the new coaching article from Expert Table Tennis. (It includes a few nice quotes from and about my book Table Tennis Tactics for Thinkers.)

How to Approach the Service Game

Here's the new coaching article by Han Xiao. It includes a link to a match between Dmitrij Ovtcharov and Marcos Freitas with an analysis of the service tactics.

Golf Table Tennis Tutorial - Like a Boss!

Here's the new video (64 sec) from Brett Clarke, one of the most entertaining (and informative) coaches around. "This golf club trick is a training lesson to teach you how to perfect your forehand topspin for table tennis. Learn you how to use your waist, wrist and forearm correctly so you can get the best combination of spin and power."

Ask the Coach (Werner Schlager Academy Version)

What's the difference between Europe and China? (1:45; in German with English subtitles).

Ask the Coach (PingSkills Version)

Here are two more episodes - and note that the title for each episode is only one of a number of topics covered in that episode.

Nathan Hsu Interview

Here's the interview from the recent North American Grand Tour Final.

Ask a Pro Anything: Ma Long

Here's the video (2:01) by Adam Bobrow, with three questions for the Chinese superstar, who speaks pretty good English. I loved the first response the question of whether he was human: "No, I am not human. I am a robot."

2015 U.S. World and Pan Am Trials Promo Video

Here's the video (1:24) by Jimmy Butler.

2014 U.S. Nationals Highlights Video

Here's Part 2 (9:53), by Jimmy Butler. Here's Part 1 (11:30), which I linked to last week.

The Table Tennis Collector

Here's issue #75 (Feb 2015). Here are their archives, all 75 issues.

$3 Million ITTF Pro Tour Continues in Qatar

Here's the ITTF Press Release.

DHS Top 10 Best Rallies - 2015 World Team Cup

Here's the new video (4:16).

Tennis Star Ana Ivanovic Plays Table Tennis

Here's the video (21 sec) of the Serbian star, who's currently #6 in the word, and was #1 in 2008.

Twirling No-Look Forehand Smash

Here's the video (5 sec).

Hardcore Table Tennis from NoobTownMonkeys

Here's the hilarious new video (69 sec) with lots of wild special effects!

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