June 10, 2015

Top Ten Surprising USATT News Items

Here are some new USATT issues you might not be aware of.

  1. Chinese table tennis has been outlawed.
  2. Jim Butler, who recently won the USA Nationals, North American Cup, and Meiklejohn Seniors, has been banned from table tennis to allow younger players to have a chance.
  3. Plastic is flammable, so we are switching to tin balls. (This is what happens when you mix hot metal balls with regular ones. Which side would you prefer to be on?)
  4. Only legal surface is speed-glued sandpaper.
  5. The modern TV audience doesn’t have the patience for 11-point games (not to mention those interminable 21-point games from before), so henceforth all matches will be best of one game to one point. (With the new scoring system, the U.S. Open will now be held on July 6 between 1:00 and 2:00 PM.)
  6. Because USATT is devoted to improving your table tennis games, they will be adding 100 rating points to all USATT members. Additional points are on sale at $1/point.
  7. Topspin is illegal.
  8. Players with long pips are required to wear a picture of a yellow ping-pong ball with six “long pips” sticking out from it.
  9. The U.S. Open and USA Nationals now have first place prize money of $1,000,000 (pending receipt of $1,000,000 sponsorship).
  10. My book, “The Spirit of Pong,” is now the official bible of USA Table Tennis. All members will be required to put their hands on it as they swear eternal allegiance to USATT. Table Tennis is God, and Andy “Shoes” Blue is his prophet.

Upcoming ITTF Coaching Courses in the U.S.

Here’s the USATT listing.

Ask the Coach with PingSkills

  • Episode #138 (24:44) – World Australian Open (and other topics)
  • Episode #139 (25:54) – Importance of the Short Push (and other topics)

Ask the Coach with Richard Prause – Part 16: Footwork

Here’s the video (1:46).

Ma Long’s Backhand Technique

Here’s the video (47 sec).

Bidding Process for 2019 World Championships

Here’s the ITTF article. Place your bids now!!! (I wonder if we could run them at the Maryland Table Tennis Center? Hmmm…)

Zhang Jike Undergoing Rehabilitation

Here’s the article from TableTennista.

Ma Long, Joo Se-Hyuk, and Yan An Training for China Super League

Here’s the video (3:20). Can anyone identify the fourth? (If it turns out to be someone obvious like Zhang Jike or Ma Long, I’ll be embarrassed.)

Australian Open

Here’s an article, results, and video.

Table Tennis Alone

Here’s the video (55 sec) – who needs a playing partner when you have a wall? (A long distance runner might point out that he’s “hitting the wall.”)

9 Chickweed Lane

Here’s a table tennis cartoon that only partially makes sense. I think there’s an inside joke here somewhere.

More Mike Mezyan Pictures

NOTE - If you are unable to see these pictures, all you have to do is join the Table Tennis Group - it's easy! Here are all the past, present, and (soon) future pictures he's collected. (I pick out his best ones for here - he has more.)

***
Send us your own coaching news!