February 24, 2016

Zhang Jike vs. Ri Chol Guk at 2011 Worlds - and an Interesting Banana Flip
Here's an interesting video (4:38), for three reasons. (I first saw it as this Facebook posting.) First, you get to see the best in the world (Zhang Jike) against a player you rarely get to see, Ri Chol Guk from North Korea. (His peak was world #82 in June, 2011, before leaving the world rankings in May, 2012 at #86.) Second, Guk has a conventional penhold backhand (same side for forehand and backhand) rather than the modernistic reverse penhold backhand – a dying breed. And third, see the receive by Zhang at 8-6 in third, where he flips a short serve to his forehand with his backhand. Any video of Zhang and most modern top players will show them using the backhand banana flip to receive many short serves to the forehand, but what's unique is that he flips it inside-out to Guk's wide forehand – for an ace.

It's one of those way under-used shots. Let's examine what's actually happening. Guk serves short to the forehand, giving Zhang an angle into his forehand. Against a normal forehand receive, Guk and other players would automatically guard against that wide angle. But as soon as Zhang reaches in with his backhand, many players – including Guk here – reflexively give up this angle. Watch the video again and see how Guk, as soon as he sees a backhand receive, is already moving to his left (our right), giving up the wide forehand.

Why does he (and others) do this? Because from zillions of hours of play, players are not programmed to react to backhands from the forehand that angle into your forehand as Zhang does here, since they so rarely see it. When faced with an opponent's backhand, players are used to seeing at most a down-the-line backhand to their forehand (no angle), and so reflexively only guard against that, while more often expecting a crosscourt shot to their backhand. (Here's an example of that three points earlier, as well as a number of earlier times.) Result? The wide forehand angle is given up. Receivers, take notice!

Ask the Coach Show
Episode #228 (25:10) - Is the Backhand Sidespin Flick Overrated? (And other segments.)

34 Seconds of Forehand Multiball
Here's the video.

USATT Releases iOS Mobile App
Here's the download/info page.

11 Questions with Paul Shih and Yun Fan
Here's the USATT interview.

Interview with Kokou Dodji Fanny (Togo)
Here's the USATT Interview by Rahul Acharya.

The Road Traveled
Here's the article by Joe Windham on his experiences at various clubs – Triangle TTC in NC, Milwaukee TTC, Atlanta International Academy, San Diego TTC, Minneapolis TTC, St. Louis TTC, Salt Lake City TTC, and the South Bend TTC in IN.

2016 US Olympians and Paralympians Reunion
Here's the USATT article and slideshow. "USA Table Tennis Olympian Sean O'Neill (1988-1992) along with Las Vegas TTC's Carmencita, Luoana and Cynthia Alexandrescu shared table tennis duties for a great weekend of play at the Tropicana!"

NCTTA Commentator Challenge Winners Up to the Task
Here's the article. The National Collegiate TTA had a contest to find commentators for their events. The winners are Kevin Korb and Bryan Song, with runners-up Dylan Ley and Andy Nguyen. "Sports commentary can run the gamut from entertaining and insightful to "meh." Good commentary can add to spectators' enjoyment of an event, while bad commentary--or sometimes even too much commentary--can send them scrambling for the mute button."

Drew Ogden Leads Dixie Division
Here's the article.

Two Current Stars Withdraw, Two Stars of Yesteryear
Here's another article on the withdrawal from the Worlds of Ovtcharov, as well as Chuan Chih-Yuan, and the entries of Schlager and Primorac. Here's another article on Ovtcharov and the German Team.

Lakeland February Open
Here's the video (7:03) showcasing the prizewinners!

Filling a Car with Ping Pong Balls!
Here's the video (4:44).

Alien Pong
Here's the cartoon!
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