March 7, 2016

Tip of the Week
Preparing for Major Events – a Checklist.

Newly Published Stuff
Here's a rundown.

  • Eating Author's Blog. This morning I'm featured on the Eating Author's Blog. While he features science fiction writers (which is what I do when I'm not doing TT), the story is about the 1980 North Carolina Open Table Tennis Championships, the day I ate nine McDonald's quarter-pounders with cheese, nearly died (well, it felt that way), but still pulled off a series of upsets to go undefeated in winning the Open and three other events.
  • Butterfly's Ask the Expert. I've got a feature "Ask the Expert" article for Butterfly Online that came out on Friday, where I answer the following question: "I often found articles in the website that discuss about table tennis playing style which in modern era is dominated by looping style. I want to know the reason(s) why a playing style like hitter (two wing-or hardbat) is also decreasing, because I think it still very effective."
  • Baltimore Sun on Derek Nie and Klaus Wood. Here's the feature article from the Baltimore Sun, which came out yesterday." I'm quoted a few times. Last week they ran a story on Lisa Lin winning Hopes Trials. (Derek, Klaus, and Lisa all train at MDTTC; I send out regular press releases. Klaus also plays at the Baltimore TTC.)
  • Science Fiction Blog. In non-Table Tennis writing, I blogged this morning in my Science Fiction & Fantasy Page that Needs a Better Name (that might become its name) about it being one day until publication of Campaign 2100: Game of Scorpions, with a compilation of the daily notes I've been posting on Facebook, linking the number of days to publication to countries with those electoral votes in the election of 2100, or similar issues. This is actually table tennis news, since (as I've blogged a number of times) there's a lot of table tennis in the SF novel. I'll blog more about that tomorrow.
  • Galaxy's Edge. I was published in Galaxy's Edge with my story "Pretty Pictures at War." I have another story in their next issue, "Penguins of Noah's Ark." (Yes, I get paid for these.)
  • Baltimore Orioles. In other non-Table Tennis writings, I had two recent articles on Orioles Hangout - some of these won't make sense to you if you aren't a baseball person. Orioles baseball is the only sport I really follow outside table tennis. I've hit with or coached half the team, including private lesson for JJ Hardy, Darren O'Day, and Brady Anderson. They've published 29 of my "Top Ten Lists." 

World Team Championships
Once again China came out of nowhere and won Men's and Women's Teams – who saw that coming? They defeated Japan in both finals. Here's the ITTF home page for Worlds, which finished yesterday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where you can see results, articles, press releases, pictures, video, and quotes. Here are the Highlights from the Final Day.

Perhaps the most interesting story of the Worlds was England making it to the semifinals of Men's Teams, where they faced Japan. It started as expected, with Jun Mizutani (world #6) defeating Paul Drinkhall (world #65) at 8,9,4. Then Liam Pitchford (world #44) pushed Maharu Yoshimua (world #19) to 11-9 in the fifth before losing, giving Japan a 2-0 lead in the best of five. But then Samuel Walker (world #118) upset Yuya Oshima (world #12) 3-1. In the fourth match, Pitchford played Mizutani, and was up 2-1 and 10-6 match point – but lost six straight points, and lost game five 11-6. Here's video (10:33) of the Pitchford-Mizutani match, and here's a link to where Pitchford leads 10-6 match point.

Here is the USATT home page for the Worlds, where you can find USA results. USATT has also posted several videos and articles of USA players on their News Page. USA Women finished 17, USA Men 51.

Tom's Table Tennis Newsletter
Here's the new edition, with the following segments:

  • How to identify and exploit an opponent’s weakness
  • 3rd ball attack training drills
  • Magnificent Ma Long - the greatest table tennis player of all time?
  • Best table tennis bats for intermediate players
  • Best from the web
  • Other news...

2-1 Footwork Drill – Demonstrated by a Kid
Here's the video (51 sec) – if he can do it, why can't you? (He looks about five.)

Ask the Coach Show
Episode #235 (27:09) - Power Of Practice Week 1 (and other segments).

Navin Kumar's 2016 Paralympic Table Tennis Journey
He needs funding – and here's where you can help.

Table Tennis Umpires and the Reluctant Referees
Here's the new article by Coach Jon.

2016 Arnold Table Tennis Challenge
Here's the Butterfly page for the event, with links to results, video, photos, and articles by Barbara Wei.

Orange County Register on Fund-Raising Tournament
Here are two articles.

  • Back in the Paddle Again: The third annual table tennis tourney benefits two Laguna Hills High programs. "More than 100 people of all ages competed in Laguna Hills High School’s third annual table tennis tournament fundraiser on Saturday. The tournament raised more than $2,700 for the school’s science and Chinese programs."
  • Table Tennis for a Cause. "Laguna Woods resident Chee Ho, 68, had some tough competition at a table tennis tournament he and five other members of Laguna Woods’ Table Tennis Club competed in on Saturday. His competitor was Keenan Zhou, a 10-year-old. More than 50 years separated the two in age, but their match was not just for fun and games."

Table Tennis - Great Way to Promote Your Brand!
Here's the ITTF video (2:43). Next time you are looking for sponsors or media coverage, show them this!

How to Make an Illuminated Ping-Pong Ball Lamp
Here's the video (1:21).

Greatest Beer Pong Trick Shot You'll Ever See
Here's the video (23 sec).

The Gal Alguetti Footwork Training Video
Here's the video (47 sec) – on a hoverboard!

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