March 12, 2018

Tip of the Week
"Hot Anger" versus "Cold Anger."

Weekend Update - Coaching
In the Saturday Junior League & Camp (two hours, about 25 players), the focus was on serve and attack, and handling your opponent's attack. We had them play games where the server had to serve and attack (or counter-attack if the receiver attacked the serve), or he instantly lost the point. However, the receiver, if he won the point after the server attacked, won two points. It made things interesting!

In the Sunday Beginning Class (90 minutes, 15 players) - week nine out of ten this session - the focus was on serves, smashing, and smashing lobs. I was impressed with some of the kids who are really learning to spin their serves. Two kids were practicing serves on the same table, with one serving forehand pendulum serves from the backhand side, the other serving backhand serves from the forehand side, and since they often timed it so they served at the same time, it was interesting to watch their respective serves spin away from each other.

In the Sunday Talent program (28 players (two hours), I worked with a number of kids who are having trouble doing heavy backspin serves. I also worked with a number on forehand flipping, followed by rallying (with multiball). We also had contests to see who could do each drill the longest. Two girls who usually don't win these contests ended up winning the forehand-to-forehand footwork contest, to my great (but secret!) surprise. Hey, maybe they're getting better!

After the Talent program we had a big pizza party. The head coaches also spoke with the parents, giving player evaluations for each player. Then, when the pizza was gone, the kids (of course) went back out on the table to play various made-up games. I had come prepared - and brought out five mini-rackets (all surfaced with Tenergy), the huge Frankenpaddle, and an oversized 55mm ball! They, and many of the coaches, spent the next 90 minutes playing with them non-stop.

Weekend Update - History of U.S. Table Tennis, Volume 21
We've finished 22 chapters and 322 pages. Alas, a series of unfortunate time-wasting events took up much of Sunday morning, or we'd have done another two chapters. We'll try to catch up - we were hoping to finish the pages on Tuesday, and do all the corrections (Tim has a lot) on Wednesday. Most likely we'll now finish the pages on Wednesday, and then see how long it takes get the corrections done. Tim hopes to leave early Thursday morning.

Weekend Update - Shoulder
I've been dutifully seeing the physical therapist three times a week, and doing my daily shoulder stretching exercises, and the shoulder is a lot looser now - which is sort of like saying granite is softer than diamond. One thing - the therapy is more centered around loosening up the rock-tight muscles that surround the shoulder, which put great pressure on the shoulder and rotator cuff. I can now touch my back with my right arm for the first time since October. It's been years since I've been able to do it except after serious exercise that warms and loosens the shoulder up.

I haven't done any private coaching in a couple of weeks. My tentative plan is to do some sessions with beginners next Saturday. If that goes well, then I might try it with stronger players. But I don't want to re-injure it, so I'm toying with putting off private coaching with stronger players for a bit longer - just thinking about hitting with them makes my shoulder queasy!!!

2018 Seamaster Qatar Open
Here's the ITTF home page for the event, held this past weekend Doha, Qatar. Check out the results - especially for Men's Singles surprise finalist world #15 Hugo Calderano of Brazil!

Rule the Roost with the Right Rubber and Racket
Here's Table Tennis Tidbits # 12 by Robert Ho.

Simon Gauzy Training Short Game, Receive at World Cup
Here's the video (4:15) from Arnaud Scheen. 

China Team Needs to Watch Liam Pitchford
Here's the video (18:14) from EmRatThich on the world #53 English champion.

Top 10 Table Tennis Boys World Ranking
Here's the video (1:58) from Pong Universe.

History of USATT – Volume XX – Chapter 19
Here’s chapter 19 of Tim Boggan’s latest volume, which covers 1993-1994. Or you can buy it and previous volumes at www.timboggantabletennis.com. Chapter 19 covers the 1993 U.S. Nationals.

Anna-Carin Ahlquist vs. Jan-Ove Waldner
Here's the video (3:48) as the Swedish wheelchair star takes on the "Greatest of All Time" - in a wheelchair!

Cartoon Funny-Faced Paddles
Here they are - lots of funny faces!

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