Table Tennis players
- Thread starter jrs
- Start date
Haven't seriously played in over 47 years, but dabble a bit when the juices start flowing and someone thinks they're good. I can usually beat them with a clipboard or a thin book, and get close with a pocketbook.
Quarter's at ChineseNationals (SanFrancisco), around 1965, when I was 15.
Quarter's at ChineseNationals (SanFrancisco), around 1965, when I was 15.
Of course you did.
That was a long time ago...
Dad was a China National Team alternate. But he lived in S.China, below Canton, and never went to actual tryouts for placing on the National team.
I'd played since 4, my bro older by 3 years, sis older by 4, also competed in Nationals in SanFrancisco, the youngest competitors in the open division, starting in 1962. I had competition since day 1 ...
I can almost bet money I can beat most players, not actual competitors in organized tournaments, with a clipboard.
Dad was a China National Team alternate. But he lived in S.China, below Canton, and never went to actual tryouts for placing on the National team.
I'd played since 4, my bro older by 3 years, sis older by 4, also competed in Nationals in SanFrancisco, the youngest competitors in the open division, starting in 1962. I had competition since day 1 ...
I can almost bet money I can beat most players, not actual competitors in organized tournaments, with a clipboard.
v-verb
Hall of Fame
That was a long time ago...
Dad was a China National Team alternate. But he lived in S.China, below Canton, and never went to actual tryouts for placing on the National team.
I'd played since 4, my bro older by 3 years, sis older by 4, also competed in Nationals in SanFrancisco, the youngest competitors in the open division, starting in 1962. I had competition since day 1 ...
I can almost bet money I can beat most players, not actual competitors in organized tournaments, with a clipboard.
Too bad you're so far away because I would take that challenge.
Table tennis ruined my tennis strokes as I lapse back into those fast loopy TT strokes
Remember, my statement only applies to players who never entered an organized tournament. If you were a tourney player in the past, your skill level is probably much much higher than the general family room/garage player's skill level.
Here in Berkeley, there's a CalSailingClub, which has maybe 2,000 semi active members. The acknowledged "king" of table tennis there, a good bud of mine (windsurfing) was there most days for 2 years, average table, plenty of paddles. I'm sure at least over 100 players played there.
First time I played him, using a clipboard, I beat him 16. Stayed consistent, the scores around that, until he also started using a clipboard, so I switched to a club pamphlet (45 pages that covered rules for sailing and windsurfing), and still beat him. Hardest was using a pocketbook, as the sweetspot starts getting a little small, the cover page slippery, and you start to lose spin control.
Remember, a clipboard is pressboard material, grips the ball like a paddle, and if you chose one of the smaller ones (NOT 8x11"), it's pretty manueverable.
Here in Berkeley, there's a CalSailingClub, which has maybe 2,000 semi active members. The acknowledged "king" of table tennis there, a good bud of mine (windsurfing) was there most days for 2 years, average table, plenty of paddles. I'm sure at least over 100 players played there.
First time I played him, using a clipboard, I beat him 16. Stayed consistent, the scores around that, until he also started using a clipboard, so I switched to a club pamphlet (45 pages that covered rules for sailing and windsurfing), and still beat him. Hardest was using a pocketbook, as the sweetspot starts getting a little small, the cover page slippery, and you start to lose spin control.
Remember, a clipboard is pressboard material, grips the ball like a paddle, and if you chose one of the smaller ones (NOT 8x11"), it's pretty manueverable.
Figured, because you'd actually make the effort to see...
I've seen some really great players at bar tourneys, guys who'd win districts or state if they took it seriously. But they like to drink, smoke, carouse, and have fun at night. The good life always beckons, and we're always tempted to sample it.
Try it someday. Use the rough side of the clipboard. Your serves still skid 4" low, you can topspin either side, your smash is weaker for sure, but your angles are almost as good, and you don't have to concentrate as hard to hit the sweetspot.
It makes for a good laugh, almost better than using your other hand.
I've seen some really great players at bar tourneys, guys who'd win districts or state if they took it seriously. But they like to drink, smoke, carouse, and have fun at night. The good life always beckons, and we're always tempted to sample it.
Try it someday. Use the rough side of the clipboard. Your serves still skid 4" low, you can topspin either side, your smash is weaker for sure, but your angles are almost as good, and you don't have to concentrate as hard to hit the sweetspot.
It makes for a good laugh, almost better than using your other hand.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Imagine LeeD on a date after a girl says "so tell me about yourself".
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
Or if a someone asked ... "so how was your weekend?"
Gotta consider, when it get's that far ("so tell me about yourself"), you're basically rounding third base on the way home. At least in my experience.
No self respecting girl will ask that on the FIRST or second dates, they're just looking for a fun time, compatibility, and a free meal to boot, maybe a movie, and something different than the norm (different from work, go home to cook dinner, sleep, cook breakfast, then off to work).
"so tell me about yourself" is the stage they're actually interested, meaning the first 4 criteria are met, including physical looks, and now their trying to justify that 3rd date.
Of course, if you're into the speed dating thing, then my thoughts don't work. But I don't speed date, finding plenty of women amongst skiing, surfing, windsurfing, snowboarding, tennis, but not in motorcycle racing..
No self respecting girl will ask that on the FIRST or second dates, they're just looking for a fun time, compatibility, and a free meal to boot, maybe a movie, and something different than the norm (different from work, go home to cook dinner, sleep, cook breakfast, then off to work).
"so tell me about yourself" is the stage they're actually interested, meaning the first 4 criteria are met, including physical looks, and now their trying to justify that 3rd date.
Of course, if you're into the speed dating thing, then my thoughts don't work. But I don't speed date, finding plenty of women amongst skiing, surfing, windsurfing, snowboarding, tennis, but not in motorcycle racing..
Power Player
Bionic Poster
I have never speed dated. But I do bar hop, so maybe thats kind of the same thing.
You got me there!
I've never tried to pick up a girl at a bar, ever.
OK, driving a taxi, I went into bars on calls, and the patron happenned to be a hottie... The call was a phone call to our cab company for a fare, usually to the fare's home.
Bars. I skinny Asian guy doesn't stand out as "first choice", usually. And once I start drinking, my face turns beet red, my heart is thumping, and I"m looking to go to sleep.
I've never tried to pick up a girl at a bar, ever.
OK, driving a taxi, I went into bars on calls, and the patron happenned to be a hottie...
The call was a phone call to our cab company for a fare, usually to the fare's home.Bars. I skinny Asian guy doesn't stand out as "first choice", usually. And once I start drinking, my face turns beet red, my heart is thumping, and I"m looking to go to sleep.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Yes asian alcohol allergy. Super common. I on and off date an asian girl now who has that. She takes a pill of some kind before I take her out, because she knows whats coming..lol.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
She tolerates me...hang on..we may have just figured out why.
LameTennisPlayer
Professional
I play, used to play for a club, but now just play with mates at home every now and then.
dParis
Hall of Fame
I've played before with a book and still can beat people. Not too different if its roughly the same size as a paddle.
I took up table tennis a few years before I picked up a tennis racket.
The good thing about tt is you are never short of hitting partners. You go to a club and there are always people to hit with, unlike tennis where it´s somehow not a normal thing to go out and play with whoever is present at the club. You first have to arrange things, at least where i live. Not to mention when you pay your fee for the tt club, you have access to training by good a good teacher. With tennis that's totally different. A course costs just as much as your club fee, if not more. I loved the sport an got pretty decent at it quite soon, but the downiide is in the summer nobody's playing and the facilties are closed.
That's why started to play tennis. For years I played 8 months of tt and 4-5 months of tennis. Lately the balance shifted more to tennis as my interest in table tennis faded, because more and more tt players are playing with strange, unpredictable materials which for me took away a lot of the fun. Besides, my tt competition team I played in for years fell apart.
Of course tt is different from tennis, paddle weight is way lower and the ball weighs nothing, but still I believe there are some profits from playing tt that helps me with my tennis. It has to do with touch and feel, shot preparation and tactical stuff.
The good thing about tt is you are never short of hitting partners. You go to a club and there are always people to hit with, unlike tennis where it´s somehow not a normal thing to go out and play with whoever is present at the club. You first have to arrange things, at least where i live. Not to mention when you pay your fee for the tt club, you have access to training by good a good teacher. With tennis that's totally different. A course costs just as much as your club fee, if not more. I loved the sport an got pretty decent at it quite soon, but the downiide is in the summer nobody's playing and the facilties are closed.
That's why started to play tennis. For years I played 8 months of tt and 4-5 months of tennis. Lately the balance shifted more to tennis as my interest in table tennis faded, because more and more tt players are playing with strange, unpredictable materials which for me took away a lot of the fun. Besides, my tt competition team I played in for years fell apart.
Of course tt is different from tennis, paddle weight is way lower and the ball weighs nothing, but still I believe there are some profits from playing tt that helps me with my tennis. It has to do with touch and feel, shot preparation and tactical stuff.
Last edited:
hollywood9826
Hall of Fame
Im way more comfortbale hitting BH in TT than real tennis. But I have always been a FH dominate player in both.
But I can hit an accurate slice in pong where is regualr tennis it goes out like 90% of the time.
But I can hit an accurate slice in pong where is regualr tennis it goes out like 90% of the time.
As a 10 year old, I once played Chester Barnes at a holiday camp - he started with a frying pan. I beat him comfortably.
The second game he played properly and beat me 21-10 or 21-11. Urged me to play seriously - which I did for a few years.
Found tennis a few years - I hit my forehand with an open stance, with body rotation and a western grip (trying to simulate TT forehand as much as I could). The coaches told me to change my grip and to swing latterally but I couldn't.
Just back from holiday where I played TT (with my kids) for the first time in 30 years...and seem to have re-found my tennis forehand.
TT may not help everyones game - but its helped mine!
The second game he played properly and beat me 21-10 or 21-11. Urged me to play seriously - which I did for a few years.
Found tennis a few years - I hit my forehand with an open stance, with body rotation and a western grip (trying to simulate TT forehand as much as I could). The coaches told me to change my grip and to swing latterally but I couldn't.
Just back from holiday where I played TT (with my kids) for the first time in 30 years...and seem to have re-found my tennis forehand.
TT may not help everyones game - but its helped mine!
Jeffrey573639
Semi-Pro
Not to sound too enthusiastic but are you actually a chopper since I've basically never seen other playing style utilise heavy amounts of slice. Serves aside ofc
Well it depends. A lot of more defensive minded players may prefer the (blocked or chopped) BH that's true. But if you like to take initave you can't lack a good (topspin )fh. Actually It's the biggest weapon in tt. I had a decent backhand, but it was more of a reaction shot to defend with or open up the play after a pushing rally. But at the same time, always looking for opportinities to set up the forehand and go for the kill.
I tried to play my tennis like this as well, but hitting big winners with high frequency isn't quite as easy on a tennis court. I had really had to learn to be more patient.
Last edited:
Yes it can actually help, but some people have the experience that tt interferes with their tennis game. I especially had to adapt my forehand swing which took some time, but when after that i realised i did have advantage from then on, because of my tt. Backhand strokes in tt and tennis are so different that at least for me there was no negative interference.
Regarding your western grip, i can't remember holding my paddle like that. It was more of an eastern/shake hand grip as i remember it.
hollywood9826
Hall of Fame
Not really,
I pretty much hit topspin as much as possible. Its more a sefensive shot for me wehre I may hit a slice/underspin to recover.
I cant do it for nothing in tennis, but do it pretty effectively in pong.
Just like in tennis, table tennis needs both offensive and defensive shots, which BOTH can be achieved by topspin or slice, sidespin or any combination.
When you're forced back 10', the slice is a reliable, time saving technique to keep you into the point, allowing you to reposition, and taking time to force the offence to wait. It works easier than most defensive topspin get's, because depth is a easier control.
While the low slice serve is the common serve, you still need a hard sidespin serve into the hip pocket or uncovered corner to keep returner's honest.
And while you're topspin smashing, a skidding combination of sidespin and slice can be very effective against a player defending from 10' behind the table.
When you're forced back 10', the slice is a reliable, time saving technique to keep you into the point, allowing you to reposition, and taking time to force the offence to wait. It works easier than most defensive topspin get's, because depth is a easier control.
While the low slice serve is the common serve, you still need a hard sidespin serve into the hip pocket or uncovered corner to keep returner's honest.
And while you're topspin smashing, a skidding combination of sidespin and slice can be very effective against a player defending from 10' behind the table.
Jeffrey573639
Semi-Pro
Just curious- anyone here play penhold with reverse backhand (as opposed to traditional)?
Isn't penhold the old fashioned Chinese way? Like holding the paddle upside down so the paddle face is actually at your wrists?
Some players insist they play quicker inside moves with that grip, while giving up a little on reach. And yes, the reverse backhand slice is weird.
Some players insist they play quicker inside moves with that grip, while giving up a little on reach. And yes, the reverse backhand slice is weird.
Jeffrey573639
Semi-Pro
It's not the rallyball or the offensive shot, but a defensive retrieve from waaaay back behind the court, like 12' or so. Reverse wrist snap gives lots of underspin to the ball, giving lots of time to recover position and also to force the offensive player to wait and think before he can hit his next putaway attempt.
Like I mentioned, there are lots of different ways to hit a ball.
Like I mentioned, there are lots of different ways to hit a ball.
Jeffrey573639
Semi-Pro
Oh I see, I thought you were talking about some kind of weird penhold chopper who plays reverse bh slice constantly. I've seen Xu Xin hit those, although unfortunately they're basically the tt equivalent of a tweener
My dad, and all his table tennis cronies, thought it was wierd that I held the paddle with what amounts to be a tennis continental grip.
They would laugh at first, then watch in amazement as I went thru several rounds in each of my first few tourneys. Of course, back in 1963, I'd eventually lose to some wierdo pen hold grip from some really old fart before the finals.
They would laugh at first, then watch in amazement as I went thru several rounds in each of my first few tourneys. Of course, back in 1963, I'd eventually lose to some wierdo pen hold grip from some really old fart before the finals.
Similar threads
