Guess rating and provide advice

This match was at the end of club play.  We've played each other before so we're relatively familiar with each other's game - especially the strengths and weaknesses of each other's serve and serve return.

mts388 wrote: 1200-1400.  Way to many unforced errors.   Serves and serve returns were weak.  Some great hits, but more misses than good hits.

So what do you think snivy's opponent is rated?

I think his service game is probably one of his strong suits, but I might be saying that because I play him on a weekly basis :)

I think there's a lot of things that you can't see in the video unless you're looking for it.

Gotta disagree with mts388-after just the first serve I would call them above 1600. Probably 1800.

Do not think about those bay area kids when you look at this! Think how the rest of the country is rated.

1750 - 1850.  There are some real pretty shots in here.  2:43 for example, a lovely sidespin fh.  And you both can put a few quality shots together, which doesn't happen much below 1700 (east coast ratings).  The consistency just isn't quite there to land those quality shots 90% of the time, and you both suffer when you have to move.  Nothing unusual about that.

Strangely enough, we've been pretty even in match play recently.  But I agree, he's a better player.

NextLevel wrote: hookumsnivy wrote: Strangely enough, we've been pretty even in match play recently.  But I agree, he's a better player. Now that I think of it, he doesn't often attack with his BH close to the table, but once he takes a few steps back he does and it's quite strong. Sure it is. You are giving him too much credit. Revisit on a fee months. Usually, a player without good backhand technique close go the table has bad backhand technique on all BH strokes.

12-1300...No way. You both used  service tactics, short & long serves. hookumsnivy, you have nice wristy rpb. Maybe it was the end of league play and maybe you were tired. Unforced errors are part of the game and if you had no errors, then you would be world class. I think your opponent saw that you were making unforced errors and played to it. Just waiting for you to make the initial error. You were maybe going for winners too much, i have this issue myself. I would say around 1700-1900.

Right now i COULD lose to either of you in a tourney if we meet up within the next month.

I think the grade 2 tear I have on my rotator cuff tendon is stopping me from playing my aggressive topspins I normally do, but it is surely a loss of touch and skill on my part.

You two keep plugging away, hard to grow playing 1-2 times a week, but you are all making more progress than me... I am going backwards.

I'm going to the Sacramento tournament tomorrow and I'm sure I'll see 10 U1400 players who would beat either player. 

I think it's mostly regional differences.  We had a 1600 guy visit from the Rochester club a few years ago.  He couldn't beat anyone over 1000.  I saw him taking a video of some of our 1500 players and I asked him what he was doing.  He said he was going to send it to his coach to show him that our 1500 players were 1900 in Rochester. 

One reason that there is a big difference between regions is the difference in the rating system.  In tomorrows Sacramento tournament there are 7 events under 1000.  A beginner in our area who loses all their matches will have a rating under 100.  A Rochester beginner will enter his tournaments lowest event (probably U1000) and lose all their matches and end up with a rating of 900.  Both players have the exact same ability, but one is rated 800 points higher than the other.  As their skill levels improve the gap will close, but there will be a difference of a couple hundred points in the 1500-1700 area.  The gap is almost closed as they reach 2000.

Apparently there's a big difference between the 2 areas.  I distinctly remember 2 matches in a Westchester tournament where I beat high 1400 players with not much more than a serve (1 type of serve in different locations) and 3rd ball attack.

Edited by hookumsnivy - 04/17/2015 at 5:44pm

When I went to the Bay Area on vacation this past Christmas, I went to the Berkleey Table Tennis Club and some of the juniors there were pretty good... and they were only rated at around 1000-1200 or so, so I can see why mts would give that rating to the two players. I would have thought they were easily like 1600--the kids that is.

Edited by aerial - 04/17/2015 at 6:23pm

Yeah.. not going to lie, I felt like I played really well that day and it was still hard for me to beat the kids at BTTC.

NextLevel wrote: I don't think that's the whole truth to be frank.  You guys also don't play tournaments often and artificially depress ratings so that you can get good results at Nationals and the Open.

Edited by alphapong - 04/18/2015 at 12:15am

Well at least U1800 U18 years should cheer you up!