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Coaching similes and metaphors

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mjamja View Drop Down
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    Posted: 08/14/2018 at 5:47pm
Many of us have heard a coach say "It is like throwing a frisbee" when teaching the Bh loop against topspin.

Was wondering what other good descriptions or mental guides you have heard from coaches that helped you do a stroke correctly.

Mark - Who is not a coach, but does play one on the internet.
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larrytt View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote larrytt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/14/2018 at 6:57pm
I'm going to use the words "somewhat like" a lot below as these examples work best if the coach can clarify the differences and demonstrate. 

A backhand loop is somewhat like throwing a frisbee as long as you are throwing it both forward and up at the ceiling. If done off the bounce against topspin, however, there's less up. 

Ready stance is like covering someone in basketball, except you drop your arms. Or as if you are playing shortstop in baseball or a goalie in soccer. (I always have new students "cover me," as if I have a basketball, to explain ready stance. They immediately widen their stance, bend their knees and waist, and once I have them drop their arms, it's a perfect table tennis stance.) 

Reaching in for a short ball to the forehand is somewhat like a swordfighter making a thrust, with the non-playing hand behind and up for balance.  

A forehand loop against backspin is somewhat like throwing a discus. 

A forehand smash against backspin (or with pips-out) is somewhat like saluting a flag. 

A forehand or (to a lesser extent) a backhand smash are both somewhat like slapping someone. 

A smash against a lob is somewhat like smashing a volleyball - which works if the student is a volleyball player. (Presumably that works both ways.) 

Forehand and backhand chopping are somewhat like chopping wood. 

A forehand pendulum serve is somewhat like snapping a whip. When done with backspin it's somewhat like chopping wood.

A backhand backspin serve is somewhat like chopping wood, backhand style. To get sidespin or topspin, just pull the elbow sideways and up. 

Coaching a player late in a match is somewhat like watching someone trying to deactivate a nuclear bomb where you know how to do it but you don't have time to call a time-out so all you can do is watch as the seconds/points tick away. :)
-Larry Hodges
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mhnh007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/14/2018 at 7:09pm
Hi Larry - “A forehand smash against backspin (or with pips-out) is somewhat like saluting a flag”. Can you give a little more detail? I have not seen either one being done, so I am not following you, but really want to know. Thanks
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote larrytt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/14/2018 at 7:17pm
Originally posted by mhnh007 mhnh007 wrote:

Hi Larry - “A forehand smash against backspin (or with pips-out) is somewhat like saluting a flag”. Can you give a little more detail? I have not seen either one being done, so I am not following you, but really want to know. Thanks
In the old hardbat days the forehand was taught as a "salute stroke," where the racket goes to the forehead, like a salute. That changed with sponge, but it's still roughly correct for hardbat and other pips-out players, and for an inverted sponge player smashing against backspin. Here's video of Marty Reisman (far side), a past hardbat champion - see his forehand "salute" stroke. These days, however, most players just forehand loop against backspin, even if the ball is high, though those who can end it with an all-out pure smash have an advantage.
-Larry Hodges
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www.TableTennisCoaching.com
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mjamja Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/14/2018 at 7:34pm
Don't you wish we could get qualified people to answer questions on this forum !!!

Thanks so much Coach Larry Hodges.

Mark
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote DonnOlsen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/14/2018 at 7:56pm
In Larry's spirit, here are a couple "somewhat likes":

Playing Rich Dewitt is somewhat like masochism.

Playing Mitch Siedenfeld is somewhat like going to the dentist.
Tenergy: Two weeks of heaven, followed by three months of excellence, then, a nice rubber.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote danseemiller Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/14/2018 at 8:22pm
good stuff Larry. Those examples are excellent for teaching.
DS
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PythonMonty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/14/2018 at 8:52pm
"Break through the door" -- forehand drive weight transfer/trunk rotation: Standing in ready position, imagine your non-playing shoulder pressed against a door. Without moving your feet, using only your legs to rotate your trunk and transfer weight, try to exert maximum force to break through the door with your shoulder. Do not try this with a real door.

"Skim the stone" -- underspin serve whip action
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mickd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/14/2018 at 9:45pm
Originally posted by larrytt larrytt wrote:

Reaching in for a short ball to the forehand is somewhat like a swordfighter making a thrust, with the non-playing hand behind and up for balance.  

Thanks Larry! I really like this one. I've experimented with trying to keep my non-playing hand behind me and up when doing the short push because I see a lot of the top players do it, but it always felt extremely awkward and forced. Needless to say, I couldn't keep it up. This makes me want to try and practice it again with that analogy in mind!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote larrytt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/14/2018 at 9:45pm
Originally posted by danseemiller danseemiller wrote:

good stuff Larry. Those examples are excellent for teaching.
I learned half my coaching skills from your camps, first as a player and then as your assistant coach!
-Larry Hodges
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (2) Thanks(2)   Quote heavyspin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/14/2018 at 10:00pm
The short forehand push is like reaching under the sneeze guard glass at the buffet for the last piece of fried chicken.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Simon_plays Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/15/2018 at 3:42am
The windscreen whiper serve is like a windscreen whiper whiping across a windscreen.

Am I doing it right?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Simon_plays Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/15/2018 at 3:19pm
Think of those handheld lawnmowers, imagine you're mowing with one of them and you're turning a corner from left to right, up a small hill. That's how you should play a forehand loop.

Edited by Simon_plays - 08/15/2018 at 3:20pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DonnOlsen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/16/2018 at 8:28am
A forehand chop is similar to the first fork-downward motion into a stack of pancakes at the IHOP.
Tenergy: Two weeks of heaven, followed by three months of excellence, then, a nice rubber.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote larrytt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/16/2018 at 10:50am
Originally posted by DonnOlsen DonnOlsen wrote:

A forehand chop is similar to the first fork-downward motion into a stack of pancakes at the IHOP.
NO, NO, NO, it's not like that at all. The pancakes are sooooooo good at IHOP that the downward motion is way too fast and violent. When forehand chopping, you want a smoother, more relaxed downswing, more like your fork going down to a McDonalds pancake as you sigh and try to pretend you are at IHOP. Of course, if it were an IHOP waffle with blueberries, then the fork and paddle come down so fast it breaks the table. 
-Larry Hodges
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DonnOlsen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/16/2018 at 9:32pm
[When forehand chopping, you want a smoother, more relaxed downswing, more like your fork going down to a McDonalds pancake as you sigh and try to pretend you are at IHOP.]

In all due respect, I proudly state I have ZERO background in "a McDonalds pancake", a purported food menu item that I have been informed may be best understood as, despite its physical presence, a metaphor for food.
Tenergy: Two weeks of heaven, followed by three months of excellence, then, a nice rubber.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tassie52 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/16/2018 at 9:58pm
Serving a Ding Ning reverse tomahawk is somewhat like trying to stuff yourself backwards through a barbed-wire fence.
Receiving a Ding Ning reverse tomahawk is somewhat like a rabbit caught in the headlights without time to say goodbye to family and friends.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tassie52 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/16/2018 at 11:06pm
Originally posted by fatt fatt wrote:

Originally posted by Tassie52 Tassie52 wrote:

Serving a Ding Ning reverse tomahawk is somewhat like trying to stuff yourself backwards through a barbed-wire fence.
Receiving a Ding Ning reverse tomahawk is somewhat like a rabbit caught in the headlights without time to say goodbye to family and friends.
Hello tassie, have you been caring less about competition and more about the game itself lately? I am asking because you became funnier and lighter as a side effect (if my theory is right; maybe you just fell in love which would be even better) and I like it, that's one of the keys to play better, I am sure of that.
LOL.  I have to admit I did see one of my great loves just recently: Ding Ning at the Australian Open.  Down the first two games in the final, she broke out the reverse tomahawk.  LSW, who has played against her countless times, proceeded to do her very own impersonation of the rabbit in the headlights.  I was equally mesmerised but from way back in the stands, so I was safe.  I was staggered with her control and variation.  What a player!  (And yes, I did cry just a little when she lost in 7.)

While we're being nice to one another, I have to say I've been equally impressed with some of your contributions just lately (here and elsewhere).  "This is where I stand with the serving rule: I have no clue where we should go."  You have made lots of insightful comments over the years.  Keep them coming.  Thumbs Up


Edited by Tassie52 - 08/16/2018 at 11:09pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote heavyspin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/17/2018 at 7:35am
Note that Heavyspin is on an IHOP boycott for poor service. I visited during an "all you can eat" pancake promotion. The server explained that when I'm ready for more, I let her know which type, and she will bring me a stack of 2 - Yes, 2! When I was ready for more, the server never came over nor looked in my direction. I had to get up and walk over to her to order 2 extra pancakes. It then took at least 15 min to receive the pancakes and the cycle continued. I gave up in frustration after only receiving 2 extra servings of 2 pancakes in what seemed like an hour. I assume they looked up my eating rating (no wonder they asked for my ID) and knew I was a threat. 

So I offer a reverse simile. Ordering pancakes at IHOP during an all you can eat promotion is like being at a tournament that promises many matches, there are plenty of free tables, you and your next opponent are ready to play, and the guy at the desk won't call the match.  


Edited by heavyspin - 08/17/2018 at 8:13am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DonnOlsen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08/17/2018 at 2:36pm
[Note that Heavyspin is on an IHOP boycott for poor service.]

Though not present at the incident, my speculation is that the agent of the service level was the manager's anxiety concerning profit margins.  After all, you do have a reputation.
Tenergy: Two weeks of heaven, followed by three months of excellence, then, a nice rubber.
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