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April 2012: Seattle+Vancouver+Portland TT Trip!
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tommyzai View Drop Down
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    Posted: 04/01/2012 at 7:00pm
Originally posted by pnachtwey

I will come to the Harold St club too Sunday.
 
SUPER. It will be great to meet you guys. I will try to get there close to 6PM. I'm not sure what condition I will be in. Let's just say I have to keep changing the bloody bandage and hoping the stitches won't all pop. I'm supposed to be in bed, but . . . I am Tommy Zai. Worst case scenario . . . I stand there like a statue and hit what I can. I might need to limp to the restroom now and then to toss up blood and anesthesia, but no pain no gain. LOL
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Have to say.. I thought the mean girlfriend stuff was some kind of bad joke and everything was going fine. That is, until she started literally smacking him in the face and barking at him just for missing smashes and or any random shot I guess she thought looked easy at the time. WTF man? Anyway, nice hitting, GL wherever you end up.
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Posts: 8071 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tommyzai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/02/2012 at 1:31am
i made it to the Harold Street Club and got the chance to meet and hit with the Jim the Animal, who runs the club and our super members . . . Pnachtway, Slade, and IanMcG. Great guys with some great skills. Pnachtway (I think that's German for "Nightime Pong and I win") has a devastating FH and some tricky BH shots with all kinds of junk rubbers . . . not sure what's on that paddle . . . maybe an old sole from 1956 Chuck Taylor sneakers. Slade is one freaky player. This guy using every shot known and unknown in each rally. I had no idea what he was going to do next. At one point he hit the ball off his forehead and claimed it was an extension of his paddle. IanMcG is a young Korean kid with a celtic name. He has huge potential. When he pivoted his hips and got the right timing the ball hooked so much I swear it hit the back of my head. My g/f also made a friend there . . . one of the club players by the name of Kitty. She was fast like a cat and seemed to get my g/f worked up about beating on me more to keep me in line.

Aside from popping half of my surgical stitches, a few ball bruises, and the beating I took from girlfriend . . . it was a great night. Thank you Portland gang!!!


Edited by tommyzai - 04/02/2012 at 1:32am
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Good,  I can see that Tommy and his girl friend made it back to the hotel safely. 

I was simply playing with my ball whacker, my Samsonov Alpha+Rakza 7 1.8mm+802 1.5mm.  I didn't use any junk rubber when playing Tommy.   Tommy punch blocks right off the bounce and was taking advantage of my cross over point as only a punch blocker can do to reduce my reaction time.  He doesn't give one much time to do loops as the ball comes back quickly.  Tommy 't can hit hard but didn't do it too often because of his surgery.   Tommy needs to come back sometime when he is 100% so we can play some games.   Most of the play was low top spin drives by me and punch blocks by Tommy.   Tommy was switching between three different styles of play.   See Miller,  shake hands and pen holder.   I don't see how he does it but I could tell he plays best using the See Miller grip.

Eric ( Slade ) played very well using the jpen.  I think Slade is more serious when playing with the jpen.
I have never played with Slade but I think I would have a much more difficult time against his jpen than against his LP.  

I am much older.   I have had surgery too.   I think Tommy was playing well consider what he has been through but I also think Tommy was pushing it too far.   Tommy needs to come back when he is 100%.
Take good care of yourself Tommy.

    
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Posts: 8071 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tommyzai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/02/2012 at 8:38pm
It was a great trip. Thanks everyone!! I hope there will be opportunities down the road. :-).
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Posts: 8071 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tommyzai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/03/2012 at 11:57pm
A blurry pic . . . 




Edited by tommyzai - 04/03/2012 at 11:57pm
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tommyzai View Drop Down
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Tommy Zai conquers the Vancouver Table Tennis Club!






Edited by tommyzai - 04/04/2012 at 12:16am
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so informative i get information on any topics.Great job.
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I think it is so nice living in the states, can visit other cities and hook up with forum members and have a knock or two.
 
 
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tommyzai View Drop Down
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Posts: 8071 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tommyzai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/04/2012 at 1:08pm
Originally posted by ZApenholder

I think it is so nice living in the states, can visit other cities and hook up with forum members and have a knock or two. 

My friend, I have to disagree . . . in part. The truth is we would be better connected somewhere else. The USA is big country with no much table tennis support. There are not many clubs in comparison to other places around the world. And, most of the clubs here are only open a couple days a week. Still, we love the sport and try to build as much fellowship as we can!


Edited by tommyzai - 04/04/2012 at 1:09pm
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The picture above is Tommy playing with IanMcG.
The Portland Table Tennis Club is kind of a dump as you can see.  There are really only 3 tables with a 4th with a robot but no room.   The lighting is poor and causes glare in which you can lose tract of the ball.
The sound echoes off the concrete walls so it is hard to hear anybody talking unless they are talking straight at you.

Tommy found out there are two Vancouvers!!!   There is Vancouver BC, CA and Vancouver WA, US.   I live in the lesser known Vancouver WA, US which is just on the other side of the Columbia river from Portland, OR.  Getting the two mixed up is a common mistake.

I am surprised there weren't any forum members in Vancouver, BC to play with.

  
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I was there last year!!
 
 
 
Great Club, lighting and floor and tables were the best.  Friendly players!!
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I've played at that Vancouver club over the past few years (also in their previous location across the street). Seems like a crapshoot on when it's a good night to visit and get good competition.
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tommyzai View Drop Down
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Posts: 8071 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tommyzai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/04/2012 at 3:26pm
Originally posted by thepongcast

I've played at that Vancouver club over the past few years (also in their previous location across the street). Seems like a crapshoot on when it's a good night to visit and get good competition.

Maybe so, but at least the doors are open and you can pay $5 and play. Almost every club in the USA is a make-shift, barely open, mess. How many of us have to go to some senior center on Monday and Wednesday from 9AM-12PM? Sad, but true!!
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Posts: 152 		Post Options Post Options   Quote thepongcast Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/04/2012 at 3:40pm
Originally posted by tommyzai

Maybe so, but at least the doors are open and you can pay $5 and play. Almost every club in the USA is a make-shift, barely open, mess. How many of us have to go to some senior center on Monday and Wednesday from 9AM-12PM? Sad, but true!!

That's true, I'm not complaining.

It's just the interesting 'problem' that a club is only open once or twice a week but is guaranteed to have everyone come out.  Whereas with a full-time club (still a relative rarity in the US), you can play anytime but you aren't sure who will show up and what the level of play will be if you're new.  It never occurred to me until my first time visiting there.
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Posts: 8071 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tommyzai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/04/2012 at 4:08pm
Dang, next time let's coordinate and play. thepongcast should be able to play insane players like me! :-).
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Tommy,  make an account on twitter and tweet.  It works much faster than e-mail and especially forum PMs.

I drool when I see.....is that 10 tables at the VTTC or are there more?  
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She had the "I'm going to kill him when we get back in the car" type of smile...

The biggest problem I have is getting my body to move. But first figuring out where to move. My body is young and fit, but my brain has trouble getting past all the Dr. Neubauer Firewall+'s keeping the signals from reaching my lower body

Maybe it was back when I still played Lp...

Anyhoo...

It was fun Tommy, thanks
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tommyzai View Drop Down
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Posts: 8071 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tommyzai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/04/2012 at 7:20pm
IanMcg, you are doing great. Just remember to keep your body in sync with your arm. Have them move together for the most power and control. You can do it! Great meeting and hitting with you too. We'll do it again.
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Posts: 498 		Post Options Post Options   Quote IanMcg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/05/2012 at 12:57am
Originally posted by tommyzai

IanMcg, you are doing great. Just remember to keep your body in sync with your arm. Have them move together for the most power and control. You can do it! Great meeting and hitting with you too. We'll do it again.

Sometimes my arm doesn't wanna listen to my brain Tongue

I gotta give it some discipline!
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Convince your arm to wait for your hips. Tuck your elbow in a little so you are more compact . . . you want your body to be unified . . . one . . . not have your arm swinging separate. :-). You can do it!!!
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Originally posted by tommyzai

Originally posted by ZApenholder

I think it is so nice living in the states, can visit other cities and hook up with forum members and have a knock or two. 

My friend, I have to disagree . . . in part. The truth is we would be better connected somewhere else. The USA is big country with no much table tennis support. There are not many clubs in comparison to other places around the world. And, most of the clubs here are only open a couple days a week. Still, we love the sport and try to build as much fellowship as we can!
 
Ya, I think I know what you mean. Well I guess I'm currently in a place less fortunate than you guys in the State, less tt support and less fellowship. I'm in South Africa
 
At least I am one of the more bless ones here, and I have a good club that is 15 mins drive away. But haven't been playing for over a month now. I was pretty ill and still recovering, body can't really do any intensive sport still :(
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Posts: 8071 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tommyzai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/05/2012 at 11:23am
ZAPenholder! I hope you recover soon. Keep the faith. BTW, you should consider getting involved in the exciting new blade adventure . . . Fellowship of the Blade. Watch for posts! The blade will have a long handle for SH, but conical so CPEN can also play.
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Originally posted by tommyzai

ZAPenholder! I hope you recover soon. Keep the faith. BTW, you should consider getting involved in the exciting new blade adventure . . . Fellowship of the Blade. Watch for posts! The blade will have a long handle for SH, but conical so CPEN can also play.
 
Thanks Tommy
I was thinking of it, but I'm afriad to say that I don't really trust the postal services here. So I think its better I will help cheer from my side of the world than oppose to help loose it :)
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I will be in Vancouver from 5/6 to 5/8.  I think I visited GVTTC in Burnaby on Saturday evening several years ago.  If VTTC is a crapshoot, I might drop by GVTTC again.  GVTTC seemed like a good training center for young players and adult players play after the training hours.  The cost is listed at only $4.00 per session.  New York was charging $14.00 at Flushing several years ago.

 

I also visited Bridgeport Sports Club in Richmond on Sunday that year.  There was a tournament going on so I just watched.
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Pre-Op rallies . . . I'm going easy because of the obvious and FATT is going easy because he doesn't want to hurt me. Still, we had fun.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VUVBaaSzyo

More with Slade. This time post-op. Still played. Still had fun.
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Posts: 8622 		Post Options Post Options   Quote fatt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/21/2012 at 1:40pm
oh nooo I am being caught in silliness when twiddling toward the end; 5 to 10 years from now I will use LP on one side and I want to master the twiddling before that.
tx TZ for posting those good moments we had all 3 together with the witch. Thanks to her for shooting the clips. We can hear her laughing at some point (when you play Hulk) and she sure sounds very mean!!! Big smile
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I see you playing with my friends in Seattle and Portland.  I'm sorry you couldn't make it to Salem.
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Originally posted by tommyzai


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VUVBaaSzyo

More with Slade. This time post-op. Still played. Still had fun.

I saw Slade playing at a tourney in Seattle; his skills are best for a looper/smasher who wants to learn consistency and recovery in a groovy sequence as Slade stays away from the table bringing the ball back on the table again and again. Those players are invaluable because you can get really high when the ball stays in play for a long time; that's how we learn the best I think.
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