2200 Final Show-Me State Games

2200 Final Show-Me State Games Table Tennis
Another of my video productions from the recent Show-Me State Games Table Tennis Tournament. Thanks for watching!

Does anybody know what kind of equipment the second-place guy uses?

nachalnik wrote: Does anybody know what kind of equipment the second-place guy uses?

I have no idea who either of these people are and I'm not sure of what they are using but the guy who lost's backhand rubber is probably something like tackiness chop or reflectoid. Great at pushing, chopping, and blocking but terrible for attack.

This thread should be linked with the other PongFan thread, IMO.

JimT wrote: GeneralSpecific wrote: nachalnik wrote: Does anybody know what kind of equipment the second-place guy uses? I have no idea who either of these people are and I'm not sure of what they are using but the guy who lost's backhand rubber is probably something like tackiness chop or reflectoid. Great at pushing, chopping, and blocking but terrible for attack. I am citing pongfan here - from another thread: P.S. Last time I checked the blocker uses Donic Acuda S3 on his backhand and Tenergy 64 on his forehand. He had Tenergy on both sides for awhile also.

Why on earth would he be using Acuda or Tenergy on his backhand for that style? It makes absolutely ZERO sense.

GeneralSpecific wrote: After watching this video, I'm glad the bigger guy won. I like his forehand and his determination. The other guy blocks extremely well but I dislike his otherwise passive style.

I would think he might be more effective with LPs

I was at this tournament also.

bogeyhunter wrote:   I Love watching this blocker. Good touch and smart. I played everton before.

DeIgado wrote: bogeyhunter wrote:   I Love watching this blocker. Good touch and smart. I played everton before. He does have good touch but when I watch him play I just think he is stuck at that level and won't get any better. He doesn't move, in these videos he never opens with an attack which is not good at higher levels. His only source of winning points is off of blocks. He can hit a winner if he blocks well enough but against a better player (2200+) 1-2 loops and he will lose the point. Sure he might occasionally beat higher rated players based on consistency, but there is a reason he is still under 2100. Much like with the pushblocker, there is a skill ceiling for these styles.

You are forgetting one simple thing - there is always a ceiling. For instance, we have a guy who plays at 2100 level, likes his game, likes his style, has fun playing, is NOT a semi-professional player or a crazy amateur who spends all his days and nights thinking about his rating. The only way he (probably) could really improve his level and rating is to break his style, change his whole attitude, get himself a personal coach, and spend enormous amount of time at the club (and a lot of money). Then he might (only might!) become much better and reach 2300 (which, let's say, is his celing anyway because he is never going to get above that due to his age, physique, etc.).

So what's the point then? I am pretty sure he would prefer to stay at 2100, have fun, have lots of time to spend at his job, with his family etc etc.

Here is actually an example for you of a guy who used to play at a club pretty close to my house - in Rhode Island. He was 2200 level player around 2008, one of the best amateur players in New England, when he (around age of 40) decided he wanted more. He quit his day job, he moved to Maryland, trained in Sweden and Romania (which naturally required considerable expenses on his part), trained every day at Maryland JOOLA club... and his rating went to 2100, around which mark it continues to oscillate to this day, five (5!) years later.

I am sure he has a lot of fun though, he is a very positive guy. My point is just that he never even achieved his minimum goal - to increase his rating. Despite the fact that he played a lot of tournaments, stayed in shape, practiced like crazy, he apparently has reached his celing even before he made that life altering decision.

I am pretty sure that if I quit my job, abandoned my family, seriously practiced with coaching, got myself in much better physical shape, lost 20 more pounds, fixed my knees, my shoulder and my elbow then I would be able to reach, say, 2200 level (if miracle happened, maybe even 2300, who knows... although that is utterly unlikely even within that crazy scenario) but would I do that even if I could? I am not sure I would want to...

The Push-Blocker is becoming a viable alternative for some amateurs to reach a higher rating level. They do have to sacrifice some style ego. It is a personal choice and usually requires less practice to maintain their level.

Edited by LUCKYLOOP - 06/23/2013 at 11:49pm

DeIgado wrote: Delgado,  You need to see him play a lot of opponents at various levels to defend the conclusions you have arrived at. In many way, Richard pushes the ball more than he blocks. Ok, well, I have seen him play against 2 loopers and one older guy who plays much more compact. He pushes more than he blocks, I feel like that is common sense. But he doesn't win as many points on his push as he does his blocks. He pushes in order to block much like I will push in order to counter loop or receive a comfortably loopable push. I win points based on looping he wins points based on blocking. I am not rushing to conclusions I am just stating what I see. Once again, I am not trying to attack him or be offensive, some people are tickled pink to be around 2100. Others (like myself) have higher goals.

Edited by NextLevel - 06/24/2013 at 12:38am

NextLevel wrote: Delgado, By the way, I'm fairly sure you are relatively young if not very much so.  It is usually youth that bolsters such ambitions.  Don't however be surprised if you don't get much higher than the blocker's rating after years of practice.

GeneralSpecific wrote: Why on earth would he be using Acuda or Tenergy on his backhand for that style? It makes absolutely ZERO sense.

By the way, breaking 2025 in 4 years is good talent.  So I can understand the prescription but again, it is too looper centric.  Most people would say that you can't even break 2000 without an attack, but the bottom line is that the game is more about consistency, spin, power, speed, placement and the looping style is the easiest way to get all these without losing much.  So people like Pushblocker or Richard are just proof that that at lower levels, it is possible to go your own way and get all these things, the problem being that you will find it harder to get good teachers.

Edited by NextLevel - 06/24/2013 at 8:03am