Match against Cheng Li (2541) game 3 and 4

I don't have game 1 and 2 on video.. Won game 1 and lost the next 3..
I'm a little rusty.. Didn't play tt since June 25.. Played yesterday at the Broward TTC 4 star tournament to kick off my NA Teams preparation..

Game 3

https://youtu.be/G6suq8upbuQ


Game 4

https://youtu.be/QgnoBlUOPFU


Didn't play bad but made too many unforced errors..

Edited by Pushblocker - 11/05/2017 at 9:36am

piligrim wrote: don't like your style

You are in the same boat with many others..

JacekGM wrote: 1) The opponent chose not to loop too much... 2) You are in a much better shape than in previous recent videos, bravo.

He looped more in game 1 and lost..

My weight fluctuates.. 253 in 2012, 181 lbs in 2013, 220 in 2014, 176 in early 2015, 232 early 2016, 210 mid 2016, 227 early 2017, 215 lbs now.. Will be 210 or below for NA Teams..

Me at 180 lbs in 2015..




185 lbs in 2013...



Me at 253 lbs ib 2012



Edited by Pushblocker - 11/05/2017 at 10:35am

LUCKYLOOP wrote: Pushblocker wrote: I don't have game 1 and 2 on video.. Won game 1 and lost the next 3.. I'm a little rusty.. Didn't play tt since June 25.. Played yesterday at the Broward TTC 4 star tournament to kick off my NA Teams preparation.. Game 3 Game 4 Didn't play bad but made too many unforced errors.. It is amazing that you can force him 2541 to play your game to win. You are an inspiration to all long pips players. ....

Thanks.. If they keep attacking hard, I will win.. I once even took Kai Zheng (almost 2700) to 4 games and almost 5 because he kept playing aggressive..

Edited by Pushblocker - 11/05/2017 at 11:00am

Fabian1890 wrote: I don't know how to put it without sounding offending, this is just the way I feel about your style of playing, not you as a person: I know you're pretty good and all... but to me this style of playing looks like taking the easy route, not relying on foot work or feeling for the ball but mostly relying on the rubber to do the work for you. I wonder how good you are with normal inverted rubbers? I mean, it's legal and everything and surely takes a lot of practice too but... When I lose against someone with this style I always think that I lost against someone who is in a way... 'cheating'. I got some questions, would be great if you could answer them: Do you play that style because you play better or because it's more fun for you? When did you switch or did you always play that way relying on material? How good are you with normal inverted rubbers? Thanks, I hope I did not offend you, maybe I just can't stand losing :D

Trust me, if it was the easy way, a lot more players would play that style.. Only a handful of non attacking pushblockers have ever reached the rating level that I have.. My highest rating was 2309 and I maintained 2200's when I was still practicing frequently.. Since my daughters birth in late 2012, I stopped practicing frequently..
Table Tennis is not a sport about style but about winning.. If you want a sport where you win by doing things beahtiful, try figure skating..

Lets see who is better in a match if I use inverted on both sides and you use long pips on both sides.. I bet that i will win..

Edited by Pushblocker - 11/05/2017 at 11:26am

Fabian1890 wrote: I don't doubt that you are better than I am but do you think you would be anywhere near your level if you played the standard offensive style? I wonder if you stood a chance against the players in the videos above if you played regular inverted both sides. I would just like to know how much of a difference this makes. It is obvious that those players have a lot of problems with your style because they are not used to it and the ball behaves weirdly (compared to their usual matches), their loops going into the net or way too long etc.

I'm nowhere near my level with both sides inverted just like you would not be anywhere close to your level with both sides long pips ox..

Edited by Pushblocker - 11/05/2017 at 11:33am

Fabian1890 wrote: Of course, sorry, I did not express myself clearly:  I meant if you would have reached the same level with the same amount of training, not if you just switched now.  That's why I was talking about taking a shortcut. Players who are just mediocre with normal inverted becoming a lot better because of their equipment. Of course you got to practice both styles, practice is always important and I know you put a lot of work into it, otherwise you would not have had such great success like becoming State Champ.

I have been playing this style for 25 years.. If I would have played with inverted on both sides for 25 years, I would probably be at a similar level.. I used to play 4 to 5 times per week.. played league in Europe and tournaments in the US since 2000.. I focused on perfecting my style of play. Never attempted to be a looper..

Edited by Pushblocker - 11/05/2017 at 11:59am

It takes some years to understand why some of us "later" switch to LPs on BH... 

LUCKYLOOP wrote: Pushblocker wrote: I don't have game 1 and 2 on video.. Won game 1 and lost the next 3.. I'm a little rusty.. Didn't play tt since June 25.. Played yesterday at the Broward TTC 4 star tournament to kick off my NA Teams preparation.. Game 3 Game 4 Didn't play bad but made too many unforced errors.. It is amazing that you can force him 2541 to play your game to win. You are an inspiration to all long pips players. ....

Well if either player uses LP's very well in blocking, it's impossible for big loops to happen consistently, because LP's physical properties (reverses spin, deadens the ball, shallow bounce angles etc.) I remember seeing a video of him playing Werner Schlager, who was in the world top 10 at the time. And Schlager did NOT beat him with big loops! He just controlled the ball so well and pick-hit him to death from both sides... 

APW46 wrote: Pushblocker wrote:   Table Tennis is not a sport about style but about winning  Hmm, interesting statement that is Oliver. I have watched many of your clips over the years on various forums, and you are a good player who knows how to win, I am also of the opinion that it takes great skill to play the pushblock game, largely because it limits your options technique wise, most of the criticisms your style of play attract are from players who don't have the required skill to beat you! Some just don't get what you do, ball placement, depth variation, they just think that you stick these rubbers on and get instant results !!  Your style of play really does have its place in TT there is no doubt about that at all, and there are some great matches between strong orthodox attackers and pushplockers. But aesthetically ? I'm just glad that your statement above does not apply to the winning bit conclusively, dread to think two pushblockers in the world mens singles final, that would be like going back to 1936, and I'm afraid IMO your style does not attract players to the sport. Many players would not like to play your style because it relies on reactive mistakes rather than hitting winners, so its just not 'sexy' in many players eyes, I'm of that school of thought, I would rather not play at all than adopt that style for results purposes.   Keep Pushblocking

There are so few players of that style, so it is very unlikely thay it has any effect on sport popularity

benfb wrote: Pushblocker wrote:   Thanks.. If they keep attacking hard, I will win.. I once even took Kai Zheng (almost 2700) to 4 games and almost 5 because he kept playing aggressive.. Just curious: how does a strong hardbat player do against your style?  They don't depend upon spin to nearly the same extent as inverted and they are far less prone to playing an all-out attack style.

Played Jeff Johnston, a 2100 sponge rating hardbat player and won 3:1..

mickd wrote: I've actually never seen your games until now. Very impressive. At that level playing LPs must be a huge challenge. I can imagine LPs destroying players easily at the low level, but there is definitely a reason why you don't see as many LP players at the top.

Edited by Pushblocker - 11/06/2017 at 11:16am

As a newbie I don't know how to say it, or if a constructive discussion is even possible on the subject. You obviously have tremendous skill and could still beat a lot of people if you used double inverted, so this isn't directed personally. But on a more philosophical level does it seem like these long pimple and anti surfaces compromise the integrity of the sport? I can't think of any other racket sport or even sport in general that allows for such large deviation.

I guess there's just something romantic to me about two people playing it out and competing on as even terms as possible. When you get to the point of equipment dictating a completely opposite ball behavior from one player to the next that purity of competition is lost a bit.

(APW46) ....dread to think two pushblockers in the world mens singles final, that would be like going back to 1936....

Edited by berndt_mann - 11/06/2017 at 5:14pm