Q for Twiddler > Talent Search Models / Methods

Edited by Ryan W - 02/14/2023 at 2:21pm

In table tennis "talent" is a myth.  Ma Long was refused entry into a team in China when he was younger.  He had to play for a different province.  He got better and the rest is history.  I know a guy whose coach badmouthed him and didn't want to coach him.  After they parted ways, he made the national team of his country a few years later.  I also know of several people who would have been deemed athletically hopeless compared to other kids and ended up 2500+ simply because they played nonstop.

So, to me, the most important thing is a desire to play all the time.  The people I have known to get to a decent level do nothing but play table tennis.  They love to play.  They play every chance they get whether that is 2 hours a day or 8 hours a day.  Find a kid who is obsessed with the game and has the time and desire to play a ton of hours and you will find a good candidate for someone who will improve and go far. 

Ryan W wrote: Lightspin wrote: In table tennis "talent" is a myth.  I strongly disagree Lightspin wrote: I also know of several people who would have been deemed athletically hopeless compared to other kids and ended up 2500+ simply because they played nonstop. No  it is not possible. In their very youth (say age 12 or 13)  many such players may have been deemed unfit but they could be late bloomers when they reach age of  17 or 18 etc, Also you need to have some basic innate talent to reach 2500+. Are you saying just about anyone can reach 2500+ if they play everyday nonstop ? I don't think so.   In tabletennis any player that reaches about 2300 or 2400 has almost super human athletic talent & if they crack 2500 they are most definitely athletically almost super human. There seems to be a myth or misplaced fantasy among tabletennis players that if you just keep practising everyday just looping both wings for hours that you can become like Ma Long or Waldner. Yes you certainly can train to maximize your potential & consistency in executing various strokes such as loop but there is a saturation point for every player depending on their (God or whoever given innate)  talent. They just are not going to get any better or become Ma Long or Waldner even if they practise 24 / 7.  That is delusional.

Ryan W wrote: How is that ? What I implied was that a player cannot break even 2500 if they do not have enough talent let alone become a Waldner or Ma Long.  Thanks for twisting it.

Ryan W wrote: bard romance wrote: It was stated that low-talent players can get to 2500. Not Waldner or Ma Long's level. Regardless of whether you yourself are a 2000+ player or not,  I don' t think you fully comprehend how hard it is for most players to reach a real rating of even 2000 in tabletennis with limited talent, let alone 2500.

Edited by bard romance - 02/14/2023 at 8:37pm

Ryan W wrote: bard romance wrote: Ryan W wrote: bard romance wrote: It was stated that low-talent players can get to 2500. Not Waldner or Ma Long's level. Regardless of whether you yourself are a 2000+ player or not,  I don' t think you fully comprehend how hard it is for most players to reach a real rating of even 2000 in tabletennis with limited talent, let alone 2500.   I am 2000+ by a very comfortable margin, and have seen the training journeys of many many players who broke 2000 and 2500. So with all due respect, you are completely wrong, and it is pretty clear you are either a troll or "confidently incorrect". OK I understand. I am wrong & you are correct. These players  you talk about, especially those who who broke 2500, have no talent Yes I am both a troll & "confidently incorrect" May be you can coach me to get to 2500. How much would you charge me for that, if I may ask

Oh brother, its Srinivas Janardhanan again