Guess the rating - MVTTC Tournament

hookumsnivy wrote: Just an update on the list of things I needed to work on: 1.  Serve more frequently to the FH side  In progress and working ok. 2.  Spin more and smash less  I still have a problem here, related to #9 in that I rush it 3.  Don't crowd the table Doing a little better on this due to my work on 5 and 6, but still a ways to go 4.  Continue the side spin if unsure of the spin on the serve Long way to go here 5.  Be more aggressive Working out very well thus far. 6.  Use the BH more This is really the key to #5.  This has been working great and has opened up my game nicely 7.  Serve short more even if the longer serves aren't being attacked.  It may uncover a weakness So far so good.  I realized that I abandoned one of my serves - my less talented version of the ma lin serve.  I don't know why I stopped using it, but I'm bringing it back.  For some reason, I loop my better against a push off that serve. 8.  After the 1st loop, consider taking a step back (related to #3) In progress and working well.  I'm not getting caught with no time as often.  This has allowed for some nice rallies. 9.  Stay calm and stop rushing. This will always be a struggle. One minor change I made to force myself to use my BH more, is that I moved my service receive position a step or so to the right.  I can't believe I hadn't tried this before.  It forces me to use my BH, but it also opens up a lot more opportunities.  It's easier to get in position for the BH flip which allows me to be more aggressive and it puts me in a better spot to return serves to my FH side.  So effectively I've lessened the amount of movement required and covered more of the table in an aggressive way.

Don't be so disappointed in the match. It gave you a chance to display more of your shots. I liked it for that reason. This particular opponent had backspin issues that worked to your advantage. But his topspin play is a strength, though he had issues when you opened with heavy topspin. I think he is 1500 - 1700 until he learns to get down to attack the backspin ball rather than trying to do it with straight legs.

Good to see you are making progress. For #2/#9, the key is to focus on placement/control and moving your opponent, as opposed to trying to hit through them. Try controlled smashing or slow shots to precise points on the table with a focus on wide angles when possible or being able to hit two points on the table with the same body position. That's how I built up my weak forehand on the third ball so even when I didn't hit it hard, the threat of going down the line slowed down the opponent.

You got the strategic vs tactical arguments going on.

BH-Man wrote: You got the strategic vs tactical arguments going on.   What is effective for you to increase your playing level with time (means using some matches as practice) or what is good for you to win the match NOW. (Means screwing what is good for future to go with what will work in the match)   There is a balance somewhere, but when we go to tourneys, we are playing to win and training how to win, so the tactical side gets a lot more consideration. Once the tourney is over, it is a good idea to let the strategic side take the lead. Problem is you gotta be able to practice/train/have decent matchplay opportunities and doing it 1-2 times a week isn't gunna get it done to any quality or in a timely manner.

I agree with this on the whole - it's much easier to get quick improvement if you practice and play more in a week, because that usually means more practice time.  That said, I know people who only play twice a week, about 3 hours each day/time and are 1800 (and they got there largely doing that).  And there is a lot of off the table work one can do, especially floor serves , that can improve racket head speed away from the table.