I'll focus on the positive part: 1) fh ts against bs! although it wasn't explicitly on your agenda, you did make a good forehand topspin against back+side. First at 0:21. Even the missed one at 1:18 has leg thrust and hip rotation. At 1:30 the form is again there but the preparatory footwork wasn't there, so you're out of position and on your heels. The successful one at 1:58 however is more "armlifting" than proper stroke. At 3:23 you shadow the proper technique, showing you are conscious of what went wrong. 4:02 is the best of them all. It's against moderate spin sure, but the form looks great. 8:04 is similarly good. 9:01 is another lift. 2) serve variation is working 3) pushing rallies tend to go in your favor Your goal was footwork. How did you feel about it?
Thank you for the comments. With my goal being footwork I feel like I'm being more AWARE of it, but I think I'm too much on my 'feet' and not enough in my weight transfer. I am now learning that it's more than just putting your foot in the right position, it's your body, too. That'll be my focus on today's matches. So, if I can slowly get one thing done at a time, I think I can incrementally get this better. Thank you for your comments! They're great!
Its pretty common to play really good again one person, and then struggle against another. Everyone at this club plays such a different game. To combat this, the first thing i like to do is practice what is important to me in the warm-up, which is looping and blocking forehands, and fast flat backhand shots. Some will practice pushing or looping backspin, or even 3rd ball attacks. The second thing for me is to be overly aggressive the first game, then tone it down for the remaining games. I attack their serve so i can warm up my attacks, and it prevents them from warming up their own. It helps me to know what is too risky to attack, and what kind of spin they have on the ball. I typically attack more in the beginning, then focus on pushing consistently at the end to guarantee a win.
Electricity goblins strike again... Just finished watching game 1 and I think there are a couple reasons why your BHs aren't landing, at least at this point... Fatigue was probably a factor. It's possible you're exerting what you think is the same amount of effort but due to fatigue, your power/racket speed/timing is adversely affected. Be as patient as you can with your BH, it's uncomfortable but wait until it's close to your body before hitting. In addition, Ben H's returns to you BH we're relatively high, giving you a good angle of attack and confidence to hit forward. In game 1, i noticed a lack of acceleration compared to your previous match and a lot of "lifting" motion with your shoulder whereas the axis of rotation should be parallel to your bicep with the elbow as the pivot point (albeit combined with a little lifting from the shoulder for additional forward power). It's hard to generate enough acceleration by lifting your shoulder, especially if your arm is stiff Alternatively, when Ben H's returns were a bit lower, his returns were typically a little faster/longer (iirc), allowing you to borrow power rather than generating it, which helps you shot. One more tip for fh looping underspin: try to bring your eye level to just above the ball level. It'll naturally lower your stance and get you paddle's initial position below the ball so your ready to pull upward and forward. Try to contact the ball at around your 230 to 3 o'clock for power generation. Remember not to point your foot *too* far out to the right... That may lead to injury. Just outward enough to support your weight while you rotate you hips and shift your weight. Maybe start at around 45°and adjust accordingly? It should not be painful or feel straining! Don't forget to be aggressive. That's your style so attack confidently! Remember: The Great Eye is ever watchful... ( ಠ_ಠ)
These are all great tips. It's hard for me to know what 'getting lower' means, so knowing that it's 'just above where the ball is' is very helpful. 45 degrees is perfect also for a good aim for me on my foot. I'll aim for that. I really agree with your assessment on agression. I play better when I'm like that - I just posted a video with me and Joseph, and when I stopped trying to his 'right' and just hit aggressively, I think I hit 'correctly' more anyway. But it only happened in game 3 when I realized it.
For me, if I'm standing neutral, my right foot will be 45° angled. When I turn and prepare my FH, my weight shifts to my right leg, my right knee is pointed the same as my foot so I don't strain it unnecessarily. I'm on my toes so I can rotate my whole leg as I "kick" my hip forward during the swing. I try to take care that my right leg doesn't over twist and my knee doesn't point past "forward".
I'll focus on the positive part:
1) fh ts against bs! although it wasn't explicitly on your agenda, you did make a good forehand topspin against back+side. First at 0:21. Even the missed one at 1:18 has leg thrust and hip rotation. At 1:30 the form is again there but the preparatory footwork wasn't there, so you're out of position and on your heels. The successful one at 1:58 however is more "armlifting" than proper stroke. At 3:23 you shadow the proper technique, showing you are conscious of what went wrong. 4:02 is the best of them all. It's against moderate spin sure, but the form looks great. 8:04 is similarly good. 9:01 is another lift.
2) serve variation is working
3) pushing rallies tend to go in your favor
Your goal was footwork. How did you feel about it?
Thank you for the comments.
With my goal being footwork I feel like I'm being more AWARE of it, but I think I'm too much on my 'feet' and not enough in my weight transfer.
I am now learning that it's more than just putting your foot in the right position, it's your body, too. That'll be my focus on today's matches. So, if I can slowly get one thing done at a time, I think I can incrementally get this better.
Thank you for your comments! They're great!
Its pretty common to play really good again one person, and then struggle against another. Everyone at this club plays such a different game.
To combat this, the first thing i like to do is practice what is important to me in the warm-up, which is looping and blocking forehands, and fast flat backhand shots. Some will practice pushing or looping backspin, or even 3rd ball attacks.
The second thing for me is to be overly aggressive the first game, then tone it down for the remaining games. I attack their serve so i can warm up my attacks, and it prevents them from warming up their own. It helps me to know what is too risky to attack, and what kind of spin they have on the ball. I typically attack more in the beginning, then focus on pushing consistently at the end to guarantee a win.
I have definitely seen you do this before! We'll deliberately do this the next time we warm up. I like it.
Electricity goblins strike again...
Just finished watching game 1 and I think there are a couple reasons why your BHs aren't landing, at least at this point...
Fatigue was probably a factor. It's possible you're exerting what you think is the same amount of effort but due to fatigue, your power/racket speed/timing is adversely affected. Be as patient as you can with your BH, it's uncomfortable but wait until it's close to your body before hitting.
In addition, Ben H's returns to you BH we're relatively high, giving you a good angle of attack and confidence to hit forward. In game 1, i noticed a lack of acceleration compared to your previous match and a lot of "lifting" motion with your shoulder whereas the axis of rotation should be parallel to your bicep with the elbow as the pivot point (albeit combined with a little lifting from the shoulder for additional forward power). It's hard to generate enough acceleration by lifting your shoulder, especially if your arm is stiff
Alternatively, when Ben H's returns were a bit lower, his returns were typically a little faster/longer (iirc), allowing you to borrow power rather than generating it, which helps you shot.
One more tip for fh looping underspin: try to bring your eye level to just above the ball level. It'll naturally lower your stance and get you paddle's initial position below the ball so your ready to pull upward and forward. Try to contact the ball at around your 230 to 3 o'clock for power generation. Remember not to point your foot *too* far out to the right... That may lead to injury. Just outward enough to support your weight while you rotate you hips and shift your weight. Maybe start at around 45°and adjust accordingly? It should not be painful or feel straining!
Don't forget to be aggressive. That's your style so attack confidently! Remember: The Great Eye is ever watchful...
( ಠ_ಠ)
These are all great tips. It's hard for me to know what 'getting lower' means, so knowing that it's 'just above where the ball is' is very helpful. 45 degrees is perfect also for a good aim for me on my foot. I'll aim for that.
I really agree with your assessment on agression. I play better when I'm like that - I just posted a video with me and Joseph, and when I stopped trying to his 'right' and just hit aggressively, I think I hit 'correctly' more anyway. But it only happened in game 3 when I realized it.
@BenSucksAtPingPong I'll have to clarify the 45° at a later time... Long drive ahead
For me, if I'm standing neutral, my right foot will be 45° angled. When I turn and prepare my FH, my weight shifts to my right leg, my right knee is pointed the same as my foot so I don't strain it unnecessarily. I'm on my toes so I can rotate my whole leg as I "kick" my hip forward during the swing.
I try to take care that my right leg doesn't over twist and my knee doesn't point past "forward".
Got it! Great explaination!
Hey even me and my dad play tt and make videos without any training though😅
I love it! What is your channel?