Very cool video ! Serves videos are nice but I think we'd like to see more of "what's happening after a good serve". Winning points on serves is nice, but often we gotta play the game as well :D Good job !
Fantastic to watch. The only advice i would give Tom (3 points) is to either take a step back on those longish serves and chop with light or heavy returns. This would allow for some spin to reduce and make it easier. The variation is something for the server to contend with where they can either hit over the table or into the net. Secondly, which i would prefer is to really attack the long serves with purpose. If you make an error the intent shows that if you do guess correctly it is highly likely to be a winner. A consistent long serve is generally a weak serve. It allows for a free swing. Yes, Craig has phenomenal serves, but he wouldn't want to see a bullet return come back as a winner or which puts him under great pressure on the third ball. This can also be attempted by pivoting and forcefully attacking. I would prefer to always use my backhand so if the serve is short i can still flick easier than with my forehand. That's my preference. Thirdly, to gain a better sight of the service contact point i would stand another half a metre to the left of the right handed server, since the contact is so close to being hidden. This angle will allow for a better sighting of the contact point and not to focus on the deception of the hand movement after. Great video and 2 extremely likeable table tennis players. Keep on improving and enjoying.
I'd love to take on Craig, I'd probably get absolutely destroyed, but it will be a great learning experience. 😋...thanks so much for sharing...great stuff!
Tom, you should had swapped hands on the last point... didn't you learn anything from Timo? 😜 You said it, when you face someone with such good serves, you overthink and hit weak returns. You played really well tho, some great forehand counters and continuous attacks. Craig, it's just amazing how you do so many different rotations with similar motion, I try to read your contact point's movement but it's just so quick. Makes me want to get back to my TT room and practise the hook serve.
When there's a class difference there's really not much tactics IMO. The better player just needs to keep the rally going and the weaker player needs to go for it. With Craig, you want to return his serves and then hope for the best. When serving, you put as much quality into it as you can. Perhaps the only real tactic in the match was Tom's gamble on the long serve into the forehand. Well done there! Tactics play a bigger role when the level is comparable but strengths and weaknesses differ. Then you want to force the balance into your favor. Play the transition point, find out there preference for fh/bh, check which serves work best, understand their serves, figure out what type of game they prefer ... With Tom, who is a blocker type of player, I'd use deep backspin and slow topspins. If I play my own attacking game mindlessly, he will destroy me with his quick reflexes.
@@TheTableTennisServiceGuy while Joola is one of the most popular brands in Spain, I haven't seen anyone in Manchester using it. I've heard good things about its rubbers, but not sure which one would suit my game. I am actually using Donic Baracuda on both sides, I like rubbers that are medium-hard (around 46-48 hardness) and spinny, since forehand spinny loops are my trademark shot. Any recommendations?
Indeed, I feel the same about Tom's serve, I don't know if it's just an impression or a real thing. On the other hand, he has good variations and placement in his serves, so it's not that they are bad of course. But I feel you may benefit from trying a more relaxed stance on your serves Tom.
Tom looks like he needs a lot of coaching and multiball. Super passive game against easy balls that is exploited by absence of footwork. Gotta stop reaching arms out for everything instead of moving the body. Also, beginners really shouldn't be flicking without knowing the technique :/ But good job with being positive. Against beginners, you really just spam serve heavy for short top/long backspin and the game is already won.
@@joemarshall4226 Long back spin balls because beginners can't loop effectively. If strong spin, it's hard to even push. If weak, they end up brushing the ball upwards instead of hitting forward, which is easily killable. Top short because you basically need to stay low and flick, which requires you to have good timing and basically believe that the ball will go over(because you close over the ball and aim for the net instead of opening your paddle in the stroke). Completely unintuitive. A heavy dose of sidespin never hurt either. This is from a perspective of a stronger player trying to noob stomp in a handicap match though. If you don't have good feeling, you can't really do it
@@K-ni3he Thanks. I'm playing very well in my group now (at 70 years old...against trained younger players). My problem is how to handle the topspin shots where the opponent doesn't put a lot of pace on the ball, but brushes up and give the ball a short loop. I can block the shot with control, but I wish I could attack them...but too many go in the net or off the table. Are these the shots that you say must be handled unintuitively? Should I try to return them with lots of topspin?
@@joemarshall4226 the answer if you don't have footwork is to block closer to the table and learn how to loop over the table. If they're higher, then punching/flicking is also an option
If it's actually topspin, counter looping is also a thing that might be easier with less mobility. Essentially using their spin and benefit is that you can have a smaller backswing too. But it requires feeling so not for amateur players
@@TheTableTennisServiceGuy On macbooks there is a problem that after you switch on HDR video the screen starts flickering and you have to reboot the macbook. Unfortunately apple doesn't fix this yet. (Macbook pro 16 m1)
Very cool video ! Serves videos are nice but I think we'd like to see more of "what's happening after a good serve". Winning points on serves is nice, but often we gotta play the game as well :D Good job !
A Very Happy New Year Craig and Tom. I really appreciate the video and hopefully this would help me in matches.
Tom played very well
Great video! I thought Tom's attacking loops were very impressive. Didn't miss many!
Such a great couple🙂
You guys rock 🤘🏼
more of these kind of videos. its fun. entertaining and one learn something as well.
Fantastic to watch. The only advice i would give Tom (3 points) is to either take a step back on those longish serves and chop with light or heavy returns. This would allow for some spin to reduce and make it easier. The variation is something for the server to contend with where they can either hit over the table or into the net.
Secondly, which i would prefer is to really attack the long serves with purpose. If you make an error the intent shows that if you do guess correctly it is highly likely to be a winner. A consistent long serve is generally a weak serve. It allows for a free swing.
Yes, Craig has phenomenal serves, but he wouldn't want to see a bullet return come back as a winner or which puts him under great pressure on the third ball. This can also be attempted by pivoting and forcefully attacking. I would prefer to always use my backhand so if the serve is short i can still flick easier than with my forehand. That's my preference.
Thirdly, to gain a better sight of the service contact point i would stand another half a metre to the left of the right handed server, since the contact is so close to being hidden. This angle will allow for a better sighting of the contact point and not to focus on the deception of the hand movement after.
Great video and 2 extremely likeable table tennis players. Keep on improving and enjoying.
this one was so funny and interesting ! so cool ,happy new year :)
good to see tom in the video
That was so close Mr. dirty fingerz! Happy to have watched.
I'd love to take on Craig, I'd probably get absolutely destroyed, but it will be a great learning experience. 😋...thanks so much for sharing...great stuff!
Game on 💪
Me too. You always learn from everyone, but I have the feeling that my confidence in serve returns would be completely annihilated.
sign me up! and thus the waiting list started😁
08:11 he looks like kratos😂
Excellent video, thought Tom was going to nick it. 😂
Nice play, nice friendship ❤️
Very nice👍
Tom, you should had swapped hands on the last point... didn't you learn anything from Timo? 😜
You said it, when you face someone with such good serves, you overthink and hit weak returns. You played really well tho, some great forehand counters and continuous attacks.
Craig, it's just amazing how you do so many different rotations with similar motion, I try to read your contact point's movement but it's just so quick. Makes me want to get back to my TT room and practise the hook serve.
Happy new year!
When there's a class difference there's really not much tactics IMO. The better player just needs to keep the rally going and the weaker player needs to go for it. With Craig, you want to return his serves and then hope for the best. When serving, you put as much quality into it as you can. Perhaps the only real tactic in the match was Tom's gamble on the long serve into the forehand. Well done there!
Tactics play a bigger role when the level is comparable but strengths and weaknesses differ. Then you want to force the balance into your favor. Play the transition point, find out there preference for fh/bh, check which serves work best, understand their serves, figure out what type of game they prefer ... With Tom, who is a blocker type of player, I'd use deep backspin and slow topspins. If I play my own attacking game mindlessly, he will destroy me with his quick reflexes.
craig which blade and rubber do u use ?
All listed in the description 👌
@@TheTableTennisServiceGuy while Joola is one of the most popular brands in Spain, I haven't seen anyone in Manchester using it. I've heard good things about its rubbers, but not sure which one would suit my game. I am actually using Donic Baracuda on both sides, I like rubbers that are medium-hard (around 46-48 hardness) and spinny, since forehand spinny loops are my trademark shot. Any recommendations?
❤❤❤
I am disappointed 😂 was rooting for Tom 😜😜 maybe next time
😡😂
Tom has a pretty good forehand, but not so great serves
Dear Tom, just two remarks. Your serve is awkward, strange stiff swing. The net is due for replacement/fixing. Peace.
Indeed, I feel the same about Tom's serve, I don't know if it's just an impression or a real thing. On the other hand, he has good variations and placement in his serves, so it's not that they are bad of course. But I feel you may benefit from trying a more relaxed stance on your serves Tom.
Tom looks like he needs a lot of coaching and multiball. Super passive game against easy balls that is exploited by absence of footwork. Gotta stop reaching arms out for everything instead of moving the body. Also, beginners really shouldn't be flicking without knowing the technique :/ But good job with being positive.
Against beginners, you really just spam serve heavy for short top/long backspin and the game is already won.
Could you make that last paragraph clearer?
@@joemarshall4226 Long back spin balls because beginners can't loop effectively. If strong spin, it's hard to even push. If weak, they end up brushing the ball upwards instead of hitting forward, which is easily killable.
Top short because you basically need to stay low and flick, which requires you to have good timing and basically believe that the ball will go over(because you close over the ball and aim for the net instead of opening your paddle in the stroke). Completely unintuitive.
A heavy dose of sidespin never hurt either. This is from a perspective of a stronger player trying to noob stomp in a handicap match though. If you don't have good feeling, you can't really do it
@@K-ni3he Thanks. I'm playing very well in my group now (at 70 years old...against trained younger players). My problem is how to handle the topspin shots where the opponent doesn't put a lot of pace on the ball, but brushes up and give the ball a short loop. I can block the shot with control, but I wish I could attack them...but too many go in the net or off the table. Are these the shots that you say must be handled unintuitively? Should I try to return them with lots of topspin?
@@joemarshall4226 the answer if you don't have footwork is to block closer to the table and learn how to loop over the table. If they're higher, then punching/flicking is also an option
If it's actually topspin, counter looping is also a thing that might be easier with less mobility. Essentially using their spin and benefit is that you can have a smaller backswing too. But it requires feeling so not for amateur players
net is amateur level
HI
Plz stop HDR videos (((
What’s the issue?
@@TheTableTennisServiceGuy On macbooks there is a problem that after you switch on HDR video the screen starts flickering and you have to reboot the macbook. Unfortunately apple doesn't fix this yet.
(Macbook pro 16 m1)
Latest video…No HDR 😀