September 14, 2012

Practice Slower and Better

I have a couple of junior students at the beginning-intermediate level (under 1000) who like to hit everything hard. When they practice with me, they feel they can do it because I'm returning their shots, but they are spraying shots all over the table, and rarely make more than a few shots in a row. I've been on them for a while to slow down, and while this'll get them to slow down for a few shots, they quickly go back to smack it mode.

The only way to get them to slow down I discovered is to challenge them to make a certain number in a row. If I challenge them to make 50 in a row, then they slow down, and they make the 50.

But more important, by slowing down they get far more practice developing a repeating shot that they can do successfully over and Over and OVER again, which is the backbone of success in table tennis. Whenever I get them to hit 50 or 100 in a row, they play well the rest of the session. If I don't get them to slow down, they practice slapping the ball all over the place, and it doesn't help their development much at all. Table tennis is a game of precision, and you can't develop precision unless you practice precision shots over and over. Smacking balls all over the table and off it is a good way to practice smacking balls all over the table and off it.

MDTTC Table Tennis Music Video

On Saturday night (tomorrow) the Edie Sedgwick band is coming to the Maryland Table Tennis to create a table tennis music video. The video will star Derek Nie (U.S. Open Under 12 Boys' Singles Champion). I'll be there helping out, mostly as Derek's hitting partner and eating the promised pizza. I'm guessing the video features the band playing table tennis and thinking they're good, and then Derek shows up and destroys them. The band contacted me about this after seeing this Washington Post video (3:26) on MDTTC, and seeing Derek in it. They had already planned the video and were looking to cast the table tennis kid.

Korean Table Tennis Music Video

Normally I put the funny stuff at the end of the blog, but this is video (3:27) from the Korean group Orange Caramel just too funny to put there.

Tracking a Ping-Pong Ball in Flight

Japanese scientists earlier this year created a camera that tracks a ball in flight, even showing the ball's rotation. Here's the article and video.

New York Table Tennis

Now that's a big table tennis sign! Plus other info on this full-time table tennis club in Flushing.

Paddled

Here's the article "Paddled," a great and hilarious article about a U.S. "basement" table tennis player who thought he was good, who went to China and joined in a training program - and discovered "real" table tennis.

Pongcast Newest Episode

Here's Pongcast Episode 13 (15:34), which covers the 2012 Czech Open, LA Open, North American Championships, and the first week of the new Bundesliga season in Germany. Click on the "13 Videos" link at the top if you want to see earlier episodes.

The Harrison's Beat the Jenson's

Yes, in the ultimate "Hatfield-McCoy" grudge match from professional tennis, the Harrison brothers beat the Jenson brothers in this dynamic showdown. Here's the article.

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