January 15, 2015

Multiball Training

Have you done any multiball training recently? No? Well, why not? Don't you want to get better?

There are some myths about multiball training. Some believe it's only for beginners - and yet the Chinese team spends about 1/3 of their training time with multiball. Some think it's only for advanced players - but multiball is the best way to teach the basics. It's for all levels. Ironically, often beginners do multiball when they first learn, and advanced players do it for more intensive training, while intermediates don't do it - and it's one reason they stay intermediate players rather than advanced. It takes intensive training to become an advanced player, and multiball is one of the central ways of doing that.

Before we go further, here's my Tip of the Week on Multiball Training.

So how do you go about doing this if you don't have a coach, or can't afford one? Simple - find a practice partner - like anyone who wants to improve in table tennis - and take turns feeding multiball to each other. Yes, you'll need a box of training balls, but it's a one-time expense (other than getting new ones as they break). You'll also probably want ball nets to pick up balls, such as the Ball Amigo from Butterfly, and perhaps a head replacement. (I'd get two nets since there will be two of you.)

But first spend some time practicing. When I first began coaching I wasn't that good at feeding multiball either. So what did I do? I took a box of balls and practiced feeding multiball. (We had a robot with a net to catch the balls, so I didn't have to keep picking them up from the floor, but that's not really needed.) Learn to feed all types of balls - topspin and backspin, side to side, random, etc. It's easier to feed if you bounce the ball backwards on the table first, but for speed multiball you might want to practice feeding right out of your hand.

Here's a thread at the OOAK forum where the second message links to a number of videos of multiball being done.

One big question - and a reason some might want to hold off on buying lots of training balls for now - is because of the transition from celluloid to the plastic 40+ balls. Right now we're still using celluloid for multiball training at MDTTC because there aren't any good plastic training balls available yet - we're waiting for them from Butterfly, since they sponsor our club. As soon as they become available we'll be getting lots of them and switching over.

MDTTC Happenings

It seems we've had a lot going on recently at MDTTC.

It Counts as Three Points!

Here's the new coaching article by Samson Dubina.

Ask the Coach

Episode # 58 (18:44) - Zhang Jike's Footwork.

  • Yesterdays #PQOTD  - 1:04: Should Table Tennis copy other sports and go to a reduced format like 20/20 cricket and Fast 4 Tennis?
  • #PQOTD - 2:53: Who do you think will be Number 1 in the World at the end of 2015 in Mens and Womens?
  • Question 1 - 3:26: If you must choose an opponent that you would want to meet, who would it be? Brock
  • Question 2 - 4:26: Who is your best Table Tennis Player of all time? Brock
  • Question 3 - 4:49: How often did you guys play table tennis when you were rookies? Brock Lesnar
  • Question 4 - 6:17: About the pendulum service when i practice this service i usually hit it in the net. I want to know how exactly to not hit it in the net or the judge calls a let. Am I supposed to draw back when I'm serving or there is a better way. Caylan
  • Question 5 - 8:35: Does height affect gameplay in table tennis? Jaydon
  • Question 6 - 9:42: In an old match from 2011, between Ma Long and Zhang Jike, if we leave everything else and just focus on Zhang Jike's feet I am mesmerized as to what level he has taken his footwork to. China excel in it. Are we missing some technical information? Arnab
  • Question 7 - 11:25: Some coaches don't like their players fooling around and do a lot of experimenting while they are playing or practicing. So is it necessary to always practice hard with seriousness, determination or hard work, or, it wouldn't hurt to have some fun? Arnab
  • Question 8 - 13:20: My friend says that if you angle your bat 45 degrees when you smash, the ball will land on more often. This tactic has worked for me, is it true? Or is it false?
  • Question 9 - 14:52: I use "yasaka phantom 009" on my backhand.I learned many serves from your helpful videos, thank you. Can you show and teach me some serves with this kind of rubbers. Siddharth
  • Question 10 - 16:32: What angle is the chop to generate spin? Brock

Newly Crowned Men’s National Champion Jimmy Butler to Compete at 2015 Butterfly Aurora Cup

Here's the article by Barbara Wei.

Kai Zhang

Here's an article and interview with the Westchester, NY star.

Father, Daughter Train at Greeley Senior Activity Center

Here's the article from the Greely Tribune in Colorado.

The Brothers Alamiyan Living Table Tennis

Here's the article. 

Boston Red Sox Ping Pong Tournament

Here's info - they are holding this near their park on Jan. 17 for fans, with winners getting Red Sox tickets. "Think you've got what it takes to run the tables in Ping Pong? Sign up now for our Red Sox Ping Pong Tournament!" … "At Winter Weekend, the best of the best will face off against 8 Red Sox personalities, vying for the Baseball Winter Weekend Cup!"

Table Tennis Twittering

Here's a table tennis twitter page. Everything you wanted to know about table tennis in nice easy 140-character chunks.

Man vs. Robot

Here's the video (2:30). (I like the start!)

Chinese Team Playing in the Dubai Desert Sands

Here's the picture! Click on picture to see two more.

How to Dive and Smack Your Head on the Floor

Here's the video (38 sec) of Adam Bobrow doing this, and why he has stiches on his head. (I searched Youtube for the infamous tape of USA team member Brian Masters smacking his head against the ground after losing a point at the World Championships but couldn't find it. Anyone have a link to it?)

Playing Kids in China . . . or at a USA Training Center!

Here's the cartoon.

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