When to react

Have you ever studied your opponent to see exactly when in his strokes he commits to a specific placement? If not, you are handicapping yourself. Most players commit to a direction before they start their forward swing, and you should be moving to the ball as they start their forward swing. But most players don't react until the opponent has hit the ball, thereby wasting a lot of valuable time. More on this in this Monday's Tip of the Week.

Chinese footwork

These six short videos are perhaps the best videos I've ever seen on footwork, as well as a great example on proper stroking technique. Coach Wang Wen Jie of China explains Chinese footwork - which is pretty much the way all world-class players move, Chinese or otherwise. The various footwork techniques are shown both a regular speed and in slow motion, and explained by the coach.

• Chinese Footwork Part 1 - Forehand From Half Table (2:36)
• Chinese Footwork Part 2 - Connecting Forehand and Backhand (3:07)
• Chinese Footwork Part 3 - Pivot and Cross Step (3:56)
• Chinese Footwork Part 4 - Small Steps (3:53)
• Chinese Footwork Part 5 - Body Balance (1:03)
• Chinese Footwork Part 6 - Forehand from the middle (3:53)

Physical training for table tennis

A blog reader (who wished to stay anonymous) sent me these videos of physical training for table tennis. I think the titles are in French. There's a bunch of them - enjoy!

• Travail physique Pôle espoirs Centre (9:01)
• Programme physique été 2011 (3:06)
• Rapidité Appuis/ Préparation physique/coaching sportif Nantes (7:41)
• EXERCICES PREPARATION PHYSIQUE ADRESSE ET EQUILIBRE TENNIS DE TABLE N°2.mpg (2:54)
• Le travail des appuis (1:52)
• les appuis (1:05)
• Préparation Physique _1 (0:18) (This is the first of 13 very short videos, but if you like this one, you can go on to the next 12.)

Table tennis at its "worst"

I'm not sure why they call it this, but this is a great highlights reel (4:16). It starts off with Samsonov and some magical graphics, then goes on to highlight Samsonov and most of the Chinese and European top players. 

Final of 1973 Worlds

Here's the final eight points (2:59) of the Men's Singles Final at the 1973 World, Kjell Johannson versus Xi Enting. Enting leads 17-14 at the start, then at 19-18, wins on two edge balls in a row!

Your next opponent

If you can handle this guy, then you are ready for anyone. Sure, he's bigger than you, has big teeth and bad breath, and will probably eat you if you win, but you're playing for pride. He's a defensive player - he likes to chop things - so be patient and play his middle.

Attendance figures, U.S. Open and USA Nationals

Recently I posted the attendance figures for the USA Nationals, 1994 to present. I've done the same for the U.S. Open. Below are the raw stats (which now includes location) and two graphs. Figures do not include players who played only in doubles, hardbat, or sandpaper. (Hardbat was added in 1997, sandpaper in 2010.)

• U.S. Open attendance, 1994-2011
• USA Nationals attendance, 1994-2010

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