PingPod #34 - Can You Escape the Ping Pong Zone?

I play in two venues: the first, a county-wide TT club where decent levels of classic form rule and where one only wins by playing in that fashion. The other is at the clubhouse in the senior community where i live, where i win regularly but occasionally lose to players, all of whose serves are "illegal" and who one or tow of whom could be describe as, "whackers" - they try to kill every shot. And, the worst one lives by Jimmy Connors claim that he hates to lose (even one point) more than he loves to win so he constantly berates himself when he misses one that even a much better player would also miss. After a year of this, i've 1) learned to deal pretty effectively with all the junk thrown at me and 2), learned to relax and just accept that some shots will  just get by me. And ... my game has improved and i'm having fun in both places.

I really enjoy your site and have learned a lot. Thanks,

Lee in Eugene, Oregon

Hi Lee,

Thanks for your sharing.  Sounds like you are in a good place with you game.  Glad you are enjoying and benefiting from the site.

For me there there is a similar frustrating dimension and that is the form on the day. Sometimes my play just doesn´t work and even after some contemplation I haven´t got a clue why.  The only thing that´s for sure is that there´s nothing I can do about it. Maybe some day it will dawn on me that it is as it is. How do I get there ;-)

Great video. I've said this so many times and it's refreshing to know that it's a common thought. 

I completely agree with what you say Alois. First, keep playing your correct style. Even if it isn't working yet, it

will eventually become more refined than the style that the unorthodox person has been using for years (assuming that

you are working on refining your game). 

Also playing the lower levels is a great way to prepare yourself for strange styles. I've recently been smoked by

a simple undisguised topspin serve and a totally undisguised no spin serve. It's because I don't play enough people who do those serves. 

When you come upon them though and they surprise you, they take you from unconscious, relaxed play to conscious over thinking play - which can mess

you up.

Great video and advice - thanks!  

Thanks Eddie.  Some really good thoughts there too.  When you are taken out of your unconscious state because you are seeing something different, you do tighten up.

Yes it is nice to know you are not alone when facing these “demons" 

Hi Manfred,

I think accepting that some days are better than others is the key but also very difficult when you are having those bad days.  It probably comes with time… haven’t totally got there yet!

I struggle with that a lot too, specially against long-medium pimple and anti-spin rubbers. By the time I get used to the different spin I'm already 2 sets down. 

I need to include long pimple into my training routine, and play more of those players which are a not so common. 

I also notice that as people get old and start losing games they put a long pimple on the backhand and start winning again!

this is a very funny video and I sort of share the feeling of those junk rubbers: http://youtu.be/jhO4K_yFhh8

But the bottom line is I need to keep improving my strokes and don't bother about different styles and rubbers. They actually add more variables to the game and make it more interesting!

Hi Alois, Great video discussion. Yes, I go through such 'irritating' encounters practically everyday in our colony club house. Players who don't have even basic game and all awkward style of play soon come to challenge and eventually to overpower you! It happened with me a couple of years ago. and in such frustrating moments even Lady Luck seems to smile on them and frown on us! They get all the net cords and sneaks with all their ugly strokes and our minor mistakes such as the angle of the bat go unforgiven! After a lot of thought I came to the conclusion that the the fault is not in our stars but in us that we play so casually and considerately with them. No, we have to play as mercilessly with them as we can. I tried all my spin services on them, increased my speed and meticulously alternated the flanks. And that fixed the problem. But yes as Bud said the "ping pong zone" is indeed a highly painful and frustrating experience. 

Thanks Francisco.  Yes Greg Letts in his series on Youtube does bring up some interesting points.  This one is done well too.

Thanks for your input and sharing your experiences too Vijay.

Love this one - sounds like great advice Alois. I've been playing for 6 months on the social scene and I have seen players like you mentioned. Their total emphasis seems to be on winning the game. I was getting sucked into it too and started to play similarly however this is a apt reminder :) In the long term - good technique is key.

Nice one Binder.

Thanks alot

Thank's. Trying to remember to focus on the conventional strokes to remain consistant as a better player! 

Good idea Kathy. Keep working on those conventional strokes, it will pay off in the long run!

As a former fighter and a coach in a sport, where you could actually got beaten up (full contact karate), I have seen many bloody faces of those that thought of superiority over some weird looking (and acting) fighters. At the end, anyway, there is always a question: What is your goal in whatever you  are doing?!!!  And throughout my active years I learnt that most important thing in any indivdual sport:  One can loose a point, a set or round, even a match, but you will never got beaten up. There is always next time, next opportunity to better yourself and win!  But, only if you are true to yourself and your technic!

So, in short, I think that applies to table tennis too.

Interesting ideas there Mike.  So true that technique is important and in Table Tennis you won't suffer physically if you lose... perhaps just hurts the ego.

I don't know if it relates to Ping Pong Zone... How do you mentally deal with your opponent doing seemingly crazy shots and getting away with them at some point? Here is an example. I once played a kid with medium pips on backhand. I used the following tactics: serve some sidespin to his backhand, then pivot and topspin heavily there again. It worked in first two games very well. At some point he started to step around smash my topspins. First, he missed a lot and that is what I expected. I thought that he tried to scare me. But at some point the kid started to hit those smashes for winners! At first I didn't believe my eyes, I thought it was just a chain of lucky events, but I eventually lost 2-3.

So how to find if my opponent really adjusted to my shots or he just pulled out a few lucky crapshoots?

Hi Ilia,

This can be frustrating but also if you think about it as an overall picture, you will win.  He may have won on the day but if you maintain that system you will win more matches than you lose.

Perhaps during the match try to change the speed and spin as much as you can to upset his rhythm.

Yes, I should have adjusted... I just couldn't believe that he put those shots on the table. That is also a kind of underestimation of the opponent and his ability to adjust and get used to the rhythm.

Thank you alois and jeff you encourage me!!  had doubles tournament. Did not win a match,   we should have but lost points into the net.  won 2 games low rank,  however, feel more confident with your pingskills advise. Although it is difficult to remember all of the strategies!    

Well done Kathy.  You don't have to remember everything.  Just try to keep moving your game up a level.

Thank you for your encouragement!!

I hope not too many of my opponents see your blog. my reactions are not fast and so I play a lot of slice to try to slow the game to my level. I have been watching the pingskills video's to play more in the classic style. with not too much success at the moment.but i'll keep trying' anyway we can't have best players winning all the time.