Importance of the block
General
Carlo Unknown Asked 15 years ago
I've added the block as part of my major training regimen after watching a lot of players succesful with the BLOCK.
J.O. Waldner is a blocker. Kenta Matsuidaira is a blocker. Timo boll is a blocker. And all of them are succesful in their career.
The game is too dominant with the topspin stroke. With the block you can get more topspin balls, have a lot of options (punch,countertopspin etc.) and takes only little effort to execute.
Can you give your own opinon on this? Maybe even a blog?
Alois Rosario Answered 15 years ago
Hi Carlo,
Blocking is an important part of practice. This is something we emphasise in our new Training DVD.
All the players you mentioned have excellent attacking strokes as well as their defensive ability with the block.
To really succeed at a high level you need to be able to attack well.
Thoughts on this question
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Ji-Soo Woo Posted 15 years ago
Yeah, I wouldn't really call Timo Boll a blocker...though of course he can block.
At club level, there are some very clear close-to-table blocker styles you see around. Since I've started watching more professional table tennis players, I have not seen too many specialised blockers represented at the highest levels (just players like Waldner and Samsonov who can block but who can also do everything else! And also they tend to block from further back).
In fact, the only real blocker I can recall is that Spanish player of asian descent. Can't recall his name... I remember watching his match against Kreanga in the World Championship (probably the Paris one) where he was leading by a mile and Kreanga somehow clawed back.
pedrom Unknown Posted 15 years ago
I think that the player you mention is He Zhi Wen (we call him Juanito in Spain because it is easier ;-) )
I think this is the match you refer to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzPmarWBmvk
He is now 47 years old, but still in a very good condition. I saw him making Timo Boll have a very hard time to beat him last March in an European Champions League match. You can see the match here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=37fQL8SkJjM
By the way, that was my first time watching top players in situ (I was a few meters from the table), and I got impressed by the speed and precission of their strokes... I enyojed even their warm-up!!.
Carlo Unknown Posted 15 years ago
Ji-Soo, Timo Boll is a unique blocker in my opinion. He uses the block to great effect. See his recent matches and you'll see what I mean. His style is mainly putting heavy topsin on every ball he whack. During his younger days, he always tries to be agreesive and counterloops the ball but fails to land it on the table. I think he became an allround attacker and used blocks to find time to get ready for counterlooping. That's my observation anyway. Feel free to comment but if you ask anyone who is a Timo Fan, they'll say Timo Boll is a great blocker and topsin machine
Ji-Soo Woo Posted 15 years ago
G'day Carlo
I never knew about Timo Boll having a unique blocking technique. Any particularly good/illustrative youtube video you can post the link of? So you are saying his blocks have heavy topspin? Would be interested to watch.
Cheers
Ji-Soo
Carlo Unknown Posted 15 years ago