Learning from mistakes

Hi coach,

Following your advice, i have taken the next step and started participating in tournaments. i participated on one of the tournaments and lost in round 2, i want to improve, thanks for that simple advice, the only way to improve is to play against better players.

Need your help with the following.

1) the basic problem that i found was the table and the difference it made to the speed at which the ball travels. i play in a club in my residential complex that uses avg. quality tables, and when i went to this tournaments it had the best quality tables, this certainly made a difference to the speed at which the ball travelled, it was slightly more and i found difficult to adjust, the same. i cant afford the expensive membership to premium clubs, so can you suggest some simple tips to adjust to the speed.

2) i found that i started holding the bat too tightly during backspin rallies, and found it difficult to return backspin to backspin, i felt the backspin i was getting from my opponent was too heavy and i could not focus on placement, but was just satisfied with returning the ball. so how do you improve your backspin to backspin, how do you hold the bat, tight or loose?

3) while making topspin to a backspin, i could not make out whether to hold the bat tightly or not. so need your advice there also.

Sorry for a long question.  Awaiting your replay.

you guys are doing an awesome job.

regards.

MV

Hi Manish,

That is great that you have started playing tournaments.

I think the best thing would be to try and get to the tournament as early as you can to have a really good hit up.  You will find that the more you hit on the tables the more used to them that you will get.  If you can get there an hour before your scheduled starting time you should be able to adjust.

For backspin against backspin you do need to hold the bat quite loosely.  Getting the ball on relies on just getting the angle of your bat right.  If the spin is heavy you can really open up the angle of your bat.

Holding the bat lightly is good for topspin against backspin asa well.  I think in general you should have your grip loose as this allows you use your wrist and also helps with your touch.