Whats wrong with me
Match Strategy
Robert Armstrong Asked 3 weeks ago
Hi coach ,
I am 73 and started table tennis 6 months ago . I am throwing everything into it but still loose to "ping Pongers" . I have studied the aggresive shots ,but am beaten by the safe and cautious players who simply :get it on the table: . Against a robot I play reasonable forearm and back hand loops , but when I play a person they sail into the net or out of bounds . Any suggestions?
Alois Rosario Answered 3 weeks ago
Hi Robert,
It's great to hear about your enthusiasm and dedication to learning table tennis.
It sounds like you're putting in a lot of effort to improve your game, which is fantastic. The challenges you're facing are quite common, especially for players who are relatively new to the sport but have a strong desire to excel quickly. Firstly, it's important to remember that table tennis is as much about strategy and consistency as it is about aggressive shots. Players who seem to "just get it on the table" are often very skilled at reading the game and can control the pace and spin of the ball effectively.
Before you can consistently win points with aggressive shots, you need to be able to consistently get the ball on the table yourself. Work on your basic strokes and make sure you can rally reliably without making unforced errors. This doesn't mean you should only play safe; rather, aim to develop a balanced game where you can choose the right moment to attack.
If your loops are going into the net or out of bounds when playing against a person, but not against a robot, it might be due to the variation in ball placement and spin that a human opponent provides. Pay close attention to the ball's spin and trajectory when it comes towards you. Adjust your racket angle and stroke speed accordingly. Practicing with a human partner who can vary their spins and placements will help you get used to these adjustments.
Sometimes, the pressure of wanting to perform well, especially against seemingly less skilled players, can affect your game. Work on staying calm and focused during matches. Each point is a new opportunity, so try not to dwell on past mistakes.
Keep up the hard work, Robert. Improvement in table tennis can sometimes be gradual, and at times, it might feel like you're not progressing as fast as you'd like. However, with persistence and smart practice, you'll start to see the results of your dedication.
Thoughts on this question
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Rick August Posted 3 weeks ago
Six months is not very long to have played. It can take years to properly learn the strokes and then execute them during a match. I've been playing seriously about 20 months and ran across the same issues early on and although I've improved greatly, I still struggle with my game. Frankly, it just takes more time even if you train the right way. Don't be too hard on yourself. I accept the fact that I can still lose to anyone, but I try not to worry about it ... just focus on hitting the shots and getting better. One thing I would recommend is to buy a cheap tripod and record your matches with your phone. Watching yourself can be a humbling experience but the camera doesn't lie. It will show you what you are really doing as opposed to what you think that you are doing. Sometimes, your strokes are not as good during a match then while drilling. This is not uncommon. I still record my matches, and I see that occasionally I do some funny things with my forehand stroke that I don't do during drills. Anyway, keep at it and don't worry too much about losing. Eventually, you will be beating these players.
Philip Samuel Posted 3 weeks ago
Great advice from Alois as always, and Rick a very helpful member. Try doing the drills you are doing with the robot with a fellow player at your club. I have found that the atmosphere at home (lower ceiling, different balls, different table and so on) is very different to that in the club (larger space, higher ceilings, and so on). This results in different ball flights. So, we need to adjust between practicing at home vs playing at a club. There are also differences between clubs in terms of ceiling height, tables and general environment which impacts on ball flight and control. With this in mind, if your playing partner is amenable to doing it with you, practice all of the key strokes shown in Alois/Jeff's videos namely: counter hit, topspin against block, top spin against back spin, and top spin against top spin. I also suggest practicing lots of serve returns, as well as your own serve + 3rd ball. Hopefully you will find a few players who are willing to do this with you. My suggestion is that you try do as much drills practice as you can with a fellow player to help you get control and consistency with your shots, and then work on these when you are playing a game in preference to worrying about the score. There is lots of great material on this website, take your time to go through all the key videos from basic to advanced in your journey. Am now 78 and have been doing this for 4 years, so you have time as you are only 73!
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 3 weeks ago
We featured this question on episode #374 of the Ask the Coach Podcast!