Title: Table Tennis
Description: Ping Pong
Zombo - August 13, 2006 06:10 PM (GMT)
Anybody plays?
I'm pretty good at it now... my strengths are probably my huge spins (sidespin lobs and frontspin loops) and I play pretty consistent and all-around, but I can generate a lot of power when needed, my weakness is that I can't read the opponents' serves too well, so it takes me some time (and points) to adapt to it...
I play shakehand and not penholder (like traditional) by the way.
Donk3y - August 13, 2006 07:10 PM (GMT)
i used to play a lot last year, until we took our table down when my brother moved back in... sighs*. but yeah i was pretty good, i had a class in school that we played in too, a raqcuet sports class thats was fun so i learned new stuff as well.
according to zombo i guess i play penholder, or whatever the normal is and my strengths were backhands. powerful accurate backhands that won almost all my games.
i have a viper paddle, i dunno the specifics on it but i like it, it was like 50$ USD.
Zombo - August 13, 2006 07:16 PM (GMT)
u sure...... cuz penholder's weakness is backhands....
shakehand you hold the racquet up, penholder you hold the racquet down (like you're writing with a pen)
Backhands are very hard in penholder.
| QUOTE |
The shakehands grip is the prevalent grip of table tennis today(as of 1998), used by the majority of recreational and professional players. The paddle is gripped with all fingers, with the thumb resting by itself on the opposite side as the index finger. The grip is analogous to shaking a hand at an approximately 45-degree angle. The pinky, ring, and middle finger wrap around one side of the handle, and the index finger rests on the bottom edge of the rubber. The thumb rests on the top of the handle on the other side, thumbnail perpendicular to the wood. It should point in the same direction as the index finger. When held out straight in front of you, the paddle's edge should form a line with the outstretched arm. The grip should feel natural, with no particularly uncomfortable areas. Too tight a grip can sacrifice control and power. Be sure to grab the handle loosely enough so that another person would have no trouble plucking it from your hand. But at the same time, maintain enough tightness so the paddle won't fly out of your hand during an intense loop shot.
Some of the advantages of using the shakehands grip are:
Equally strong forehand and backhand advantage(provided you pay equal attention to both)
Wide selection of paddles to choose from
Once a dominant grip in its heyday, the penhold grip still has its supporters, world class players included. The racket is gripped as one would grip a pen, with the thumb and index finger, with the rest of the fingers being tucked away on the other side. There are several variations to this grip, and two types of paddles to reflect this. The "chinese" paddles are basically shakehands paddles with a shortened handle. The remaining fingers rest against the other side. "Japanese" paddles have a raised handle, which is called a "hook." The index finger curls around the "hook" for extra leverage. Which one you use depends on personal preferences. Penhold paddles typically only have one side covered with a rubber sheet. This makes them lighter than most shakehands paddles. The other side must still comply with the paddles rule, so it is usually painted red or black, or covered with a sheet of colored paper.
Some of the advantages of using the penhold grip are:
A dominant forehand game(while backhands are possible with this grip, the vast majority of penhold players rely on their forehand game)-quick feet are required to sustain this!
Since it is not as widely used, an element of surprise against opponents unfamiliar with the grip |
Donk3y - August 13, 2006 07:34 PM (GMT)
oh wtf i thought u said that penholder was the normal way...
well whatever then, i hold it normal. or shakehand as u call it.
i know what u mean now though, the "korean" style of play rather than the US grip.
right?
neXus - August 13, 2006 07:55 PM (GMT)
Zombo - August 13, 2006 08:08 PM (GMT)
penholder -> traditional grip -> asian style of play
shakehand -> new grip -> european style of play...
than you have the seemiller grip developped in the US but it's not popular at all.
chanman123 - August 13, 2006 08:09 PM (GMT)
I have a rating, and I was Michigan U13 and U11 Table Tennis Champ in 2003
MY rating was aorund 1100 so i'm not the best
I'm mostly a looper and not a blocker.
Zombo - August 13, 2006 08:33 PM (GMT)
check out this guy's website
he gives good advices IMO
http://www.rmcafee.com/ Toast - August 13, 2006 09:33 PM (GMT)
i play penholder, and my fastballs/smashes are usually done backhand lthough i gotta prepare a body twist before
Zombo - August 13, 2006 09:51 PM (GMT)
by backhand do you mean at the opposite side of your hitting arm or with the back paddle of the racquet.
Toast - August 14, 2006 01:31 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Zombo @ Aug 13 2006, 05:51 PM) |
| by backhand do you mean at the opposite side of your hitting arm or with the back paddle of the racquet. |
oppisite...
or am i getting it wrong
Zombo - August 14, 2006 01:33 AM (GMT)
no i think you're right cuz using the back of your racquet means you have to turn your wrists outwards, which is really bad.
Toast - August 14, 2006 01:34 AM (GMT)
no i always use the same side
why woujld oi wastetime turning my whole wrist haha
FallenSeraph - August 14, 2006 01:37 AM (GMT)
penhold grip u always use the same side, since on teh otehr side, ur fingers r blocking the paddle. plus its really awkward if u do
Zombo - August 14, 2006 01:45 AM (GMT)
exactly, thats why penholders are weak on the backhand side, since they have to reach out the other side of their body.
Usually penholders focus only on their forehand which means they need very quick feet to position themselves but it also make them more predictable (always forehand) but it generates a lot of power in the loops/drives.
FallenSeraph - August 14, 2006 01:55 AM (GMT)
actually i dont find backhand THAT much weaker. i actually find it easier to spin when my hand is positioned lik that. at least for backhands that r lik closer to the body
Toast - August 14, 2006 02:00 AM (GMT)
i acutally do very little spins. the premovement is too much for such a slow ball
Zombo - August 14, 2006 02:35 AM (GMT)
flat (no spin) players can surprise you for a while but spinning is still far more consistent....
FallenSeraph - August 14, 2006 02:47 AM (GMT)
i jus think its funner(yes not a word) to spin it than jus smack it around. meh im not such a good player anyways. u should see my parents go at it with other chinese parents.
Zombo - August 14, 2006 02:49 AM (GMT)
you're right spin is the essence of life :spin:
I love all sports where spin is a heavy factor (baseball, table tennis, pool...)
Toast - August 14, 2006 02:50 AM (GMT)
i cant conrtoal my spins as well as i can my smashes, and i like moving around all over the tables since it works up a sweat haha
its more fun like that, while spins require planning and more thinking, which i seriously do not like doing.
but meh, eveyone plays by their own rules. i havent palyed for about 3 months so i'll probably get pwned anyways
Zombo - August 14, 2006 02:51 AM (GMT)
well when you smash...you always apply spin just because of the sheer amount of friction (mostly topspin, but sometimes even backspin depending how wild your swing is)
FallenSeraph - August 14, 2006 02:58 AM (GMT)
when i smash i put topspin in order to bend the ball down... i though thats how ur supposed to do it.
Toast - August 14, 2006 03:13 AM (GMT)
well yeah that kinda spin is unavoidable.
i was talking about thsoe ones where the paddle is like face up
Zombo - August 14, 2006 11:48 AM (GMT)
yea you're talking about the chop, where you apply heavy backspin in order to force an error from the opponent.