Hey,

       Whats up with pushing the long serves? Patience is obviously not something that comes naturally to you, a number of time you unsuccesfully attempted to flat kill the ball when the rally went more than 3 or so loops instead of persevering and wearing down your opponent.  I think you have decent variation of placement on your serves, but why are they always long? any player with a decent forehand loop will be ripping those for winners.  I was always taught to use alot of wrist snap to go through the rubber on serves to ensure the ball went "through" as much rubber as possible during the contact time but your wrist snap seems almost non-existant.  Also, I think you could benefit enormously from trying to loop with your whole body instead of just your arm, using your legs and waist as a 'springboard' to propel your body forward, did you previously play tennis?  On a different note, I love the sound you get with your bat hardcore 'click' whats your current setup/glue/gluing technique.

Hope this helps

Clinton

http://forums.about.com/ab-tabletennis/messages?msg=17805.2

Hey,

       To the best of your knowledge, is it the bryce fx, the millenium chack, or the gluing technique that gives you that mega loud cork? If the later, care to share your secret.

Clinton

http://forums.about.com/ab-tabletennis/messages?msg=17805.11

Thanks for the comments.  I think if I can fix everything that you mentioned I can make the national team.  :)

But in all seriousness, serving has always been the worst part of my game.  4 years ago my serves were absolutely useless.  One chinese guy who had a thick accent once said to me "Your service...is a true service....it serves the needs of your opponent."  These days my serves are better, but still suck.  I can't serve short and also put underspin on the ball.  However, in the last week I've made another major change to the serve, so we'll see if it helps.  Basically I made the toss higher and made sure to pull the racket straight back instead of up.   The higher toss should get me more bite on the ball at contact.  Keeping the paddle in a horizontal line throughout the stroke should keep me going forward and through the ball.  Before I would lift my paddle up and hit down, which sends the ball into the table and makes it bounce higher on the other side.  Also, it's hard to get any real underspin that way, but I would get loads of side spin.  Wrist snap will come with time and with practice as my confidence goes up.  As Ashu says, "serving and creating spin is an art form." 

As for springing forward into the forehand, I used to do that pretty well but the extra weight has really slowed me down.  As I continue to run, do yoga, and diet I'm hoping within 6 months (and about 45 pounds) I'll get my old forehand back.

You know, I spent most of my early life lifting weights and playing football.  I didn't start ping pong until I was 19.  I'm not really made for this sport at all, but that's what draws me to it.  It was such a challenge for me to try and do something gracefull that also requires reflexes.  I'm completely out of my element with this sport.  If I ever get to 2000 it will be a great accomplishment.  I've been over 1950 before so I think I can do it.  But it has taken 16 years. 

My setup is a Nittaku KvT blade, that I actually don't like.  It's too heavy in the head, which makes it feel even heavier when you are swinging.  It's only 85 grams but like I said with all the weight in the head my wrist does actually move too much.  I'm switching soon to a Juic Texalium II which is also 85 grams but is more balanced. 

My rubber is Bryce FX max glued with Butterfly Millenium Chack. 

Marco

http://forums.about.com/ab-tabletennis/messages?msg=17805.5 

soft rubber is always loud, any glue will do so it is definitely the rubber.  Blades sometimes make a rubber loud, but in this case the Nittaku KVT blade is definitely not one of the "loud" blades.

M

http://forums.about.com/ab-tabletennis/messages?msg=17805.12

Marco Borrillo (MarcoHere) replies to Rick Anderson (wbaskills (wbaskill1))

First game I made a lot of unforced errors, in the second game I adjusted by slowing down and using more spin.

If you are watching 2 1800-level players you are bound to see some unforced errors. 

Maybe you can post some video of yourself and show everyone how it should be done.

M

http://forums.about.com/ab-tabletennis/messages?msg=17805.6

I found the number of loose balls from other courts amazing. If they played like the club I play in (where all such loose balls are a let) then they would never have finished.

http://forums.about.com/ab-tabletennis/messages?msg=17805.4 

Why would you post something like that? I could only watch the first game then clicked it off in discust. Marco made about 7-8 unforced errors. (in one single game!) Ridiculous. He hasnt improved one iota in 5 years. In fact, hes gotten worse. He's playing at a beginners level of about 900. What the heck can possibly be gained by wasting bandwidth like that?

Unbelievable.

Skills

http://forums.about.com/ab-tabletennis/messages?msg=17805.3