As someone apparently enjoying short pips for the backhand side, currently settling for DMS spinfire, while still in a dillemma between the 1.8mm (easier to hit through, but lower error margin while handling high quality shots), or 2.1mm (higher error margin/tolerance, more power/speed/spin potential, but requires good technique. Have to put greater effort in every shot. Spin it hard, whack it hard, no slacking off), the sole reason s1 feels better compared to vo-102 because 1. It's 1.6mm, hence it feels 'good'. Easier to hit through (perhaps your style is more emphasizing in hitting through the ball, as shown in this video) in most active shots, compared to the 1.8mm vo-102 2. Due to being thicker, and having different pips geometry and alignment, 102 suits one with more emphasis on shot variation in close-mid distance, incorporating topspin drives, sometimes 'emergency loop' in the game. While S1 (might be) better for drives, blocks and counters closer to the table, or simply said, less spin-based plays, based on experience using old spectol, and tyranno 3. The most prominent different, the sponge type. 102 definitely is bouncier due to the porous ESN rubber, might need to get used to the feeling, and finding the 'sweet spot' for hitting through Reading your replies, wondering about pips alignment and sponge thickness, in my experience Horizontal : more arc/parabolic trajectory, preferrable for someone utilizing spin variations (as stated above), and another note, feels safer during rallies mid distance, easier to keep rallies going due to the trajectory (better net clearance) Vertical : more direct. Even with the same pips geometry (example, andro hexer pips series. You can choose to cut it in vertical, or horizontal alignment), it might have the same maximum spin level, but definitely you'll get more direct trajectory compared to the horizontal pips Sponge thickness, very subjective. Some sources, coaches, etc. advices to use the thickest/hardest sponge you can hit through in relaxed condition, while still capable of 'handling' incoming power from the ball one receive But the rule of thumb is Thinner, lower spin potential, flatter trajectory, more prone to getting hit through by high quality shots, resulting instability. Flat hitters, or one who prefer staying close to the table find this enjoyable Thicker, higher spin potential, translates into more arc variation. Better at handling incoming high quality shots, at the expense of harder to hit through due to thicker sponge
Wow great explanation - appreciate the detailed comment. This would make sense why I like the S1 better since even during my inverted rubber days, my form was never very spinny
I noticed in your practice matches that you sometimes step all the way over to your FH side to play your BH pips pretty passively. A stronger opponent will use that habit against you.
Hola, creo que VSALC es un madero muy reactivo para lograr un crecimiento correcto. Un Harimoto ALC podría darte mucho más control y parecido a lo que hace Ma Long. Abrazos desde Chile
your consistency is good with your forehand drive, but for power, start throwing your shoulder forward and through the ball, kind of like a boxer throwing a mean right hook. Your power will go way up.
When I first started taking lessons with Richard, he mentioned the boxing analogy. Definitely need to work on swinging forward instead of up since I have a bad habit of having my center of gravity be neutral or leaning back
@@musclepong yeah, the leaning forward part is important. I was told to imagine I'm pushing a car up a hill, that's the stance / lean you want, and your hand should be in the spot you can exert the most power / push. That's where the ball should be hit on every swing.
Joola Tango ultra short pips and Donic Baxter are also good...I am currently using Tibhar Speedy SoftD.TecS ..2.0 (horizontal alignment...so far so good I am not planning on changing anytime soon I like it on my backhand.
@@musclepong the thinner sponge will go straight to wood on hard hits and blocking I used 1.5mm for years this is my first 2.0 short pips and I like it a lot more I can still backhand loop and keep a rally going from zone2...If you are looking for novelty points then just go straight to long pips I used it for 6-months and gained over 200 rating points 1980's. and get no respect for the wins and nobody will want to practice with you it sucks I hate playing against it and now close to 50% of my tournament matches are against long pip players young and old...2.0 short pips works best with a harder fast blade I get a lot of complaints about the effects of the ball it does change things including spin reversal this pips I am using now is bad ass stuff I don't picture myself needing to experiment at all my level has gone up a lot in the 3weeks since I returned to "the dark side".
Yeah she's very good at blocking and is always willing to do drills. Something one of my SPTTC teammates (2200 lefty Ziqi Yan) told me is that 80% should be focused on drills and 20% on matches
I am curious, do you still lift? If so how do you combine your gym and table tennis training with enough recovery? Did you change your lifting routine to improve for table tennis? And do you feel like being as jacked as you is a advantage or disadvantage for Tabletennis? :D
Yeah I lift 3-4 times per week normally. I either lift on my table tennis rest days or lift after I play (learned the hard way not to lift before playing especially arms) Definitely adapted my lifting program to fit around table tennis - for example I don't train my legs much and mainly focus on upper body and core. I don't really think having a ton of muscle helps with ping pong, if anything it makes me slower... unless I just haven't unlocked the full potential of the muscle loop yet lol
What's the difference between horizontal vs vertical alignment with SP? To my understanding, horizontal can generate more spin and vertical less sensitive to spin
As someone apparently enjoying short pips for the backhand side, currently settling for DMS spinfire, while still in a dillemma between the 1.8mm (easier to hit through, but lower error margin while handling high quality shots), or 2.1mm (higher error margin/tolerance, more power/speed/spin potential, but requires good technique. Have to put greater effort in every shot. Spin it hard, whack it hard, no slacking off), the sole reason s1 feels better compared to vo-102 because
1. It's 1.6mm, hence it feels 'good'. Easier to hit through (perhaps your style is more emphasizing in hitting through the ball, as shown in this video) in most active shots, compared to the 1.8mm vo-102
2. Due to being thicker, and having different pips geometry and alignment, 102 suits one with more emphasis on shot variation in close-mid distance, incorporating topspin drives, sometimes 'emergency loop' in the game. While S1 (might be) better for drives, blocks and counters closer to the table, or simply said, less spin-based plays, based on experience using old spectol, and tyranno
3. The most prominent different, the sponge type. 102 definitely is bouncier due to the porous ESN rubber, might need to get used to the feeling, and finding the 'sweet spot' for hitting through
Reading your replies, wondering about pips alignment and sponge thickness, in my experience
Horizontal : more arc/parabolic trajectory, preferrable for someone utilizing spin variations (as stated above), and another note, feels safer during rallies mid distance, easier to keep rallies going due to the trajectory (better net clearance)
Vertical : more direct. Even with the same pips geometry (example, andro hexer pips series. You can choose to cut it in vertical, or horizontal alignment), it might have the same maximum spin level, but definitely you'll get more direct trajectory compared to the horizontal pips
Sponge thickness, very subjective. Some sources, coaches, etc. advices to use the thickest/hardest sponge you can hit through in relaxed condition, while still capable of 'handling' incoming power from the ball one receive
But the rule of thumb is
Thinner, lower spin potential, flatter trajectory, more prone to getting hit through by high quality shots, resulting instability. Flat hitters, or one who prefer staying close to the table find this enjoyable
Thicker, higher spin potential, translates into more arc variation. Better at handling incoming high quality shots, at the expense of harder to hit through due to thicker sponge
Wow great explanation - appreciate the detailed comment. This would make sense why I like the S1 better since even during my inverted rubber days, my form was never very spinny
her footwork is good
Yeah she's super quick, there's a reason I lose backhand to backhand rallies 😅
I noticed in your practice matches that you sometimes step all the way over to your FH side to play your BH pips pretty passively. A stronger opponent will use that habit against you.
Hola, creo que VSALC es un madero muy reactivo para lograr un crecimiento correcto.
Un Harimoto ALC podría darte mucho más control y parecido a lo que hace Ma Long.
Abrazos desde Chile
Yeah, I'm giving the thumbs up for Vivian. You should get her on camera too for an interview and talk table tennis. She's a great practice partner.
Not sure if she'd wanna talk on camera, but definitely more training footage to come!
your consistency is good with your forehand drive, but for power, start throwing your shoulder forward and through the ball, kind of like a boxer throwing a mean right hook. Your power will go way up.
When I first started taking lessons with Richard, he mentioned the boxing analogy. Definitely need to work on swinging forward instead of up since I have a bad habit of having my center of gravity be neutral or leaning back
@@musclepong yeah, the leaning forward part is important. I was told to imagine I'm pushing a car up a hill, that's the stance / lean you want, and your hand should be in the spot you can exert the most power / push. That's where the ball should be hit on every swing.
Joola Tango ultra short pips and Donic Baxter are also good...I am currently using Tibhar Speedy SoftD.TecS ..2.0 (horizontal alignment...so far so good I am not planning on changing anytime soon I like it on my backhand.
What difference does the thickness make on the SP sponge, to my understanding it's mainly about spin disruption
@@musclepong the thinner sponge will go straight to wood on hard hits and blocking I used 1.5mm for years this is my first 2.0 short pips and I like it a lot more I can still backhand loop and keep a rally going from zone2...If you are looking for novelty points then just go straight to long pips I used it for 6-months and gained over 200 rating points 1980's. and get no respect for the wins and nobody will want to practice with you it sucks I hate playing against it and now close to 50% of my tournament matches are against long pip players young and old...2.0 short pips works best with a harder fast blade I get a lot of complaints about the effects of the ball it does change things including spin reversal this pips I am using now is bad ass stuff I don't picture myself needing to experiment at all my level has gone up a lot in the 3weeks since I returned to "the dark side".
UCSD girl is a 10/10 practice partner
Agreed.👍
Yeah she's very good at blocking and is always willing to do drills. Something one of my SPTTC teammates (2200 lefty Ziqi Yan) told me is that 80% should be focused on drills and 20% on matches
I am curious, do you still lift? If so how do you combine your gym and table tennis training with enough recovery? Did you change your lifting routine to improve for table tennis? And do you feel like being as jacked as you is a advantage or disadvantage for Tabletennis? :D
Yeah I lift 3-4 times per week normally. I either lift on my table tennis rest days or lift after I play (learned the hard way not to lift before playing especially arms)
Definitely adapted my lifting program to fit around table tennis - for example I don't train my legs much and mainly focus on upper body and core. I don't really think having a ton of muscle helps with ping pong, if anything it makes me slower... unless I just haven't unlocked the full potential of the muscle loop yet lol
So basicly 102 is forehand sp since is horizontal. Better try 103 much more better for bh or Moristo SP. Both are vertical align.
What's the difference between horizontal vs vertical alignment with SP? To my understanding, horizontal can generate more spin and vertical less sensitive to spin
The "form" looks pretty good, but you are (still) too stiff... :)
Still working on relaxing more when playing! Gotta remember to stay loose during matches especially