Dark Side of Table Tennis

After watching few videos of modern defender, my interest is growing for this kind of play especially when seeing Joo Se Kyuk style. Put on old tibhar grass super long pip rubber (rarely use) on TBS I try this setup- modern defender with inverted on fh and long pip on bh . Surprisingly I beat some guys I lost to before and I began to like this set up.
Seem like it is short cut to become better player. However, it is no as easy as I expected. This modern defender need different skill and maybe more time to master. I'll see in a month if thing get better maybe I'll stick to this style.
After several practice matches, I managed to
1. handle tricky serve - however I need to push long for better chopping later
2. chop block low top spin ball- opponent hard to return
3. Several long chopping land on table
4. kill some slow ball near table using pip
5. flip kill backspin ball

Need improvement
1. low serve return and long push return to prevent strong attack
2. chopping top spin from distance
3. block near table-off bounce

Setup
TBS T05/Grass super

Berjaya Permai Close Tournament

Single
Qualify to quarter final by winning four out of six games in group A. Very tough game
zuri(0-3)
din pos(0-3)
mie tudm(3-2)
staf penjara1(3-1)
staf penjara2(3-2)
staf penjara3(3-0)
Quarter Final- Lost to Mie JKR(0-3)
Lost because of injury(cramp)

Double(with Hazlee)
Got second place
Qualify to semi final by small margin
win in semifinal(3-2)
and in final lost to zuri/xxx(3-1)

Kejohanan Ping-Pong Kuantan

First time try for tournament. I registered for single B & C, double A&B. Result: I lost all game in first round. Double B, I did not show up. My opponents were not so strong. Maybe the same level as me. In singles I lost 1-3 and 1-3. Double with Mie Sulong we lost 0-3.

My set up during tournament was TBS T05(2.1mm)/Sriver EL (max). After the match I bought Palio Macro ERA for bh for RM105. After few sessions with this new setup I manage to win more game than before in my club. I also beat a person that I never win before( Rahimi) and very competitive to AN and MNOR.

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TBS T05(2.1mm)/ERA(max)

Finding Bh rubber

May 22, 2010 will be my first tournament for Kuantan Open. My bh stiil lack of controll. Last matches against poly student, I lost due to poor serve received. T05 1.9mm is very reactive to spin and getting old too(10 months already). 1.9mm thickness only good for block, hit and sroke for close table game. Im looking for new rubber to replace T05 in bh. Below are rubber to consider(black and 2,1mm):
1. Nittaku hammond pro B
2. Tenergy64
3. Donic coppa JO platin soft
4. xiom vega europe
5. hexer
6. Stiga Boost TC/Tx
7. Palio CJ Biotech 36degree
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TBS T05(2.1mm)/T05(1.9mm)

DOWN TIME AFTER REACH PEAK

Feb and march my performance were at highest when I can beat Hamzuri, Hazlee and many club members. Then my practice cut to 2 sesion from 3 session per week. The result are my peformance drop significantly that I lost to most of my club members. Other reason is about my setup H3N/T05 whwn I oiled my H3N sponge with baby oil. The result are ball bottom out quickly and my drive/smashes are not lethal anymore. I noticed my strenght are from bh push which is soo spinny that my opponent cannot return it. However this style make me lazy and become more defensive oriented. My bh stroke away from table also suffered by using T05 1.9mm. Forehand using H3n need chinese oriented loop that need to be learned. Attempt to use fh more need to be practice.

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H3N/T05

Friendly Game with TUDM Jr & Mahkota Aman

TBP vs TUDM jr
at TBP- we won 8-3(single) & 5-2(double)
They are from younger player(11 ) and still new to this sport.

Polisas vs Taman Mahkota Aman(TMA) - at polisas
polisas lost 2-9 to TMA(single). Only Man won the game.
First game
I lost to Rosdin(1-3)- I lost but he didnot get his 'lempang' . Lost because fh return off table and attack no good. Usually I did not get this problem on my fh.
Second game
lost in double-partner with zulhelmi(1-3). Again I have hard time to return serve from opponent who has Kenta style serve. I got confuse whether the ball travel with topspin or backspin. Try to flip but the ball were long. Maybe I should take it early(flip). When flip setup to T05/H3 neo smash got more power.
Third Game
Play Zainal pimple. Lost 1-3. Sometime flip setup. Seemed like setup T05/H3Neo better against this guy. Advice from Taufik(TMA) - I need to loop more rather than push. Body and shoulder should be moved to apply this stroke.
Fourth Game vs Zulhimi
I lead 2-0 but after that I get over confident and slow down my game. I lost 2-3 in close fight. Got unconfortable with his lob because of tiredness of smash.

Reflective
Felt no good with setup when you lost. Why during practice match with club member this setup felt so great. Maybe game against club member are more of spinning the ball. When dealing with flat or no spin ball it is hard to execute good stroke. I realize that H3 Neo are not meant for hitter. In this match I follow opponent style of hit and fast finishing that is not suitable when using this rubber.

Setup
H3Neo/T05

Sriver EL on backhand

Try three session with Sriver EL for bh. Here are my observation:
pro
1. more control
2. more shots land on table
3. smash good
4. less effect on opponent spin
5. more dead ball
6. more confident

con
1. push not spinny
2. hard to lift under spin
3. opening loop/flip can be attacked
4. less ball feel

My consistency increased and become competetive to higher level club member. Won against Zuri is the best performance using this setup. However Im going back to Tenergy05 for more feel and spin.
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TBS H3 Neo/ Sriver EL

Friendly Match with POLISAS

TBP team vs POLISAS
Single's Result
1. Alias vs Mudin-TBP
2. Mnor vs Hafiz- TBP
3. Hazlee vs Man- POLI
4. Hj Nasir vs Asri- POLI
5. Ziu vs Azly- TBP
6. Hj Din vs Aziz- POLI
7. Mie vs Rafiz- TBP
8. Yu vs Ridwan- POLI

Double's Result
1. Hazlee/Mnor vs Mudin/Aziz - TBP
2. Ziu/Hj Nasir vs Amin/Azly- TBP
3. Hj Din/Alias vs Asri/Said- TBP
4. Mie/Ziu vs Hafiz/Rafiz - POLI

Attacking Game

This week I watched video of M Long & Xu Xin play. Great attacking game they showed and the rally is very amazing. I try to copy their aggresiveness by doing more attack. I try to use my fh to do all shots. Feet position should be in proper place to get better stroke. This style take lot of energy and sweat. Although my shots are not consistance enough , I manage to be very competitive to my club members. It feel so good even I lost the game.

vs Zuri(2-3)
I'm more agressive than him this time. I usually in a defender side when facing him. My weakness is countering spinny top/side spin short loop. My block on those ball fly all over the place. If the ball went further I will smack or counter back.

vs Ziu(3-2)
Good game. His serve can be return well this time.

Setup
TBS H3 neo/T05

Backhand with Tenergy 05- Too Fast ?

Tenergy 05 on bh is very hard to controll especially when receiving irregular spinny serves. I lost many points on serve return either give high ball or ball fly of table. I also lost bh controll, good drive and loop. Some of my strokes felt awkward too.

However I get benefits from this rubber on spin side. My serve, chop and flip were so spinny and give hard time for my opponent to return. My block is getting stronger with this rubber. Some of my fade loop surprise them too. Maybe I have to think which is better for me in long term. Develop skill with slower rubber or stay with this fast rubber and get used to it.

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TBS H3 Neo/ T05

Backhand Fade

I just realized that my bh stroke more of a fade shot. The ball tend to go to the right. Sometime it is good because opponent do not expect the ball trajectory. However I need bh hook also for consistancy and variety stroke.

I've been practicing bh block using T05 rubber. My block is getting better now. Flip on serve from bh side is also improve. The only problem is handling unusual very spinny serve (sidespin/bottom/top) withT05.

On fh I'm getting use to H3 Neo. Serve, receive, block, drive is getting better. Loop backspin can be done easily with the tacky rubber. Smash/Flat hit still hard to do. The ball did not get full speed and goes off table. Maybe it require slight adjustment for the stroke. Overall, I can say that H3 Neo is the best fh rubber for me( I used sriver, srivel el, sriver g2, sriver g2fx, higher, nh3 and tenergy05 1.9mm).
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TBS H3 Neo/T05

Backhand Problem

Thinking about changing bh rubber again. Bh with T05 feel hard to controll especially on smash and away from table loop. Is it because of 1.9 mm thickness? The stoke has to be very accurate to put the ball on table. However I have improved a lot on receiving serve , fast counter and block. Advantage of using this rubber is its incredible spin with serves and receiving serve (push or flip). Loop are good but should be done at table level with controlled. The only alternative that I have right now is changing to Sriver EL.

Pro(EL on bh)
1. More controll
2. More attack land on table
3. Away from table
4. Bh smash easier
5. More aggresive on bh instead of blocking and counter.

Con
1. Slower stroke
2. Less spinny
3. Slower block


Setup
TBS H3 Neo/T05

DHS H3 NEO

Ordered this rubber from Presports.com. Arrived winthin 2 days. Good service. The rubber is red 2,2 mm and put it on TBS for forehand. After playing twice on fh below are my findings;

1. Serve-spinny and on par with tenergy
2. Receive- good control
3. push- good
4. Block- the best rubber for this, got good 'feel' too.
5. Loop against b/spin- easy and good controll
6. Drive- when push forward ball get spinnier and get more speed. Fell like driving a car. If you want more speed just push the paddle with control not hit the paddle.
7. Hit/smash- Not as good as other rubber. Not very fast and ball goes long. Lob ball also hard to handle for smash. Maybe need different technics(loop kill?I dont know how to do it).

Setup
TBS H3 Neo/T05