Just a quickie...

First, I went back to P-1R OX....Updating sig. I'm just way more consistent with it placement-wise, my chops are spinnier, and the close to the table attack shots are way more effective...especially the sideswipes and chops vs. backspin. There's something so tactile about it in OX with the defplay...I just love it.

I invested in an iPong, and will be trying Reflectoid as my forehand rubber. I'll report back after a night of trying that out.... I haven't yet practiced with the new rubber yet, but the iPong is GREAT! It does jam quite often tho. Still, it's a minor nuisance and so worth the money. 

Already my chop consistency is WAY improved! I am consistently hitting the middle line, and within a foot of the back of the table. Getting about 30 balls on the table in a row....

After taping myself I noticed that my chopping stroke was flawed. I wasn't getting full extension through the ball on my chops....you really have to be cognizant of getting your paddle near your knee...I was stopping short, often stopping about 5 inches past contact with the ball.

ID-1O-T Error
Biggest bonehead move of my EJ career: I mixed up the Rubber Cement and the Contact Cement on my workstation, and didn't realize it until 80% of the blade was covered in it. The bottles are aesthetically very similar. DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     

I had to let the blade dry and harden, before taking a fine and very fine grit sand paper to it. It's kind of back to normal, but I can definitely tell a difference with it on the pips side. It's hitting noticeably harder, and I've had to change my stroke to accommodate, which isn't good. The next thing I'll attempt to do is flip the sides of the bat, putting the inverted on the side that received the contact cement, since I feel that side could use the speed anyway. I'm still so pissed off at myself for doing that...can't believe it.

Tourment Upcoming
My coach has encouraged me to enter the U1400 AND the U1200 group in the Washington Open, so we'll see how I do (Same advice from LDMovies  ). Coach thinks I've really improved from week to week, and that I'm even more consistent with my chops since the tournament. I feel differently of course because I feel as if my chops are not garnering enough backspin especially if I end up closer to the net rather than the back of the table. What I have done is started to more consistently send my shots with a much flatter trajectory than before, which has led to some difficulty. But I still contend that the opponents at my level have a harder time with the high lobs to the back of the table. Must be the level. 

Reflectoid experiment
I have decided to try the Reflectoid 2.0mm rubber on my forehand as an experiment. I have really noticed that I rely on my forehand loop to finish certain shots, but only when I'm close to the table from about 2-3 feet in. I rarely if ever loop from mid distance. Sounds as if slow loops are doable from close to the table, and pretty effective from what I've read. Of course, this is all technique dependent. My chops with my current rubber are completely inconsistent, albeit deadly if it lands.... I'm trying to figure out if I'm better served as a chopper who opportunistically puts away a ball, or a more all around player who converts defense in to offense when he wants or needs to. With the Reflectoid, I'm hoping the rubber is offensive enough for close to the table forehand smashes and/or slow loops. I've heard mixed reviews on that, but for 14 bucks, I'm willing to test it out, especially after speaking to Tom at Zeropong directly. For the record, it IS a spinny/tacky rubber, just doesn't have any speed because it uses a dampening sponge, which for chopping makes sense. So, will I find it too much of a sacrifice on the offensive side? I'll see.

My first tournament...

I know that to some of the more veteran table tennis players out there, this may seem like a pretty trite post.  But I recently had one of my first tournaments.  

And I won ALL of my games!  I am so STOKED!!!

Now, keep in mind that I was an unrated player, and as such I was not allowed to continue passed the round-robin part of the tournament.  But I DID play everyone and managed to win all of my matches handily.  The top rated guy in the division was 1077, so I’m hoping that gets me a decent first score. 

Tournament style?

Some things, I found out that in competition I play much different than I do at the club.  I tend to chop a LOT more.  Much more modern D…I didn’t expect that to be the case.  Honestly, I thought I was going to naturally rely more heavily on my recent pushblocking attempt, because that was what was more comfortable.  But the chopping just came naturally.  My opponents couldn’t handle any of the backspin that I was throwing at them, and I hit some pretty good forehand smashes and pips side kills when I got a weak ball.  Plenty of long balls and netted balls off all of my mid or long distance chops.  I even started chopping with my inverted more often…deadly.

Now, that’s not to say that my style didn’t involve a lot of drop shots, push blocking and close to the table play, it did.  Anytime I caught the ball off the bounce, the quick timing of that shot caught my opponent off guard and I won everyone one of those shots I landed or didn’t send into the net.  Chop blocks, I have a much more unconventional stroke, but it worked marvelously.

At 40, I can’t believe I was so happy to be winning a bottom division tournament…well, not win but defeat everyone in it.  I didn’t know what to expect. 

Coaches abound

Another thing, the atmosphere was very interesting.  Everyone I was competing against had a coach present.  Thankfully, my coach happened to be there, as he was following a few other students who entered the tourney.   He’s very involved, which is nice.  Gave me lots of tips, warmed me up (which was huge).  Had I not warmed up previous to my first match, I know I would have lost.  Incidentally, my first opponent who I beat 3-2, ended up winning the U-1100 division. 

Cho

What is up with the cho’ing?  I’m sure I’ll get some negative comments for typing this, but I find it rather contrived when non-chinese players use this as a method of celebrating a point.  It’s natural when a chinese player says it, but when an American player uses that term, it feels like they’re trying to hard to be of the Table Tennis culture.  Just indicate your approval in English.  (or whatever your native language is.  JMHO.

So, I’m anxious to see my rating.  The tournament was last Sunday, and yet I haven’t yet received any correspondence of my USATT membership or the rating.  Wonder how long it takes?  One thing is for sure, I haven't been this excited about a hobby or sport in a LONG time.  I just absolutely love it.

Well, since my last post, things have been busy at work with the Department of Health paying my hospital a visit, and thus time has been in dearth supply. 

However, I DO have some things to report. 

The ups and downs of TT and LPs
After my last post where it seemed as though I had discovered a whole new world (LP). I have had a few highs and lows with regards to my new playing style. I seem to be having a consistency issues when playing non-conventional styles. I assume this will improve with more exposure and training; however it was very frustrating because I ended up playing those matches with my inverted side, and often failing miserably when twiddling to my LP side. After perusing the forms on OOAK, it sounds like this is a common challenge to those who are new to the pips world. Damn forehand side float ball, and damn those deep pushes. The worst part is that these non-conventional styled players were lower level, and had I just used my inverted/SP Jpen, I’m confident I would have crushed them. 

More downs:
I got killed by some players that were higher level than I, but not by a whole lot, whereas my first outing was much different. The disheartening part was that Perhaps they adjusted to the PIPs? Perhaps I adjusted (errantly) to the PIPs. I think the latter.

More ups:
Good news!  I NOW have a coach! I’m very excited to say that I am seeing Donn Olsen, a very respected coach who has written several books, one of which I had come across prior to being assigned to him through the local club. We went over my inverted forehand and backhand topspin strokes, and in a short 1 hour session, he corrected my “hand” and placement. I’ve been putting in too many variables trying to brush my topspin. Also, I was focusing on the way my paddle contacted the ball instead of placement. These very fundamental changes focusing on stroke principles are JUST what the doctor ordered! 

Of course, applying these principles to a live person in a match vs. a coach who is feeding you varied but predictable topspin balls is a whole other matter. I need much practice. 

Another amazing coincidence, he’s a Long Pips Player! HOORAY! So I mentioned to him that I am interested in playing LPs and he was very excited about that aspect of our future sessions. He comes with an amazing enthusiasm for the game, which was apparent from the beginning.

Jerks in TT

Keep in mind this was supposed to be a post from before the above tournament post, and I have gone through a lot of changes since then. Originally, I didn't end up posting this due to the negativity of it, but felt it had some merit for other beginner players that might be experiencing people who have the same off-putting culture towards newbs. I just want others to know that many of us are going through the same types of experiences and perhaps we can draw strength from each other when we meet such negative personalities. 

--------- from 4/14/2014--------------
So, the other night I went to the club in Arlington, VA (and if any of you are on here, that's fine, because i have nothing to hide). But I came across a very disrespectful player. He was Italian, (from Italy). This man never smiled, and dripped of pure arrogance. 

I was trying out my Hallmark Aurora blade to see what I thought of the 1.0mm P-1r.
First off, I told the man that I was a beginner, and this pretty much irritated him right off the bat. As if I was a nuisance to have to be tolerated. He sighed and clearly wanted me to know that he was not happy that I was there. Keep in mind we were the first 2 players at the club. We began to warm up and I noticed he did a lot of very tall loops with side spin and sent everything to my forehand which is the weaker part of my game. So, I flubbed a lot of returns during the warmup, with the unfamiliar rubber, and different paddle. 

But that's not the story. 

He began to comment very condescendingly: 
"Do you even understand spin?" 

"What kind of blade is that? Hallmark? Who the hell plays with Hallmark? You need to change your equipment. Nobody uses that brand." I replied, "Yes they do, there are plenty of defensive players that use this brand." To which he replied "WHO?! Huh? Nobody!" 

He also smashed a lot during forehand warm ups which to me was very off sides. 

I had to keep from attacking him with my fists and not my paddle when he strait up told me that we should play so that he can get to "real" competition. (By this time others had arrived)

He was a jerk, offered no constructive criticism, and was the most arrogant idiot I've spoken to in the TT community in the DC area. I did have some words with him about his attitude, but he offered up no apologies, nor acknowledged that he was being rude. 

He was very good, and dispatched me in 3 straight sets. I managed a fairly close 7 to 10 loss but that was the best I could muster. I might have been too pissed off, and perhaps that contributed to my poor performance, but this guy was actually a very high level player. It scorches my tongue to have to admit that. When we were finished he didn't shake my hand, nor offer a thanks. Dejected, i just left the club, and I doubt I'll ever go back. I'm looking around for another club with a culture that is inviting towards teaching and learning. The Potomac Country Table Tennis Club in my experience has been just such a place. We'll see. 

Why do these people exist? Why not be an ambassador for the sport?
In my other athletic endeavors I have always been a person who is happy to help newbs, and cast out a friendly smile to anyone trying something new. I rock climb, play hockey, and have played competitive football and never once did I treat a new person like this. Thankfully, I now have a great coach as well as this forum to remind me that not everyone in TT is quite so intolerant.

Last night I played a couple of hours at the club, and came up against the guy that has been giving me trouble since converting to LP. 

He's the dead ball hitter who sends the ball to my forehand. This has been giving me trouble because I either can't twiddle fast enough to inverted on my FH fast enough, or I can't make the decision that the ball is going to my forehand fast enough to initiate twiddling. However I did figure out a technique that helped, which is sort of a flat push with a slight chop that sends the ball deep with some backspin. This seems to either keep me in the rally or win me the point. I just haven't mastered it yet, and still the majority of deep dead ball floaters to my FH ended up costing me more points then not. 

However, thanks to my pal Zhaoyang from this thread: http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=25598 ; I have now developed a new stroke that essentially won me the match last night. In that thread he showed me a video of Zhou Xintong. She side-sweeps the ball when blocking or punching, and still taking the ball right off the bounce. I'm not sure if it's the 755's properties that make them odd or not, but the sweeping motion controls the ball and sends it in a predictable to me, but unpredictable to the opponent sidespin counter. Sometimes it's dead, and sometimes it's got massive spin. If the ball is moving with topspin, it seems to gain tons of sidespin on the return; if I'm countering a backspin ball, it seems (not sure) to be more dead sidespin wise, but still sends the ball with his backspin reversed into topspin. When I passively block the ball, or punch with no sweep, there is little to no reversal with the 755 (to me). There is control in placement, and that's still a valuable weapon, but the sweep affords me the reversal. It was AMAZING! 

After some research, I found that Zhou Xintong has inspired others as well: http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=23104
I love her game.

This has inspired me to enter my first beginner's tourney as soon as one pops up in the area.

Originally a Jpen Player, I have a Jpen dedicated blog: http://jpensamurai.blogspot.com/ 
This will be my first blog entry as a Long Pips player...

Up till now, my Jpen blog has largely consisted of videos and information about Japanese Penhold techniques and tactics without any personal blogging from me or my experiences. Long Pips (LP) has NOW changed that for me. I am a "Darkside" convert, and obsessed with learning everything there is to know about LP science, techniques, strategy. 

Welcome to the Darkside
Why the sudden conversion? On a lark, I decided to get a cheap Cpen paddle to compare RPB on the Cpen to my Jpen racket. I LOVE playing with my Jpen racket (hence, the blog). However, I have found amazing success with the Cpen blade, not because of the RPB so much, but because of the LPs, slower rubbers, consistent blade and sponge, and the ability to twiddle. I AM AMAZED!. 

Initially, I had lots of trouble using the PIPs. I didn't understand the philosophy, science, and strategy behind the rubber, despite the research I put in to it. I felt like I had to chop more often than I did., and was much more confused than my opponents. I got killed in my first 10 matches and hung the racket up in favor of my Jpen Blade. I was told to stop playing with LPs and concentrate on my inverted game because I was a beginner (http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=25450). I listened for a while, but then decided to recreationally play with the LP bat. Because I was so drawn to the style, I continued to research and study the LP play. LOTS of videos and tutorials. LOTS of forum posts. And then something happened... Suddenly, everything I've wanted to do was now possible. Keep in mind that I am a beginner level player with almost no coaching and no competition experience. This will soon change, however, I have been playing against competitive players at the local clubs for a while now. 

Setups
On my other Jpen set up, which I will still play, is a Tensor style rubber (Xiom Pro Elite) with 802-40 SP on the RPB side of a TSP Birmingham 77 ALL+ blade. This setup has proved fruitful and the RPB and was definitely an improvement. However, the FH rubber has not been conducive to my style of play, and I was having a lot of trouble with the control of that rubber and that style of looping (See this thread here). I was hammering the proverbial square peg into the round hole! 

Enter my "Experimental" setup:RITC/729 6030 OFF Blade. Hard but controlled cheap bat from Zeropong. I then had them install RITC 755 LPs on the FH and Geospin Tacky on the BH. The inverted rubber, although cheap is perfect for me! Controlled, harder sponge on a hard bat. I can put the loops anywhere with it. Control, control, control. If I want to smash with speed, I don't rely on the equipment, but rather I rely on my arm strength. There is plenty of smash in this setup, and now my inverted game has been elevated (especially after the tackiness wore off a bit). 

But the real story here is my LP game. With the 755 LPs I can block anything. I confuse everyone. I redirect and flick with ease. Chopping freaks loopers out especially nearer to the table. They don't know what hit them, especially as my twiddlng improves. I now get to out-think my opponents; something I wasn't able to do before. I have ordered the Spin Lord Zeitgeist (from OOAK) and am looking forward to even less spin reaction, more deception, and more spin reversal. 

Style of play with the new LP Setup
I am not a chopper, although I do chop opportunistically close to mid-distance if it's appropriate. I am primarily a penhold pips-out hitter, but will incorporate many of the push/blocker style of play when it needs to happen. Lots of dead ball drops close to the net, and when the guy pushes it, the balls tend to pop up and I smash with the pips, or twiddle inverted and smash/loop. My serves are really pretty good for a beginner, very spinny and tough for even rated players. With the LP, I mix in an LP serve now and then, and they are completely bewildered. I really love changing directions and close to the net flicks to the opposite side of the table with the pips. 

In conclusion, I have to say THANK YOU (or damn you?  ) to YOU ALL. Had I not stumbled on this site, I probably wouldn't have had my curiosity piqued, and would have remained a conventional player. I'm now a wreck. I can't stop geeking out on everything LP, to the point of obsession. I'm loosing sleep over rubber selection, OX vs. Sponge, and strategy. All I think about is playing Pips and getting revenge on the loopers at the club. I keep reading reviews, and research...when will the madness end? 

Some may say it's not the most aesthetically pleasing style of play, but the strategy and thought that goes in to LP play is BEAUTIFUL. 

Now I have 2 more challenges: 
-What to change the name of my blog to (on blogger)? EDIT: Something with "Ninja" as they are sneaky, mysterious.

-And will my coach, who I will meet for the first time this coming Sunday at Club Joola, accept my LP rubber?