Copying the professionals?

Some of you seem to be saying we should copy the pros by practicing fundamentals and striving toward perfection as best we can. Others seem to be saying that copying the pros by trying to pull off crazy, improvised, low percentage shots brings our games down. What I was trying to say is that both perspectives are correct. As long as no one defines what they mean by the phrase "copying the pros" you're gonna disagree even when you agree.

 

It seems it would be better for people to say what it means to them to "copy the pros". Perhaps APW could take the lead in more precisely defining the term, since he started the (highly informative and useful) post.

 

Just a suggestion.

 

 

Ok Anton.

 

The problem with copying anything, it that what might appear visually to you has far more to it than is often realised,

For instance, when watching a player with a good consistent powerful, third ball loopdrive winner, it may be and is usually the case, that his seemingly fantastic f/hand is preceded by serves of considerable quality, and he is playing a player who is struggling to do anything other than passively return them.

So unless you can see the whole picture, copying the attributes of his f/hand stroke are meaningless. Professional standard serves, returns and general touch play and opponent awareness are IMO massively overlooked by aspiring players looking to improve. Its totally understandable as to Why, they represent the less spectacular (but most important) side of table tennis, and of course letting rip with spectacular strokes is all the more easy to see and understand, its easy isn't it? As I pointed out earlier, how many of us have played a player who is out of our depth (but not a world beater by any means) who just out serves, out touches and out plays us, without so much as a grain of aggression, they don't need it.

Far too many players either think they can bypass the basics and play advanced TT, not really understanding why there is a defined learning process that most International associations have in place to produce their world stars, these players spend hours upon hours fine tuning the boring stuff, because the people tasked with the job of bringing them through, know that anything less than perfection will not do. We all like to take short cuts, its human nature, but I believe that players who make the international cut, have a desire that borders on obsession, the rest of us are just dedicated.

So, I'm not trying to advocate playing boring TT, I'm not saying don't copy the top stars, I am saying, It is more pertinent for those who wish to improve upon the standard they are now, especially if they have become entrenched in it, to just stop and think, what is it that makes the players that I interact with/ compete against regularly who are better than me, better than me.? I think you all will find, that in most cases, they serve better, have more solid short games, are more consistent. Once you accept that you are never goint to play as devastatingly spectacular as WLC (unless you are destroying a pinp pong player) it is possible to polish what you can do, and intead of having a game that is in constant turmoil, because you are constantly trying to emulate the latest star (when I was young I changed who I was copying weekly) you can find a settled game, YOUR game, and maybe improve your results.

 

 The essence of my explanation, was to try and differentiate between copying visually 'on the surface' and copying properly. One is a poor relation of the other, copying aspects of technique is difficult, because each aspect is not an entity, but linked to others.

Improving players present themselves with new problems with each step of improvement, until they reach a point where the problems are insurmountable if they are not able to train to the level required to overcome them, at this point they stop improving. The realistic route to take for their own personal improvement at this point IMO is to look closer to home and copy players nearer to their standard.

 

So 'copying the pros' is always the correct thing to do, If it involves upping your training schedule to to 40 hours a week and employing a good coach.

If not, it may not be the best thing for you, you are just scratching the surface of what you are trying to achieve.

 

I just happen to believe too many players miss their realistic potential because they aim higher than their constraints allow.

1 copy the greats but only copy things which you cant do because you dont train enough for

 

2 copy good players at your club and copy all there bad habits since you dont see any better

 

Its by far more important to know what is the best way and then to get real.

 

 

 

your signature is so dam wacky! what the hell?  I mean dont get me wrong I think 05 is the best rubber too.  but how did you create that animation?

 

Watching someone play you watch there actions, you read the movement the anticipations the setups.

 

If you read the book look deeper into it.  I studied English Literature and my course made me study all the greats.  Learn the structures by reading them and then you see the patterns and you can take them and put your own message into them your own goals or desires.

 

If you dont read you cant write!

what a waste of text.  Every one has copied pros, you need to be specific here.  Copying a serve by a pro doesnt actually take immense physical strength.  I have copied many of them and take the ones I like and give me the returns I want. 

 

LOOPMEISTER, lighten up a little, you are acting like a playground bully who crushes people who don't agree with him. Well you are not getting my lunchmoney. I am entitled to my opinion and am not going to be bullied into silence and neither should anyone else. If you don't agree, then you are entitled to put your point if view over. Please do so in a more pleasant manner and stop insulting people.