Expert in a Year

Baal wrote: If you can do it, sign me up next!

According to his blog, he says that the goal should be set at being in the top 1% in your country. I live in the USA. So, technically, he never mentioned that it was the top 1% of tournament players. Therefore, since there are 450,000,000 people in my country, I'd only need to be in the top 4.5 million to qualify. Now, it says "active players." However, active could include basement players as well. Being rated 1700, I am pretty sure I have already achieved this. Technicalities. 

Edited by JonathanVN - 02/16/2014 at 9:24pm

kurokami wrote: lol. 1500-1600 imo.

lol. 2100ish imo.

Hi again guys, good to see so much interest!!!

Ping Coach wrote: I think if we shipped Sam off to the WSA for 12 months and had him train full-time he would almost certainly come back a top 250 player (or very close).

You better ship him to China.

I am still wondering, what would be your deconstruction points? And more importantly, the nodal points of noematic synthesis and levels of transcendental-technological constitution?

I find this challenge intriguing for sure.

Edited by suds79 - 02/18/2014 at 11:29am

sandiway wrote: An hour a day for 365 days would be about $16,500 worth of training at a typical US coaching fee of $45/hour. And if you go with Sam to a tournament or 5, that's more coaching time. So basically, $20,000 - which I assume you're giving for free. Then it's interesting to note that $20,000 does not buy someone a 2400 rating. Sandiway

Come to think of it, with that amount of coaching (300+ coaching hours), it would be a time well spent if it spread over a period of say 3 years. I think Sam would benefit a lot more if he can get 3hrs/week for 3 years, breaking 2000 level would be within reach then.

I say he gets to at least 1800, anything higher is a plus !

DDreamer wrote: I have coached an overweight (10kg) 50 year old to get to from scratchy beginner to 1800 standard in a bit over a year. He was keen and focused and played 3-4 sessions a week (only one coaching session pw tho) as well as some shadow play at home. For a younger fitter player 2000 in a year is quite doable, especially if he is allowed to put in extra hours of play outside of the coaching sessions.

jt99sf wrote: I'd get burned out if I played Table Tennis everyday for a year. But that's just me.

APW46 wrote: DDreamer wrote: I have coached an overweight (10kg) 50 year old to get to from scratchy beginner to 1800 standard in a bit over a year. He was keen and focused and played 3-4 sessions a week (only one coaching session pw tho) as well as some shadow play at home. For a younger fitter player 2000 in a year is quite doable, especially if he is allowed to put in extra hours of play outside of the coaching sessions.  I think that 250 rank in England is considerably higher in standard than US 2000 rating though.

Thanks. The credit should really go to the pupil though. I am very picky on technique and, as a former golfer, he responded to this well and really tried to do things correctly from the start. 

Edited by DDreamer - 02/18/2014 at 9:39pm

2000 in a year is definitely possible but you'd have to have a very "talented", fast learning individual. 

I am very disapointed in my own progress. I thought I'd be at least solid 1900 by now but I am not. And I see all these people in poor physical condition and frankly not too bright intellectually, no proper technique, weird style, and they still manage to hover over 2000. I have some excuses.. i can't practice regularly because of my work, my knee pain is on and off, I am 6 foot 195 lbs which looks ok in the corporate office but frankly for TT agility is a bit much and I see where I can drop 10 pounds easily. But I have beautiful shots in warmups and drill and people tell me I look higher than 2000, but in match I still make tons of unforced errors. This year i'm gona work on my defense, serve receive, surviving uncomfortable situations, and just becoming more stable in general, make everybody work for the point, no easy points any more. I have to hit 1900 usatt this year

Some people assume that because a player can get from 1200-1800 in 2 years, that getting from 1800 to 2000 in another year should naturally follow, but my sense is that is not really a linear scale.  The higher you go, the more training it takes and the more easily someone can get derailed if they get hurt or if work gets busy or any number of things.  It is easier for kids in the right environment.  Some people get derailed by not knowing how to get better, and for them the right coach can make the difference.  It will be interesting to see how this works.