midge4673 wrote: I sold the carbon blade as it was too fast for my level; the original blade I have is a "Saive Control" Stiga blade with DHS Skyline on FH and Stiga Innova on BH.  The blade is a bit heavy for me; it isn't a bad blade, but I would like a more balanced one...Again, I'm currently an 1100 female player.  I have checked with one trainer/coach but would like input from the forum too.   On playing style, I'm a very good blocker, receiver, opportunistic attacker with a much stronger forehand.  Most players consistently play my backhand, which I can push, loop and block consistently but the basic stroke needs work...perhaps I'm out of position and it's more of a footwork issue, but I have been trained in the footwork, just need to be faster I guess....pitfall of being a more petite player at 5'3. P.S. My boyfriend also plays on my league is about a couple hundred points above me in rating and is a consistent attacker.  He chews me out if I ever push and do not make an attack when comfortable.  I told him placement is more important than speed or spin.  He says to attack whether I make the table or not and now thinks he is an authority; I like to look at my opponent and see their style and adjust accordingly. Anyway, this has been a constant argument since we both started the league about a year and a half ago.    I think I should play my strengths and develop the weaknesses, but play my game, not his.   What is your take on this argument?

I urge you to look outside the hall where you train or the clinic. Seek out videos of women matches in table tennis. Look at the different way they play the game vs men. If you are really serious about the game, consider going here and reading more about it www.protabletennis.net. Look under the section titled Women's game.

Men can play with power and they seek out opportunities when they can utilize their power better. Women ( especially tiny ones :) ) have problems generating power, so they stand closer to the table and use speed to score their points. Their best skills become the ability to use angles and using the incoming pace and spin of the ball for speed.

So, in short, if you are a good blocker on the backhand, but do not feel comfortable opening against a push, then don't. Simple. If you are stable enough to defend the opponent's opening shot against the push - you will not ever have to worry about somebody looping hard, especially if you control the direction of the push really well.

On the same note, if your opponent has super fast footwork and is able to get to your pushes and attack them consistently, then you will have to step outside your game and start attacking incoming pushes.

I hope you boyfriend does not control you as much in personal life as he attempts on the table tennis court. You are correct in your thinking! Good job, keep it up. Kick your bf's butt to prove him wrong :)

I agree with your response; since I've been playing his game, I've been losing and my rating is dropping. 

midge4673 wrote: I do attack if it pops up, that is a given, but he wants me to attack EVERY shot.

Is this Mira????  The unbeknownst internet cruiser :)

midge4673 wrote: P.S. My boyfriend also plays on my league is about a couple hundred points above me in rating and is a consistent attacker.  He chews me out if I ever push and do not make an attack when comfortable.  I told him placement is more important than speed or spin.  He says to attack whether I make the table or not and now thinks he is an authority; I like to look at my opponent and see their style and adjust accordingly. Anyway, this has been a constant argument since we both started the league about a year and a half ago.    I think I should play my strengths and develop the weaknesses, but play my game, not his.   What is your take on this argument?

You should attack the ball if it pops up. It's the correct thing to do.

Allround Classic with Sriver FX.

BTW do you happen to live in Portland like I do?

And is the club the Blitz sports bar?

And is your coach Tim Aikey?

I sold the carbon blade as it was too fast for my level; the original blade I have is a "Saive Control" Stiga blade with DHS Skyline on FH and Stiga Innova on BH.  The blade is a bit heavy for me; it isn't a bad blade, but I would like a more balanced one...Again, I'm currently an 1100 female player.  I have checked with one trainer/coach but would like input from the forum too.

Midge: Before you decide on your blade, why don't you just ask Sean for his recommendation? Since you see him weekly and he has a chance to see your game, I think he would be able to reco a good equipment fit for you.

I think he used to address equipment inquiries from customers for ping-pong.com before they went under.

No, I'm not a junior but a college graduate with 14 years in the technical field as a Sr. Business Systems Analyst.  The blade was recommended to me by paddle palace, but I find they will sell you anything.

Samsonov Alpha SGS Anyway, I can't afford to keep replacing blades and rubber, so I am using my original $25 stiga all around control blade and the rubber on it as my coach whom I sometimes take training from (I play at a sports bar on a league so not going out for olympics but would eventually like to do some USATT tournaments).   Midge

wise wrote: i would like to ask which blade would be better yasaka ma lin carbon or yasaka ma lin soft carbon?? also i am planning to use 1 of the 3 tenergies probably 05 or 64 on the front and nothing on the back, the traditional Cpen way.

I have both.. very much the same feel.. MLC abit harder while MLSC abit more flexible. . need more strength to hit.. i use cpen version.

what stiga control blade did u use?

A friend of mine has used MLC penholder with Mark V 2.0mm for a year. 2.0 seems to be too thin and you should go for a MAX Mark V 30 degree if you want something very close to original Mark V and works well for 40mm balls nowadays.

For MLC, other than Chinese rubbers on FH for my friend using Cpen, is there any suggestions? He is not a fan of glueing and looks like most people prefer to have it with Chinese rubbers. Anyone has tried something with Donic, Stiga or BTY rubers?

i wonder if BW2 will match with the YMLC 

Hi Guys,