Иван Жданов – Modern table tennis: strokes, trainings, strategies (страница 3)

The services were so complex that in a series of 5 services there could be 2 errors immediately on return and 2 more passive returns that allowed the server to win the next point in the same manner.

The International Table Tennis Federation believes that complex services to some extent limit the possibility of a long rally and this affects the spectacularity of the sport.

Beginning from the late 90’s, the topic of a new round of changes in the service rules was actively discussed. As a result, in 2002, the new rules forbade hiding from the opponent the moment of touching the ball and racket with a hand or body.

As a result, at the beginning complexity of the services fell dramatically, but it lasted a year; and then with the full connivance of the umpires, the athletes began to cover the ball with the core, hiding the moment of touch of racket and ball.

Thus, the International Federation did not succeed, in weakening the influence of the service on the rally. Serves at a high level remained very complex.

And at the moment when these lines are being written, a new storm of discussion has begun in the world concerning the weakening the influence of the serve on the rally. One of the options that is now actively discussed is the complete transition to the backhand serve. If this happens, then it will be a very dramatic change.

Principles of organizing and training athletes in China – the world leader in table tennis

Currently, Chinese athletes show excellent results and are the vivid leaders in this sport. It is the Chinese athletes who are now setting the main directions for the development of table tennis. Table tennis is one of the mass and successful sports in China that has maintained world leadership for more than 50 years.

What are the reasons of the phenomenal success of Chinese athletes at all major tournaments? Having answered this question, one can understand modern trends of table tennis development.

Support of table tennis by state leaders. Several generations of political leaders of China have supported table tennis as a national sport. So, Deng Xiaoping constantly kept tab on the success of the adult national team, as well as paying attention at the youth. In 1990 Jiang Zemin even sang a hymn to table tennis and not only regularly attending competitions, but also team trainings. In 1995, he participated in the opening ceremony of the World Cup in China, to meet the leaders of the Committee of International Table Tennis Federation.

The national development strategy. “Training at home and competing with foreigners” is the main strategy of table tennis development in China. The regional teams support the national team, and national table tennis team oversees the sports schools, student and school teams. The national strategy of the table tennis development respect and support between the upper and lower layers of the sports institutions is mutual.

The scientific approach in training. Coaches use mathematical models in the training process, which simulates main rivals way of playing. In addition, a detailed video analysis, simulation analysis and knowledge about the opponent are implemented. All this adds confidence to athletes in a future game. Through the simulation, they are completely prepared psychologically, not only technically.

Creating competition inside the team. Two national teams are formed in China: the first and the second. On the one hand, of the first team players feel pressure, on the other hand, it motivates second team players to get into the first team. Thus, levels of both teams are growing through mutual competition.

Closed trainings before major tournaments. Wide training camps and closed training process before important matches are one of the vital approaches of the Chinese team. The purpose of camps is that athletes would be fully prepared physically, technically, tactically and psychologically.

Training plan. Chinese coaches put emphasis on “what to train?”, “how to train?” and “how much to train?”. The establishment and implementation of the training plan is the basic need for every athlete and coach. Training plan is the basis of the training system. The content of training schedule of a given sportsman is decided by a team of researchers and coaches.

Summation after responsible and important games. Regardless of the achievements of the national team, Chinese experts collect all materials into a large report for analysis and summation.

Having examined the basic organizational scheme of the Chinese national team let’s move to the main principles used in the preparation of Chinese athletes.

Recapturing initiative in the game

The fundamental premise of athlete’s tactical action sounds like this: “creating moments to recapture the initiative”. What does this mean? When making strikes one should impose a defensive style of game to his opponent, performing hard strokes to inconvenient spots. The initiative should be seized at each stage of the game process, starting from service and ending with the block. While in defense, you should look for an opportunity to weaken the opponent’s pressure and make counterdrives, “taking game control by the throat”.

Developing the strengths

Coach must identify the strengths of the athlete and build the training on the basis of his strengths development and its variation. When strengths become second nature, it allows one to be all over the game. That’s how a unique style of player emerges.

Mastering weaknesses

Constant mastering of the athlete weaknesses during the training process. The modern player should have versatility and ability to play in different situations. Obvious weaknesses are identified by the opponent, who puts his efforts into focusing on them.

Constant competition

Learning the necessity to constantly seek the opportunity to attack and possess the initiative in the rally. Attacking, aggressive style of play and the constant competition – is one of the critical success factors in today’s tennis.

The balance between defense and attack

The player should be mature both in attacking and defensive style – this will create additional space for maneuverability and variety during the game. The opponent must never predict how one returns the ball.

The aggressiveness, speed, spin and unpredictability

The aggressiveness throughout the game and a desire to take the game control over. The ever-increasing speed along with the spin. Only their combination will lead to success. The unpredictability of the game in order to not let the opponent unlock your game strategy, so he would always be under pressure and constrained in his actions.

Chapter 2. Basic strokes of modern table tennis

Let’s start with the most important stroke in table tennis – topspin/loop. Top-spin (top-spin) is translated from the English language as the top rotation (spin). In fact, any ball that has a top-spin in table tennis logically should fall within the definition, but it is actually more complicated.

When we say “top-spin”, we mean a powerful attacking element, which provides maximum top rotation and the speed of the ball.

Top-spin is a table tennis game element that is the most acute and difficult to return.

All players with senior adult degree and higher are capable of forehand top-spin, but in the hands of the masters among first one hundred strongest athletes in the world it is a powerful weapon, which they seek to apply in every rally (of course, in except the players, advocating a protective style) and win a point due to this element.

We’re going to devote this chapter to the forehand topspin – the most powerful and commonly used element in modern table tennis.

Different variations of the forehand top-spin

Forehand top-spin, as already mentioned, is an integral part of the technical arsenal in modern table tennis. Athletes playing in an attacking style (more than 90%) who perform 60—70% of attacks use exactly forehand top-spin. The number of points won due to forehand top-spin, in total, exceed 50% in the most matches.

The number of variations of the forehand topspin is outplayed, perhaps, only by the number of table tennis serve variations. However, if we consider only gaming elements,

the forehand top-spin is the most hygienic stroke.

To show you the importance of the forehand top-spin as an element, let’s imagine the following situation: imagine that an athlete can’t perform forehand top-spin at all, but he masters all other tennis elements. What are the chances of such athlete? Perhaps his chances, in this case, tend to zero.

Now, for example, let’s “take away” the backhand top-spin from our imagined character. Will there be any chance to succeed for such an athlete? Definitely! Do not believe? Remember who became the Olympic champion in 2004. Right, Rue Seun Min. The representative of classical penhold with the ability to perform only a forehand top-spin.

The point is, that even without having a backhand top-spin in the arsenal, one can become an Olympic champion.

The same is with any other game element (serve is not a gaming element). The absence of any element can be compensated. But the absence of the forehand topspin cannot be compensated. All this stresses the crucial importance of this stroke in today’s table tennis.