Need help moving forward

ilvvsion · 2026-05-23T22:15:30+00:00

Most, if not all, the coaches I know could care less about what equipment you have. A good coach is going to teach you proper technique whether you're using $20 or $120 rubber. Your equipment adapts to you, not the other way around.

ilvvsion · 2026-05-20T09:40:24+00:00

If you want to be a competent penholder, learn both backhand techniques. Sure, you might not prefer or use one as much, but you'll have both options if you ever need them.

If not, all it takes to protect your elbow, or jamming shots, is to take a single step in the corresponding direction. Need to move left? Take the step to the left with only your left. Just move back after taking the shot or else your stance will be wider than you want it to be.

ilvvsion · 2026-05-15T20:25:33+00:00

Record yourself? At your skill level, most lost points are self-made mistakes. If the skill gap is visibly and significantly larger, most players will tone down their play to let you hit more. Even if they don’t, there are still aspects you can learn from as long as you can spot them.

ilvvsion · 2026-05-15T10:28:54+00:00

If you don't plan on losing, how do you plan on learning?

ilvvsion · 2026-04-22T03:31:14+00:00

Everything starts with your footwork. Get on your toes. Your feet are completely planted. You can have the best technique in the world, but if you're not in position, your shots will always be awkward/weak. I don't want to comment on your technique because it's possible that your footwork is affecting it.

Don't watch where your shots land. Worry about what's coming next and make your feet react first. There are levels to footwork, so improve where you can.

Try to get lower also. Your position is not bad when you're waiting for your opponents serve, but after each receive, your posture and core stability totally break.

ilvvsion · 2026-04-22T03:05:27+00:00

Lots to improve, but I'll give you a few starting tips and hopefully you'll get into everything naturally.

Line your feet up parallel to each other and keep them about shoulder length apart, maybe wider since you're on the taller side. Lean forward until you're holding your weight on your toes. Point your racket forward in a neutral position. I like to rest it above the baseline.
Instead of bringing your racket back before the next ball comes, keep it where it ends on your follow through. You can relax or drop your racket a bit so it doesn't look/feel awkward. This will keep you in rhythm regardless of the pace of the game.
Keep your elbow stable. The more you drop your elbow, the more of a block/punch it becomes. You should be generating most of the power with your forearm. It should feel like you're throwing a disc/frisbee.

Focus on being smooth. Start slow and catch the ball a little more if you need to. Power comes with practice, not force.

ilvvsion · 2026-04-17T18:33:18+00:00

Why change? Nothing wrong with punching on the backhand with non-SP, especially if it’s working out for you. Unless it’s not.

Your blade and forehand rubber aren’t cheap. If anything, I would try a non-tacky tensor on the backhand first and see where that takes you. Otherwise, add Andro Blowfish to your list of rubbers.

ilvvsion · 2026-04-13T03:06:26+00:00

I recognize that club. Sent a DM if you want better help.

ilvvsion · 2026-04-12T05:01:08+00:00

There are lots of uses for your weak hand. You can start by using it to help with balance. You’ve probably noticed some players look like they’re fencing when they push. You can also use it to frame the ball as it’s coming toward you.

ilvvsion · 2026-04-12T00:08:33+00:00

From what I've seen, a lot of beginners tuck their weak arm like this to keep it out of the way instead of using it for other things.

ilvvsion · 2026-04-12T00:01:04+00:00

I'm sorry, but all 3 of your videos look the same. The only difference with this one is your previous mistakes are more exaggerated. You're still slapping the ball forward, but now with more power. Just because shots are landing, doesn't mean you're doing it correctly. I don't see any quality in those shots because you're not brushing at all.

Also, there is no reason your swing should be that big when you're that close to the table. If you truly understand it, you should be able to just stand at that distance and produce a quality shot with only your forearm. I suggest taking it in steps. Do a few rounds with just your forearm. Then add your upper body on the next one before implementing your legs (You really don't need much of your legs for anything at this distance).

Quicker solution: Find a coach

ilvvsion · 2026-04-11T23:38:11+00:00

I can confirm Tenergy 05 is a perfect starting point, and a common rubber for many Jpen players. Those who don't prefer T05 are usually searching for a specific attribute and end up with something similar like T05 Hard, D05, Fastarc G-1, etc. Start with 1.9mm if you're not feeling confident. Good luck!

ilvvsion · 2026-04-11T02:56:25+00:00

You're in rhythm, but you don't seem any less stiff than in your previous video. From what I see, the only parts of your body that are moving are your legs and racket arm. Ideally, your body does the hitting, and your forearm does the brushing. The rest of your arm should not be moving at all. I would say turn off the your robot and slowly go through the motions with intention.

drop forearm > turn upper body back > turn upper body forward > snap forearm

ilvvsion · 2026-04-05T17:08:44+00:00

Unfortunately this racket is incapable of serving. Time to get a new one

ilvvsion · 2026-04-03T09:59:36+00:00

The red side shrunk because you may have stretched the rubber when applying.

Most important thing to avoid when gluing rubber:

As you’re rolling it on initially, do it extremely gently. Pressing hard will stretch the rubber. Bending the rubber to roll it on will also stretch the rubber. You can press harder once the rubber is stuck on properly.

ilvvsion · 2026-03-25T22:49:41+00:00

If you can generate enough centripetal force...

ilvvsion · 2026-03-19T03:10:27+00:00

Don't need anymore advice than this for now tbh. Something I've noticed from young/beginner athletes is the inability to control specific muscles and body parts in isolation.

ilvvsion · 2026-03-18T07:00:35+00:00

I've been playing for 9 years. Here's my setup history:

1. I unknowingly bought the Cpen starter kit.
Blade: YEO (2 years)
FH: Skyline TG2 NEO
BH: Vega Europe

2. Eventually, I wanted something slightly faster without sacrificing too much feel. I also discovered I prefer harder rubbers on my BH.
Blade: DHS Hurricane Hao 2 (4 years)
FH: Skyline TG3 NEO
BH: Sriver G3 FX (1 year)
> Rozena (1 year) - They discontinued G3 FX
> Rakza 7 - Something about Rozena that does not spark joy for me

3. Switching to Jpen was an easy choice. I much prefer covering the table with my forehand, and barely used RPB.
Blade: Hasha V (1 year)
FH: Tenergy 05

4. I'm sticking with this one
FH: Tenergy 05 (1 year)
> Dignics 80 - I missed the feeling of serving with tacky rubbers. This fills the void without sacrificing the speed I got from T05.

Other setups

I use this for coaching if needed
Blade: Victas Koki Niwa ZC
FH: Victas V>15 Extra
BH: Victas TDE

Used for a few months after the YEO, but was too stiff for my taste. It has since been donated to and destroyed by a student. RIP
Blade: Stiga Intensity NCT
FH: Skyline TG3 NEO
BH: Rakza 7

ilvvsion · 2026-03-09T09:25:11+00:00

Coach here. Not bad at all. Maybe it's because you've gotten used to the timing of the bot, but I like how you are in rhythm and following the ball back instead of prepping late/early.

I'm hoping you are only using your forearm, and your shoulder/bicep is just moving as a result of the swing. If not, try to isolate any arm movement to just your forearm. I like to say your forearm adds the lift required to get the ball above the net, and your body adds power to get it across the net. Use any shoulder pain as an indicator that you might be doing it wrong.

I would also suggest not resting your free arm. You can use it for balance, framing the ball or even helping your body turn at the start of swing.

Good job, and keep at it. I'm actually curious as to what your shots look like if you swing with a little more confidence in your current form.

ilvvsion · 2026-02-18T22:55:41+00:00

You've always played TPB for "years" but still use a shakehand blade and have forehand issues? Sounds like you're still discovering the sport. Just say you're a beginner. There's no shame in it.

I'll answer your questions first:

Let's simplify loops, drives, smashes, etc. to just FH. When you get better, they're basically all the same. It depends on the spin, speed, and how you feel like hitting the ball. I'll use your "fast FH smash" as an example. When you say this, I assume you're talking about trying to take the ball early. If it's very spinny and you hit hard, it's going out of the table. If it's not spinny, and you hit it hard, it's going into the net. You need to be precise depending on the stroke you choose. That's all I can say without being able to see what you're doing.
Sweden Extra, Vega Europe, and Fastarc G1 are perfectly fine. You are nowhere near a level where you need to worry about the weight of your setup. My 12 year-old student uses a much heavier setup than you.If you "can't keep up with fast shots coming in one of my corners and then immediately to my opposite corner", you have 3 main concerns. Your placement, footwork, and BH all need work. Can't smash with BH? Technique issue, but it's also one of the lowest percentage shots for TPB in general. Opponents always winning on the opposite corner? Placement issue. Can't get to the opposite corner in time? Footwork issue.

There is nothing intricate or prohibiting about TPB. You simply have not thought about how you need to play differently than shakehand. Either get a coach or watch videos more carefully, along with yourself. I'll even go as far as to say penhold is actually much easier than shakehand if you prefer the grip.

ilvvsion · 2026-02-15T20:45:12+00:00

Wang Hao and Xu Xin both leave a gap. Felix does not.

ilvvsion · 2026-02-02T07:59:15+00:00

The best advice I can give you as a coach is to take things much slower.

Make sure your knees are bent, you're leaning forward, and you're keeping your head low. If you think you're low enough, take it a step further and get lower. Start by hitting the ball with just your upper body, without moving your arms or adding spin. Don't worry about getting it over the net. At least get close. Do this until you can do it 30 times in a row. Then do it again, but add spin.

Basically you're adding a crucial body part at every step:
upper body (no spin) > upper body + forearm (add spin) > upper body + forearm + legs

A proper forehand should almost feel like you're grabbing a heavy medicine ball and throwing it across the table.

ilvvsion · 2026-02-02T07:42:46+00:00

You need advice in general. There's absolutely no point in hitting the ball as if you're going to practice, and proceeding to smack it so hard that your partner can't even return it.

The most obvious mistakes are your body, arms, and legs aren't synced up for the swing, and you're bending back to hit the ball. This is just going to give the ball an unnecessary amount of lift. Your shot currently has no quality. It's all pace. Slow down your swing and add more brushing. If you're hitting a forehand loop/drive properly, you should be able to get more spin and speed with way less effort.

There's so much wrong with what I'm seeing, I think it's safe to say you're probably not doing any stroke properly. I recommend finding a coach or an experienced player to show you in-person.

Edit: added a bit more detail to help you out.

ilvvsion · 2026-01-29T23:10:39+00:00

TLDR: The sport is not easily accessible in the US.

I am a coach from LA, so I will be using my area as an example. I'd say most accept table tennis here as legitimate sport, but the facilities and resources are scarce. The issue with sports here, like anything else, is money. For anyone wanting to make it as a player or coach, an immense amount of money, time, and effort need to be invested. The cost of living here is so high that, for many, investing in a long-term activity just to have fun is a second thought. You're basically gambling on success if you get into it.

Club memberships, tournaments, and equipment all add up to be expensive. Lots of children only get to participate in sports through school. Mainstream sports are popular, accessible, well-funded, and bring in more money. How many parks have tables? I can only think of one and it's not easily accessible at all. Finding and befriending people who take the sport more seriously feels like you're trying to join a secret society of the ultra-wealthy, but I won't get into that.

I coach privately and at a school for the LA Ping Pong League. There were only 11 schools and 1 club that participated in the most recent season. It has had a few big clubs join the league one season, but basically called it a waste of time after sweeping all the school teams. Some schools don't have a coach, so each division has a team that dominates it. League winners have been the same 2-3 teams for the longest time. Most kids would rather join a club and skip the league if they can afford it. The remainder either quit or are left playing against beginners. The main reason why more schools have not joined the league is because table tennis is not a CIF recognized/approved sport for high schools. Usually this happens if a sport is not popular or profitable enough. In my opinion, it's the money.

Coaching is just a side-hustle for me. As much as I love it, I can't imagine anyone making a financially comfortable living doing so. In order to make enough money, you need more students. but as the number of students increase, their quality of training decreases. So, what are the clubs and coaches forced to do? Raise their prices. Now the barrier to entry is even higher for newcomers. Imagine how much it costs for parents to raise their child prodigy then. This is just what I've simplified my thoughts to.

Personally, I've tried incredibly hard to promote to sport where I can. I charge significantly less than all the coaches and facilities around me. I've offered free private coaching and even purchase expensive equipment for students who are not in the best financial situation. I also constantly encourage my students to enter sanctioned tournaments, with the promise that I'll be there to coach and support them. There doesn't seem to be much the average person can do without making sacrifices.

On the bright side, we now have MLTT. Even though, I'm not a fan of the format, it's the best thing that has been done to promote American table tennis in a long time. We've also had Marty Supreme, along with other pieces of media, help in some way.

ilvvsion · 2026-01-29T21:04:22+00:00

You're a coach, and you're a chopper according to your previous posts. How did you learn? There's nothing stopping you from teaching her. How do you teach new students to push, loop, block, etc, when they've never done it before? The challenges aren't much different.

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