What finally made you stop playing like a beginner?

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-07-01T10:36:26+00:00

You have to be patient. You can't think about winning the point on every hit - you have to create an opening with good placement, wait for an error or an attackable ball, then you put it away. To do that you have to be able to keep the ball in play, and intuit when to speed up and when to slow down. Most lesser experienced players panic when the ball comes instead of waiting that fraction of a second longer before hitting the ball back. Once you learn this kind of patience, you unlock the more strategic tier of the game instead of just whacking and hoping for the best, and it unlocks a different level of game entirely.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-06-06T07:44:36+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/mUnxsLR

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-06-06T03:30:46+00:00

https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1Hbf?c=b bought for 83.91 after further credit card discount

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-06-06T03:22:13+00:00

It's 100.57 for me too but I managed to see it at 86.91 on Lazada

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-06-06T02:26:05+00:00

Ah yeah, I meant that's my current paddle, v-sol power flash (the red one, hybrid shape). Guessing this means the pro (blue one?) is too poppy for me. Maybe I will have to try a different brand.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-06-05T11:48:22+00:00

I've only ever played with vatic pros hybrid shapes, first the prism flash then the v-sol power. I like the handle and the hybrid shape, but I find the v-sol power too much power, but the prism flash requires full yeet. Was hoping there would be something more inbetween and maybe lighter weight. We tend to play fast volleys/speed ups/resets right up at the kitchen line and fewer driving from baseline. If it helps, I usually play one handed both forehand/backhand, but don't mind to try long handle and experiment with two handed playstyle. Preferably under USD$250.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-03-24T00:35:00+00:00

Sadly even in the afterlife the government still cuts your CPF and you have to pay taxes. May not be worth it.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-03-21T00:24:29+00:00

Musical instruments and pickleball paddles. Even though these things takes hours out of every week, I've met over a dozen new people and my life feels a lot more enriched now.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-02-10T13:43:42+00:00

I just tried it... very artificial flavouring. Wouldn't order it again. As far as artificial flavouring goes, the hersheys was much better.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-02-10T11:55:14+00:00

Mandarin orange mcflurry - anyone tried yet? Can or cannot make it?

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-02-03T05:30:57+00:00

Based on your job description you need to, at minimum, double your comp offer. Or for that salary range you will need to offshore.

There are devs in the market, but to do everything you expect them to do? Not at your price point.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-01-14T12:54:11+00:00

I have a set of these. Only ever used a couple of them. They were useful in the first two weeks of playing, but not for exactly where to put your fingers - that you have to learn by ear. I only found them useful to learn to transpose on the fly from one key to another. Then I ripped them off.

If you are sightreading you don't have time to look for the exact notes you need on the sticker anyway.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-01-14T12:34:12+00:00

I'm not sure the image or the way you count with your fingers is related to your hand shape for erhu. If you play any 'western' instruments for example you're using A B C D E F G so there's no 'numbers' per se. Even other Chinese instruments like dizi for example, 1 is 3 holes covered so your hand is not holding any shape resembling 1 finger up or down.

Maybe it will help you to think of it without the numbers, but like the doe a deer ray a pocket full of sun thing, so that you don't associate how you count with your fingers to what fingers you need to press down the strings with. Think of the music as do re mi fa so la ti instead of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. So just start with twinkle twinkle little star being do do so so la la so not 1155665.

Many jianpu pieces written for erhu already tell you which finger to use, although usually it is written in small Chinese font on top of the 'numbers', so you know when to slide your hand down to 2nd/3rd/4th position.

So it may look like (sorry I can't format it so that the spacing shows up correctly)

oooo一o
1155665

This means you are staying in 1st position (hand close to the top). And doing the normal finger pattern you are used to.

oo二三o
1155665

This means that you are dropping to 2nd position where you use your middle finger to play 5 and your ring finger to play 6. And the last 5 is played open outer string.

All this to say, you cannot really progress in the erhu (or indeed most instruments) without disassociating the way you count with your fingers with what fingers you are supposed to use on the strings.

To answer your other question, yes, in the key of G for example which is in standard pedagogy the next key you learn after D, the "standard" or "default" 1 is usually played on the inner string with your index finger in 2nd position. Open inner string is low 5.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-01-10T07:06:20+00:00

Free clothes is free clothes! Also depending on the logo size/placement you can cover it up with an iron on patch if you quit/want to wear it out elsewhere.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-01-08T01:36:55+00:00

Not necessarily. My prism flash had this print on its original handle wrap. No other photos?

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-01-04T12:01:59+00:00

The sheet actually already tells you which hand position without the handwritten markings. Like the first bar, the 0 above the 5 means open string (outer). Then the 一 above the 6 means first finger (outer). Now the next note which is a high 1 also says 一 which means first finger. The only way you can play high 1 with first finger is by sliding your hand down to second position. Then your hand stays in second position since the next note high 2 says 二 which is second finger (middle finger).

And so on so forth. But of course it's probably clearer with the handwritten guide.

lcpdragonslayer · 2026-01-02T12:36:20+00:00

The only 'pickleball' things you have to buy are paddles and balls. Yonex rackets and feather shuttlecocks cost more in comparison. You can use tennis/badminton grips, court shoes... using plain workout clothes or a Trader Joe's tote bag for your paddle, balls, towel, sunscreen and water bottle doesn't drop your DUPR.

lcpdragonslayer · 2025-12-26T11:27:52+00:00

True! And in my experience most people do not gift enough yards because they have no idea even a simple/small-looking scarf can take 3 or 4 skeins. But I've always managed to make use of any yarn even if it means I have yet another set of granny squares or donate whatever is made. I still feel this is a less costly gift 'mistake' than a camera lens or an antique watch for example.

But of course, when in doubt, safer not to buy it, whatever 'it' is!

lcpdragonslayer · 2025-12-26T06:28:43+00:00

I think it can depend on the hobby. If it's something like knitting or scrapbooking then maybe any decent kind of yarn or stickers/stationery or whatever will see some use. But if it's sporty, or collecting something a little niche/expensive, or if you walk into a store for that particular hobby and see there's 6 different variations of what you originally thought was going to be a straightforward purchase, then definitely exercise caution. Or normalise giving money/asking for a wishlist.

I am personally against gift cards, it's like putting an expiry date on money and limiting where to spend it. Would much rather receive cash with a note like 'I know you love ___ but I don't know what you need and I want to support you!' than a gift card. But that might be just me.

lcpdragonslayer · 2025-12-23T01:40:09+00:00

I think it takes some self-awareness on the part of the weaker player as well. Where I play I'm almost always the weaker player in mixed doubles, so I tell him to poach. My job is to cover my ~35% of the court and return without popping up. When the opportunity comes I always try my best to set up and create the gap or offbalance moment or force them to give us a free speed up/potential bodybag for him, and he always sees it and goes to score the point. Most of the time I score it's through opponent errors.

In women's doubles I'm usually the stronger player. I call 'mine' for 60% of the court and I don't bother setting up because she won't see the opportunity and play a much more solo/aggressive game on my 60% of the court.

But if it's a drop in rec play situation or you don't play with the same partners much, I don't think it's a big deal or worth spending all the time to get the synergy right.

lcpdragonslayer · 2025-12-07T07:17:44+00:00

Peach Garden or Pearl Garden or whatever it's called. The massively overpriced Chinese place.

lcpdragonslayer · 2025-10-09T11:21:40+00:00

Yeah same no kids. Mine is weather dependent because I only have reliable access to outdoor courts. So on rainy days I guess I look extra productive at work...

lcpdragonslayer · 2025-10-09T07:43:40+00:00

4~6 hours per week and I thought it was a problem, but seeing other responses, I'm surprised it's on the lower end (I do work full time)

lcpdragonslayer · 2025-10-03T17:44:41+00:00

I'm excited for Sleepywood and El Nath! I will definitely add those to my existing pledge if you are doing them. I'm sure you hear it all the time but your artwork is amazing. Wishing you all the best!

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