How long do you think it will take me to be a ______ rated player? You can fill in the number with a 1000, 1500, 2000, or any other number that seems like a worthy goal. I get this question on a fairly regular basis. I usually make an educated guess, and I’m almost always …
I regret to inform my loyal readers, good friends, and web surfers, that thousands, perhaps millions of table tennis players are missing. This is generally going unreported by the mainstream media. As the president of one of the world’s smallest table tennis clubs, I was not fully aware of the extent of this unexplained phenomenon. …
Continue reading “MIA Table Tennis (The Two Ingredients To Grow Table Tennis)”
I come from a long line of ancestors who have “moderate to severe” hearing loss. I learned early, that to communicate with one branch of the family I would have to crank up the volume, especially with older aunts and uncles. This occasionally carried over to other family groups, who may have wondered why I …
Continue reading “The Significant Special Sounds of Table Tennis”
There was no way to know when I arrived that I would be part of a rare event in table tennis. I would put it on the same level as a triple play, a shot from half court, or a Hail Mary touchdown. I was one of five players playing in the same group at …
I may have to get a lost and found box. Right now I am in possession of a pretty nice jacket, and a USATT water bottle. I have claimed a t-shirt with a skull on it. Phones have been forgotten. Some players leave an amazing amount of sweat. There are also items that were purposely …
Continue reading “Finding Your Points In the Table Tennis Lost and Found”
“It’s all politics.” I’m not sure who was the first person to utter these words. I do recall being amused when I heard them regarding table tennis. I’m less amused these days. Everything is political. Why should table tennis be any different? The struggle for power is interwoven in table tennis. There seems to be …
Let’s be clear. Nobody wins the warm-up. If you are hitting winners before the match starts, you’re not really warming up. If any credit was given for not hitting the ball off the table before a match, I could be in the Olympics. It doesn’t matter. You can’t win the warm-up. It’s pretty remarkable that …
Investigations are well underway into allegations that a prominent table tennis coach may have lied about the nationality of one of his students. Coach Jon Gustavson has adamantly denied any wrongdoing. His continual denials and claims of forgetfulness only make him look guilty. A local player has linked him to other crimes, including unwanted inclusion …
Continue reading “Table Tennis Coach May Have Lied About Links to Ukraine”
Introducing tennis players to table tennis strokes How do you spot a gifted tennis player if they are playing ping pong? If you’ve coached a few tennis players who’ve decided to take up table tennis, it’s not that hard. I’ve never really played much tennis, so I’m not an expert on analyzing tennis strokes. I …
An interview with Jean Phillipe Boucle Jon Today I’m honored to have as my special guest, Jean Phillipe Boucle. Jean Phillipe is well known in the fashion world for his sports fashion designs. He stunned the world with revealing tennis dresses, specifically made for men. His women’s high heeled volleyball shoes proved to be less …
