Cadet & Junior Robots

[The Windmill]

Do you think that when kids start playing table tennis seriously and receive coaching that they are all being taught to play in the same style. to me they all seem to play the same way i.e. serve, return and then kill (all built around the use of glue). Are we turning out "Robots"
Is it not better to observe and enhance the shots and styles they already have rather than make them change and play in the same way ? Don't get me wrong they are good players. Its just an observation. Any comments ??

[SteveJ]

The general rule in Table Tennis is probably to find and create the player with most power and an attacking style with it also, leading to exactly where we are now with "clones" or robotic clones which seem to play the same style and technique. This won't change we have gone past the point of return with very few developing their own unique styles as a defender or some other variated playing style, quite a shame as the best games are invariably a defender against an attacker which usually brings out great viewing for all concerned.

[Mrs Nickerbater]

Kids should develop the basics with neutral equipment, they and their coach [if they have one] should then build any natural talents they have into their own style with the coaches responsibility to make sure the player uses his talents to build an efficient and cohesive game.

Unfortunately a lot of bad/inexperienced coaches I've come across have other ideas. Far too often you come across kids with warp-powered loops that they can only use once or twice in a match because they cant win the short game.

My personal philosophy is that coaches shouldn't teach a stroke too technically, they should let the kids develop one from the basics that are already there - once a style and preference for tactical play emerges then less neutral and more suitable equipment should be used.

IMHO kids/players who haven't mastered good efficient, cohesive technique shouldn't go anywhere near speed glue, pimples or stupidly fast blades.

[Anth Barella]

Well i have been round the circut a lot and i have certainly seen alot of different styles. as for the "glue" all of the new youngsters who use the glue they turn out to take longer in developing, it is just because the more top young players used to use it(now that the ban has come in). i think the standard of average players is higher now and that results in the better "elite" players.

[Mousy]

Glue has retarded development in the young players so as far as the banning i am with it for that reason and not not for VC's.

The rubber situation too has some questions to be answered given the way some materials have ruined the sport from a viewable TV perspective.

We all have a style of our own to match our own, meaning we are all unique to an extent but the young and developing players should be taught basics as with any other sport before moving towards glues and rubber changes.

To answer the robot question i believe robots have a valuable part to play in the training side as they can be used to work on specific weaknesses meanng someone can eliminate or at least go a long way towards improviing one area of their game. The downside is robots need to be used carefully and not as a replacement for "practice" as the predicdability of robots is somewat counter-productive when it comes to training.