Newgy’s Blog

The first thing you should know about table tennis tournaments is there are different kinds of tournaments. Each type of tournament means different things. Here are the most common tournaments:

Open = anyone in the world can play

Closed = only a specific group of people can play (ex. Ohio Closed is a tournament for only players who live in Ohio)

Invitational = you must be invited

US Nationals = the end of the year tournament that is the championship event for this country and decides who plays on the US National Teams

US Open = tournament organized by the USA but competition from all over the world

Teams = to play in this tournament you must have a certain team (the entry form will give more details)

Doubles = you will need a partner to enter the tournament with you

You also need to know how each tournament has a certain rating BASED ON ONLY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY BEING PAID OUT. Tournaments range from 0 stars – 5 stars. USATT (USA Table Tennis) only allows two 5 star tournaments a year and those are the US Nationals and US Open. The higher the star, the more money they give out.

When you first arrive at the tournament site (or sometimes called “hall”) you need to check-in with the tournament so you do not default any matches. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get there, check-in, warm up, check out your draws and watch any opponents you might be playing. You also need to make sure you sign the waiver (if you’re under 18 get your mom or dad to sign). After this you need to know what table you play on and what time. This information is usually posted in the draw of your event(s). If you receive a player packet it also could be in there. Player packets are very useful. They will give you free things sometimes, a list of tournament players and sometimes other things that can help you out at the tournament.

If you are coming from out of the area for a tournament or two day tournament, and booking a hotel, make sure you have a hotel fairly close to the playing center. Most tournaments will provide a tournament hotel that is close and has reduced rates for players.

Pierce Scott

All top players and coaches agree that table tennis requires a variety of training techniques. Some examples of training include – drills, robot, multiball, serving practice, matches, plus a variety of physical training. Within those types of training, a multitude of variations are excellent. To be a complete player, one must be able to win against any playing style – looper, chopper, pips, lefty, etc…

While training with my Newgy Robo-Pong 2050, (click here for YouTube video), I now practice with more variety than ever before. For drills such as #28 and #59, I set the robot for topspin/sidespin. This is best performed by adjusting the robot head to the left or right 3 clicks. This variation has done 4 things for me:

1. Improved my concentration

2. Improved my ability to follow the ball closely with my eyes

3. Improved my ability to counterloop against lefty and right hook loops

4. Improved my ball placement on “weird” balls

One might argue that this is “unrealistic.” Actually there are several US players that play these types of unorthodox strokes: David Zhuang and Gao Jun with blocking and De Tran with forehand counterlooping.

Give it a try- it’s fun and challenging!!!

Samson Dubina

Mastering the Skill of Concentration

So, I am playing with Joey Newgarden. He is the son of that man who created Robo-Pong (I mentioned him in my last entry blog from November, 2010). In order for me to play with him I have to get to my highest level of concentration, OR ELSE…

Joey is a busy businessman, and does not give himself much time to play, but when he plays, it’s as if the world does not exist. He is extremely focused, solid in his game, and does not waste a second on the “past.” I, on the other hand, with every bad or even with a great shot of mine start the inner process of either self-criticism, or self-wonder: “Wow, I can’t believe I got that shot…” I would think, and WHAM the ball hits me back out of nowhere. Or: “Gosh, how can I be so stupid? I know better, I should hit the ball up and forward! What’s that definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results? Liliana, you’ve got to start practicing more!” And of course I pay the price, especially with Joey. I asked him once:

“Joey, you don’t seem to be affected by any of your bad shots. Do you ACT as if you are not affected, or you are really not affected?”

“I don’t even go there,” he said. “I just think of my next ball.”

That answer really made me think. I started working on it. Every time I miss the ball, and the bad feeling takes me to this process of self-analysis, I try to say to myself quickly and loudly: What can I do with this next ball!

I started noticing great improvements. When I stay concentrated like this, I actually win more games. I do admit that I can’t do it all the time, but I am working on it. Table tennis is the absolute best tool to improve my ability to concentrate. There is just simply no time to waste, the balls keep coming at me fast. Sometimes before I start playing games, I practice on my Robo-Pong at the high speed, changing the direction of the balls, not giving myself a second to think, and that keeps me going.

Joey just hit another great serve and I returned it perfectly for the first time. I wanted to throw my racket and jump out of joy, but no, I didn’t. “What are you going to do with your next ball?” is the only thought allowed, at least for now.

Liliana Kohann

With strong coaching programs on both coasts, the young players are gaining ground quickly on the seasoned players! The ICC program and Lily Yip’s Table Tennis Academy (LYTTA) are providing great resources for the young players to quickly gain advanced skills!

In the Men’s, Adam Hugh (LYTTA) took a huge step by defeating Fan Yi Yong – the number two seed and odds on favorite. Multi time Men’s winner David Zhuang was ousted by Barney Reed, National Team Member Han Xiao went out 4-3 to Timothy Wang and Ilija Lupulesku (Lupi) sent defending Champion Michael Landers home 4-0, but was well into the match with the last two games settling at deuce!

In the Semi Finals, it was teens vs. titans as Li faced Lupi and Wang squared up with Hazinski. Somehow both young guys came back from down 3-1 to win 4-3! I don’t know how long it has been since the Men’s finals featured two U.S. born teenagers!

Much to nineteen year old Timothy Wang’s credit, he was able to control the nerves just a little bit better and got the better of seventeen year old Peter Li in straight games to become the second teenager in a row to become U.S. Men’s National Champion!

The Women’s event looked to belong to former World ranked #2 Gao Jun, but due to flu like symptoms she withdrew at the Quarter Final stage. From that point forward the two young ICC stars Ariel Hsing and Lily Zhang were on a collision course to the Finals. Being travel partners to several ITTF Junior and Cadet events, Ariel and Lily know each other’s game quite well and it showed in the seven game battle final! When the dust settled, Ariel was left collecting her first U.S. Nationals Women’s crown!

What impressed me was not just the energy the young players showed, but also the strong technical skills and match pressure savvy against much older and trickier players. The growing strength of coaching programs through the U.S. is making our young players solid players for the future.

Roger Dickson