Southport Table Tennis Club » newcomers http://www.sttc.org.uk helping to regenerate Table Tennis in Southport Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:03:44 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Who said, “The more I practise, the luckier I get”? http://www.sttc.org.uk/2008/08/luck-or-practice/ http://www.sttc.org.uk/2008/08/luck-or-practice/#comments Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:34:36 +0000 alannolan http://www.sttc.org.uk/?p=113 Well, clearly it was a golfer! Most people credit this comment to Gary Player or Arnold Palmer, but Lee Trevino and Tom Watson also get mentioned as possible sources. It was supposedly in response to a spectator’s wisecrack about a lucky shot in holing out from a bunker. But is there anything more to it, and could it apply to table tennis?

We’ve all played against opponents who seem to get more than their fair share of net points or edges, and we tend to think they’re rather lucky. On the other hand, when we get an edge, we regard it as a well placed shot and a richly deserved point. Can this really be the case? Or is there a way to become as lucky as our opponents and still play good shots?

Maybe there is. If “practice makes perfect”, then perhaps we should be practising aiming at the edges or keeping the ball low over the net to better our chances of getting more of those “lucky” points. The better players hit their shots with greater accuracy, and guess what? this accuracy isn’t pure luck! Hours and hours of practice lie behind this ability to place the ball where they want it, with the speed and spin they choose.

So, if you want to become a luckier player, get down to the college on a Thursday evening over the summer and practise, practise, practise. If you want to develop a good “edge” shot, practise hitting the ball “down the line”, within 6 inches of the edge. The more consistently you can place the ball withing that corridor, the more chance that you’ll get a few extra edge points. Similarly, to get a few more net shots, you need to practise some defensive push/chop shots, keeping the ball within an inch or two of the top of the net.

Put in sufficient practice and the luck will surely follow!

]]> http://www.sttc.org.uk/2008/08/luck-or-practice/feed/ 0 A new beginning! http://www.sttc.org.uk/2007/07/hello-world-2/ http://www.sttc.org.uk/2007/07/hello-world-2/#comments Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:29:27 +0000 alannolan http://www.sttc.org.uk/?p=1272 Southport Table Tennis Club is beginning a new era, and you too can be a part of it! For the first time in several years, we will be increasing the number of teams we enter in the Southport & District TT League.

If you live in the Southport/Formby/Ormskirk area, do any of these statements apply to you?

  • I’m passionate about table tennis but don’t belong to a club
  • I can play a bit and am mad keen to improve
  • I play socially, but would really love to play competitively
  • I’m an ex-champion at national, county or district level and want to get back into it after a layoff (I wish!)
  • My friend plays table tennis for a club and I’d like to be able to beat her/him
  • I no longer play competitively, but would like to promote the game and/or help to run a club.

If any of these describe your situation, why don’t you e-mail us at “info@sttc.org.uk” with your name and contact details and we’ll get back to you.

Alan,
Club Secretary

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