What did you learn at the games? Brett Clarke\\\'s next article?

OK Alois, taking the bait from your blog: Commonwealth Championships - Observations Posted by Alois Rosario on June 15th, 2009

"Watching players like Gao Ning, Paul Drinkhall, Sharath Kamal Achanta and in the womens Wang Yue Gu and Yu Meng Yu, in action and having the ability to observe their strokes and training was educational."

1.  What was of interest in their strokes?
2.  What did you learn about their training?

Also from the Blog: Advancing the Australian Game Posted by Alois Rosario on April 15th, 2009 by Brett Clarke - TTA National Head Coach

"In my next article I will discuss serving which is another critical part of Table Tennis. Australian players also need to dramatically improve this aspect of the game if they are to move forward internationally." 

1.  When can we expect the next insightful article from Brett?

Hi Gerard,

You always have interesting questions and observations.

I think the biggest thing I learned regarding stroke is that what we have been doing still holds up.

In the past year or so I have sometimes questioned myself as to the types of stroke I have been teaching.  I think this is something that happens to me from time to time.  It was reassuring to see the best players completing their forehand exactly as they have been for many years.  I think this was also really prevalent watching the recent World Championships on live streaming.  It was even better to see it in the flesh.

My feeling is that the rallies are starting to increase in length.  This is only a feeling and not a statistical fact.  No longer are rallies won by the player with the first attacking stroke.  It is more of a build up of strokes that begin with the first attack.  There is a lot more counter topspins played and blocking is at a minimum.  The importance of being able to counter topspin has increased.  The game has definitely improved as a spectacle because of this.

As far as training goes, players tend to practice more of the open rally and at high speed.  Maybe I am getting old but it all looked fast and great to me. There are a lot more random elements  to their training as well.  Most training drills that these players do ends with a random element.

Short play is still vital and an area that some of the Australian Mens team fell behind their opponents. I think a lot of players even top players tend to practice too much of the open rally just prior to a match.  I feel they should focus more on the initial part of the rally at this time.

With the womens game it was interesting to see the two different styles of the finalists.  Wang Yue Gu the close to the table fats hitter with pimples on the backhand versus the freer topspin style of Yu Meng Yu.  Seeing that both these styles are still viable in the womens game is also interesting for me as a coach of some junior girls.

Regarding Brett's next instalment I will have to check with him when his next gem will be available.