New Trend In Table Tennis: Harimoto Tomokazu

[@pingsunday]

Why Harimoto Tomokazu improved so fast? Read here: pingsunday.com/tomokazu-harimoto-new-trends-table-tennis/

[@canicetang8837]

The heavier, larger, different material, higher bounce and less spiny ball once again changed the way of modern Table Tennis once again. So like the coach said, the emphasis is dramatically changed in certain ways: 1. The tactics will be now staying close to the table. This changes the Men's game of distance loop to loop to the hybrid of the Modern Women's game but with power on both sides. In retrospect, the 1970s and the 1980s style, especially with the C-Pen and the J-Pen players, staying relatively close to the table to make the game even faster. 2. The focus now is not on the serve but the serve 'receive' itself. As you can see, most of the short serves do not have a lot of 'bite' and bounces higher than ever. Often the serve is longer than half way line, which is the no man's zone where straight banana or strawberry flips will be the way to getting ahead on your opponents, as keeping your services would be exceedingly difficult. Also on the long serves, the fraction of the second more and the higher bounces will have players teeing off their loops for straight scoring. Therefore, for the servers. Now the focus are even more on the location and the placement of the second bounce which would be crucial. I strongly suggested that more and more players should be doing the wide serve out swerving away from the table to instantly have an open table to score on the third ball. 3. Also the Men's traditional power loop-to-loop backhand counters are the thing of the past. You will see much shorter rallies as the focus is on straight scoring right away. So instead, you will see players trying to see the slightest opening of the court of the opponent and exploit on it quickly. The ball will be going from forehand to backhand more frequently as they will mixing up the diagonal and down the line play, rather than just overpowering or waiting for the slightest error. 4. In the new game, players like Harimoto would be countering at every chance. So all out attack would be expected as the game will be even faster playing up close. I am expecting players would be staying close at the table all the time, even with quick blocks/chop blocks instantly trying to getting back to the rallies. With that in mind, you will see a few up and coming players going to C-Pen or even J-Pen so that they can use their banana and strawberry pushes to devastating effect. 5. With that in mind, players in this modern game must be adaptable to all situations. That means learning all the shots and especially sound 'footwork' is a must. As well as quick feet to get to all kinds of wide shots as players will quickly trying to move their opponents off the table. 6. Those with sound and efficient strategies will win outright by a large margin. Brilliant players like a Waldner and Schlarger who never allowed themselves out of positions, quick thinking, often have several gears during the match, will be winning most of the matches by simply out-thinking their opponents by the way of surprise. 7. I also will see different style of equipment which will have advanced materials on the blade and rubber to give it a much softer feel on the serve. Yet are light and quick to hit the ball as early as possible. Definitely, the short serves will get better once again. The focus will be more on a much 'lower' toss, which will have less potential momentum with the great emphasis of generating even more spins to compensate for the loss of the 'bite'. Coaches are very smart to adapt. I think that the best teams with the most comprehensive preparation with the new ball will be coming out ahead. Don't be surprised if the ranking order still stays the same. Players will probably have to change their techniques, timing in their hitting. Most of all, there will be a great change to a low 'throw' blades rather than the traditional high 'throw' ones they have been using.

[@pingsunday]

wow. wonderful point Mr. Tang

[@sunil_bharti27]

I'm sorry for criticise your opinion over zhang jike coach, you explained it very technically 😇

[@xXBirdsNestXx910]

Canice Tang a

[@azertyqwerty4528]

Very good analysis, it's the montain to climb in French player's head. The European style don't use a good footwork and many peoples don't want to work hard for playing better. They just want to play and enjoy topsin on topspin. I think the real reason of ittf is the feminisation of table tennis like in the rest of the society. Reduce the difference beetween male and female is politic and in the same time make a lot of money with new balls, rubbers and blades. However it will upgrade the tactical playing style it is not a bad thing.

[@pingsunday]

Exactly! You get the point! :) In the beginning, ITTF wants to reduce the speed in table tennis by increasing the ball size. And they think that the international scene is more balance (reduce the dominance of Chinese player). But in reality, the trend is shifted to much more even faster style!

[@jeevanchaukar]

I feel like ITTF is doing similar mistakes to an extent like Tennis Association. They did a lot of changes to Tennis ball pressure, racket regulations and what not in order to try and balance the things between physically powerful and not so powerful people. Actual result is opposite and the play now favours ever more powerful people. Roger Federer is a kind of exception in tennis who still displays lot of deft touch. Frequently changing the ball sizes, racket rubber/blade regulations or simply increasing amount of rallies in a match etc is not the right way of attracting more people. I truly miss the deft touch displayed by older players like Jan Ove Waldner, Jean Michel Saive, Kong Ling Hui et al. They were not only fast and powerful but were also very crafty and out-thought the opponent with their unexpected variations. The new ball and corresponding changes in new rubbers/blades are probably reducing effect of such craft and making the game better only for physically stronger and faster players - thus loading the game even more against any countries which are not already powerful in Table Tennis. That means we will see even more domination of China, Japan and Europe - rest will struggle more than what is happening today probably!! The right way I think is to educate people more about beauty of Table Tennis as a sport which combines power, speed, sharp reflexes with artistic finesse like nothing else. IT is just that in China, people have given their true love to this sport so they are now the best. Same can be said about Cricket in India, Football in Brazil, Germany, Motorcycle Racing in Italy, Spain and so on - their love eventually made them the best. Look at the efforts Badminton coaches from India in last few years - most notably P. Gopichand! He has brought Indian players from a relative nowhere situation to biggest levels of Olympic and World Championships. Now, Indian players are consistently in top 10 of Badminton. Today Badminton is definitely gaining a lot of popularity in India even though it is still far behind Cricket, Tennis here in popularity. Similar efforts must be taken by Table Tennis players and administration across their respective countries to make the sport popular. Changes in ball size or even worse - asking female players to wear "more glamorous" clothing etc are not the best ways to promote it!

[@atrakis4740]

EmRatThich Table Tennis Coach Hello, I have recently bought a Chinese rubber (DHS Hurricane 3). Unfortunately, the tackiness was gone after the first training. Is this normal and what can I do against it?

[@zosterinski]

maybe they can keep the material but make the ball 38mm again :)) yet another change

[@ttdenmark821]

Maybe you should buy some protection foil for Rubbers

[@cenktekin7175]

for me, one thing is very bad, men's game getting closer to women's game style

[@ginomoujik8488]

Great points! ZJK footage at the end showed him practicing against backspin, so it's hard to compare with Harimoto practicing counterspin. Do you think the trend will ever be reversed and ITTF will make the ball smaller and softer again or will we end up with tennis size balls "for the viewing public"?

[@table_tennis_fever]

ZJK footage was still using older ball than the newest. And at that time Miu Hirano has not revolutionalized how early new players should hit the ball. It's not fair to say ZJK hits it late because everyone did except Miu Hirano.

[@HaSubSon]

Gino Moujik I did think the same thing as what you said. ZJK’s backhand practice is against backspin balls while Harimoto’s is against topspin balls!

[@yulanalow2395]

Thank you for the diagram on what the new trend is. You are a good coach!

[@AAAA538]

Regarding ZJ, he tends to contact the ball in mid-descent which is a later timing then someone like ML who tends to loop drive the ball in the early descent phase after the top of bounce so he tends to hit the ball late regardless. LGL and others tried to get him to contact the ball earlier. I think his forehand timing was more because his game was much more oriented around his backhand than his forehand which led him to not change his grip to a neutral grip for the forehand. Hitting a forehand with a backhand biased grip is difficult to do, from a biomechanical point of view, unless you let the ball fall closer to mid-descent. The only time he changes his grip is when he is hitting his forehand from the backhand side of the table. It also makes it difficult to have a fast counterhit exchange due to the paddle being inherently open. If he is even a little bit late the ball will go high and out. I would argue that his play has more to do with his overall health and his level of competitive fitness rather than an extreme style difference. He also has somewhat of a sleeping dragon mental disposition which means that he responds very well to high pressure situations that he cares about. If he gets engaged I’m not sure there is anybody who can deal with him except maybe ML. Regarding HT- First, the two video examples you used weren’t apples to apples. HT was doing table drills with a fast counter-drive exchange, whereas ZJ was doing a multiball loop drill vs an underspin feed. Not the same thing at all so there will, of course, be a timing difference. I understand you wanted to emphasize the timing differences but using very different training shots was not a good method imo. My pet theory on HTs early success is simply that he was smaller and lighter which means he was intrinsically a lot quicker. As he gets bigger and his mass is more similar to other players he will not be as quick so things will even out more. His recent losses would not fit into the theory that his playing style alone is a significant factor either. Especially the loss to Pitchford. I am in no way implying that he is not a competitive player just that I'm not sure his play style is particularly unique in this context.

[@siddheshmisale3904]

Akbar Ormes your analysis is just perfect! ZJK problem was mentioned perfectly. And his bit late getting technique after mid descent.

[@speedytabletennis6985]

Ma Long has a strong backhand biased grip while playing backhand topspin, too. So this does not explain the difference in timing of Ma Long and Zhang Jike.

[@AAAA538]

@Speedy Table Tennis-ML is a slightly more forehand oriented player so he tends to switch his grip between backhand and forehand more readily than ZJ. While he does hit some forehand shots while still in his backhand grip, like his "wrap around" loop it's the exception, not the rule. ML hits the majority of his forehands in a neutral grip as far as I can tell. Do an experiment and hold your paddle with a backhand biased grip and then copy ML's loop stroke. The paddle will be so closed that it would be extremely difficult to hit the ball with anything resembling a normal stroke. But if you let the ball drop a little then do a "short stroke" (my term) loop with a sharp elbow snap it's a lot easier. Basically, copy ZJ's stroke. it's more spin than drive.

[@speedytabletennis6985]

Just search in Google for some pictures of Ma Long playing forehand flick or topspin. That's not a neutral grip at all ;)

[@AAAA538]

Then were going to have to establish what the definition of neutral grip vs backhand biased grip is first before we can have a disagreement LOL

[@danield.7359]

Excellent analysis and beautiful handwriting by the way :-)

[@santiagoecheverri4017]

Wonderful video. Thank you coach. I loved the pen and paper explanation!

[@pascalbleval7215]

This video (the drawing part, mainly) helped me understand why I too often miss the ball (by hitting above the ball): I wait just too much, just like you say zjk does... Another thing that was changed by the new ball, I think, are passive blocks : maybe due to the fact new balls tend to float more, they more often go too far. Maybe that could explain why I was better at passive blocking with the old ball...

[@azertyqwerty4528]

Your are another time right. I say the same thing about stroke timing since many years and it's difficult to explain to people that a hard footwork is the only good way. your the boss! Thank . Wilfrid B.

[@rishundola9526]

I love your videos. Im in the west and while your accent is to not too hard to understand I do really appreciate the subtitles. Keep up the good stuff

[@Leonid_Pavlovskyi]

Cool video, and your English is great! here's a suggestion how to make it better - make the introduction no longer than 30 sec (instead of 2:47 as in this video). In intro just tell what it is about and why it's important - then get straight to the point. Your subscribers will love it!

[@pingsunday]

Thank you Leonid. You are right, my intro is too long. I need to learn more to improve my videos. I will reduce the intro shorter next time. Bests.

[@Leonid_Pavlovskyi]

You're on the right path!

[@ccie8000]

Awesome points and keep up the great teaching.....Best coach on your tube

[@alexanderprokopenko8198]

I m the boss, i m the boss. I very very sorry for your loss!!)))

[@brunospfc8511]

Great video, the paper/pen, and topic explanation together with the videos are something we dont have here, very instructional, thanks

[@CAPITANCARAJOTE]

Simply stunning and amazing. Thank you very much for your work and share it with us

[@mohdjunaid1064]

Thanks Coach for sharing such valuable points on the new ball and the technique to play it.

[@juicyemezou2895]

Nice one ! Great analysis...

[@sanantoniogrowth698]

I played in a tournament with this ball and tried serve, spin, smash. Initially 2500s couldn't block my spin 50% of the time. However, now we have 1900s just dominating my spin with this new ball, equivalent of giving me the middle finger and saying, "Oh your loop is irrelevant now," I'm better off just serving long no-spin and pivoting the entire game than serving short.

[@canicetang8837]

San Antonio Growth Exactly! You just needed to adapt. Hitting the ball sooner, faster and harder. Being more creative by lowering your toss so your short serve wouldn't be anywhere near the 'No Man's Zone' and to keep low on the second bounce. Also using the dimension of the table by doing hook spins to swerve the ball violently to the side will get your opponent out of position quickly for easy scores. As well, keep looking for any open spaces exposed by your opponent to get straight scoring quickly. The most important of Table Tennis is your 'brain'. Use it more often to think a couple of strategies instead of sticking to just one. Think of legends like Waldner and Schlager whom were never out of positions but using open courts effectively for straight scoring. When you do that, no one will be able to beat you and they will be frustrated. Good luck!

[@yuanhu7264]

wrong, zhang jike started training with 38mm ball when he was kid and become world champion with new ball, playing style can change, that's not his challenge. It's just ZJK is out of shape and does not have that footwork to produce powerful shot any more

[@harishkallianpur9368]

Hello coach.. i totally agree what you said. Harimoto hits early and Zhang hits late. but in Japan open he almost won.. and I think in next meet he will win against Harimoto. What improvements did Zhang did this time? Also Ma Long and Timo lost on purpose to make Zhang ranking higher. is this true?

[@picciaufilippo7765]

wow I think this is the most intresting video I've ever seen on your channel

[@junstabletennisclub7226]

excellant analysis ! thanks emratthich coach~and plus...my opinion is everyone has different prime time.so when i see Zangjike's eye he doent have much passion and will to win.because he achieved every carrer in table tennis history. he is a legend.now Harimoto will be a legend - love his passion eyes, roar, will to win.

[@МейрамБайкасымов-ь7л]

Классные съёмки про звёзд Японии и мира по настольному теннису

[@talingoman02]

can you make a video for the modern defensive players? techniques, training methods. how is the new ball affecting the defensive player? for example Ma Te from china

[@pingsunday]

Yes, Ma Te is a good example. I will do it.

[@keenanvaughn4112]

Hey Coach! I don't know if you still respond to comments on older videos, but I have a question. I noticed, unlike many other pro Chinese players, Harimoto doesn't use very tacky rubbers. How does this effect the way he plays? Thank you!

[@jhuang5555]

The new plastic balls do not jump higher than old celluloid balls. I don't know why he said they jump higher since they are heavier and less resistant to the gravity. The lighter celluloid balls obviously have stronger resistance to the gravity therefore jump higher and further away from the table.

[@canicetang8837]

jhuang5555 Yes they do! Look at the high bounces on the short serves from most of the professional tournaments right now compared with a few years ago. When you put high tosses to short serves, in the past, players could use their spins on their pendulums and reverse pendulums to control their bounces and placements. Now, both were long gone. You see short serves are landing after the half table with high kicks which is easier than ever to do flip kills. Also the less sensitive spins of the ball and the heavier property will have more dwell time after the bounce. Which gives your opponent time and space to hit the ball earlier for counter loop and kills shots. That's just simple science as explained by the Coach.

[@zosterinski]

it's the lack of spin that makes them jump higher

[@solotx8798]

I'm more of a tennis player than table tennis player, but to me, it seems like a slower ball would actually make it easier for the old school, huge looping swing, hit every ball with the forehand type players. It's similar to what you see with clay court tennis actually. Slower balls/courts benefit players with longer swings who like to stand farther back and run around every ball and hit it with their forehand.

[@Gobio2]

There are other very bad consequences of the new ball. As it is less spinny, it offers less control - don't forget that it is the spin that permits to control the ball trajectory, at present the flight of the ball is less predictable as the air flow around the ball has moved a bit from laminar to turbulent (the flight of a non-spin ball is totally turbulent, this is why it wobbles like when you block with long pips). The players that want to regain that control are forced to make much more effort to achieve the same effect as with the previous ball. RESULT: FREQUENT INJURIES, recently I watched a video from a closed training of the China national team - an unusual number of player were subject to kinesio treatment, ice packs on their shoulders and elbows and so on, and what is visible on the matches - even younger players already wear knee bands. And the first team is composed of the healthiest players with most resistant organisms ! how many less gifted players have their health ruined in the training process ?

[@pingsunday]

I agree with you

[@siddheshmisale3904]

It's all to favour European or japanese fast rubber.

[@sanantoniogrowth698]

I don't think ITTF cares. The ball is designed so that table-tennis looks more impressive to the audience with longer rallies, thus getting more people to watch ITTF. The rating system is designed so that people play more often (never mind injuries, etc). Let's also not forget about the 25 point penalty on the CNT. I think they just care about the views.

[@HungPham-nf5ur]

San Antonio Growth I have a question. The new ball favors aggressive play significantly whereas controlled, spin oriented style such as chopper are at a disadvantage. Doesn't that mean the rallies are shorter with the new ball?

[@joshz6236]

@Hung Pham, yes because the rallies are much faster now so they will be shorter

[@chrh1513]

Hi coach Could you also explain what is the material that best adapt to the new game? Differences between the old and the new material? thanks for your great videos!

[@richardgarcia4681]

Please make an equipment video coach. Is it still the same as your old Chinese rubber recommendation?

[@davidtam4304]

coach I don't think showing zjk looping against heavy backspin is a fair comparison, as the timing of looping top/back spin is necessarily different

[@AnilGupta-jg6vr]

Pls recommend how to increase feeling of ball in forehand topspin and backhand topspin

[@taumax]

Can you do a video on what specific things us amateurs should be doing to adapt? At the end of the video you mention something equipment changes but was us a suggestion or question?

[@aderiyawan2371]

How we can adapt the equipment for the new trend like this? What kind of equipment we need? Is it harder n spinny rubber? Or we should change to softer one? Please your comment.

[@shrikantbarhanpurkar7321]

Another good video liked it shared it thanks coach coach will you please tell me that is 40+ ball is only up to 2020tokyo olympics or will continue further

[@nzrealpk7629]

thanks for nice drawing on board which is very helpful from Auckland

[@rydmerlin]

What ball did they use in Rio? He was a silver medalist in Rio.

[@Anthony8863]

Coach do you know why ma long isn't affected that much with new ball? Did he always hit ball soon before?

[@Schamloser_Mistkerl]

Your english got so much better!

[@Secarlen]

So should i switch from my donic waldner allplay to donic persson power allround or to stiga infinity ? dont know which is better for the new ball because you need more power i play with xiom vega asia 2,0 on both sides

[@shivamgoel3282]

Can you make a video on with rubber or blade we should use with new boll fast or slow

[@siddheshmisale3904]

Great explanation coach !

[@navenkumar7090]

Hi coach any suggestions for harder rubber and bigger blade

[@beshoyantonuo6143]

My racket had broken how to fix it 😌

[@leonelbv20]

Coach, i have a very important question. Before i used tenergy 05 on both sides and my game was based mostly on spin. Now i switched to a more powerful and fast game, but i still play with the same rubber and i think it is time to change. What do you think about using tenergy 05 fx on backhand and tenergy 64 on forehand.

[@HoangLe-vj9df]

I'm in the same situation, switching from T05 both sides to T64 (FH) and T05FX (BH) and to be honest I don't like it. Perhaps it's too fast for me so I have a lot of troubles controlling the balls.

[@markterrin8673]

Will try!

[@unic0rn897]

What kind of rubber and blade we need for this ball?

[@CottonBoxer]

it is here now to stay but smaller ball made for better matches and forced players to have better overall skills imho. i have some new older celluloid balls since i don't really play anymore. i remember playing with the rose 40 mm when it first came out it was ok. i'll remember your advice on how to hit the 40+ balls though. thx so much. because i have a bad hip i will have to play closer to the table anyway. usually my came was close to mid distance attack anyway. very spiny loop on both sides and strong dangerous back hand drive too. I WILL ADAPT TO PLAY THE STYLE OF TAKING MY PADDLE STRAIGHT BACK MORE THAN MY NORMAL LOW DIPPING FOREHAND DRIVE/LOOP.

[@kyoung-seonlee9004]

Nice analysis. Fully agree with you.

[@gorogimre2]

The new trend is the KAMIKAZE style in pingpong . Hit the ball as fast as possible : in the upward phase before the highest point.! Hit with tremendous power , try to hit through the spinny shots with speed and not with counterspin shots ! What you need : good reflexes ( thats why the younger player has more chance !) They have an advantage over older players because of their reaction time ! As the polyball came they wanted to do the game more spectacular but just the OPPOSITE what happend . Less touch in a rally less spinny shots ! Perhaps women's game has not become so unexciting because they are physically not able to hit the ball so powerfull. The new equipment for this KAMIKAZE style are hard & sticky rubbers on each side of the blade. At Tenergy rubbers the 05 is the hardest one . Good rubbers are Spinart and Ito Mima's NITTAKU HURRICANE PRO III TURBO and of course the national DHS Hurricane III rubbers (of course the hardest one !) but with a fast blade ! (TAMCA 5000 or 6-7mm thick carbon blade , Photino ...etc) Viscaria can survive if rubbers become harder on this blade.

[@andrtux]

speed glue and spring sponge is same thing with different products, it's helping player without use their own capabilities, so all of legal

[@zosterinski]

So will Chinese players start using Tenergy on FH rather than tacky rubbers, since it becomes more of a smashing game than a looping one? Harimoto does..

[@table_tennis_fever]

really not a good idea to use a player who is only 20% of his peak form to prove that his playing style is old. Maybe you have a correct technical point to make, but using ZJK is just too convenient. How about you use another player who is not obviously retiring from the sport to make your point? aside from this, i like this video, esp the drawing of the trajectory and the explanation of 1st bounce and optimal hitting. Good job there.

[@table_tennis_fever]

note that ZJK is not an idiot - he's been hitting the ball earlier and earlier, either from his own realization, or from suggestions from his top coaches in China. To say he still hits the ball late even 2 years after new balls came out, it's a bit of a stretch.

[@canicetang8837]

Geoffrey Chang Don't count out on ZJK yet. He is playing on his third tournament in a row. He made the qualifying easily this time around and won against seeded player Jonathan Groth of Denmark 4-1. Now in the Round of 16 and playing a tough teammate in Liang Jingkun in a close match just going 7. He was getting better but even though he got slaughtered in 2 sets of 2-11 and just eked out with a 15-13 in the final set. Let's hope he can get back to where his potentials were.

[@table_tennis_fever]

I hope so Canice, I hope so.

[@canicetang8837]

Geoffrey Chang Keep the faith. ZJK just won another though one in 7 over Jin Ueda in the quarterfinals. Now, he has to go through top seed in Timo Boll today, then the winner of the another tough semi-final between Harimoto and consistent Korean in Lee Sang Su (It will be a close one but Lee would probably prevail). Either way, he is on the right path back to the lower seeds, then life would be easier to get back to Top 10 which we should all expected soon.

[@dr.haripandey]

Thanks a lot very useful

[@nulldemokratiezwei7773]

So one could say: ITTF wanted to decrease spin in order to make TT easier with longer exchanges, but in fact they achieved the opposite. Less spin means easier to attack, more aggressive play and even shorter exchanges. So even less people will watch Tabletennis, which means less advertising, which means less money for players. The only ones profiting are the tt-companies, because players are testing new rubbers and blades to adapt to new ball. Good job ITTF! And I already know what ITTF will do next: increase the size of balls even more! Anyone dare to bet against me? Another aspect: topspin curves the ball so that it will hit the table. With less spin, more balls will go out. If ITTF would be logical, they had to increase the size of the table to make up for the loss of spin, because players will make more mistakes due to less spin!

[@pingsunday]

Exactly! You get the point! :) At the beginning, ITTF want to reduce the speed by increasing the ball size. And they think that, the international scence is more balance (reduce the dominance of Chinese player). But in reality, the trend is shifted to much more even faster style!

[@nulldemokratiezwei7773]

So ITTF should go back to 39 mm Celluloid balls. My opinion. But they will not admit to having made a mistake and instead destroy TT even more. ITTF is bad for players and good for TT-companies, who want to raise prices and sell more stuff. It is a shame. And the ITTF-President is german. But tell me: why is Timo Boll able to adapt to the new situation and Zhang Jike is not?

[@table_tennis_fever]

actually, bigger newer balls have helped western players tremendously for mid-far table rallies - haven't you noticed? Chinese players still dominate in close-mid distance, but beyond mid distance the western players have advantage, esp with the backhand. That is how Timo Boll still survives - he was dimming out of top 10 before, and now top 3.

[@ginomoujik8488]

What I don't understand is why TT professional community don't take a stand against changes. Surely, there is a way to make the production of celluloid balls more secure. I still have some 38mm balls left though and I'm enjoying them very much! :)

[@table_tennis_fever]

it's hard. there's lots of western players, and they KNOW this would help them. So that part of the "TT professional community" doesn't wanna take a stand. For the rest of the community, we don't generate big enough resistance, because ITTF is run by a lot of westerners anyway, and it's a monopoly type of management. To draw a parallel - try standing against China government, you will get run over by force. Similar story here

[@mobiusnnaito2543]

so what is the best equipment set up now for the new trend?is it still flexible blade and harder rubber for the spin and kick effect?since the new ball according to this video we should focus on speed, we do need to change to a faster set up right?

[@mdrahimmr]

Eam Rat Thic-- Actually this technique many player like Harimoto in amateur level..just simple play..wait at close table and waiting for spiny or loop ball then just tap or slap the ball..but in profesional, as an audience, we do not like to watch playing style like that because it really boring..harimoto just share and give back another player ball..if the ball is a lot of spiny or power drive we just tap/slap that bal..l but if the ball have variation or weak return ball this playing style was in trouble..maybe in professional is new trend but in amateur level many people playing like that, just wait at close the table and tapping the ball..the different harimoto and amateur level is he can do it better than we all..In amateur level playing like Ma Long is a bit, but in amateur we have a lot playing style like harimoto--wait at close table then push or slap that ball..

[@sanantoniogrowth698]

Give Zhang Jike some time. I'd think getting into round of 32 is very good given the conditions that he has had to go through.

[@farhanmursal6931]

Ma Long is my favourite player. Can't believe that Harimoto has defeated Ma Long today.. But, one thing I can assure that dictator Ma Long we'll come back soon. #TheDragonWarrior

[@СергейОрманжи-я1й]

hanging tops-spin will disappear?

[@Nightscouts]

It reminds me on women tabel tennis informer days. stay on the table with short movements.. this only works with the bounce and less spin of the Polyball .-( RIP spinny TT wtih amazing Ralleys in the Halfdistance .-( .-(

[@kenshiro11]

players using short pips also will rise again , as wee see with mattias karlsson and in the china super league yan sheng

[@darrylkassle361]

Here we go!! His got the pen and pad out!!

[@guerrerorojas5348]

What about table tennis esthetic whit the new ball? Now the rallies are shorter.

[@umendrasinha3109]

It is really good

[@hai1060]

I wonder, his father/ coach is ex-professional Chinese table tennis player. Why harimoto forehand technique is not chinese style?

[@ReiniUrban]

Actually the new style started with Liu Shiwen. Harimoto is the first to almost match her reaction time. You'll also need lighter blades, and carbon, which feels unnatural.

[@Dr.OneilAakashBiswas1038]

Effect of new ball on pimple size??

[@chatguy2010]

With the new ball, you don't need much skill.

[@AcheLone]

make the ball smaller again perhaps?

[@kurinary]

How about harimoto vs xu xin?

[@trevorbaird3827]

Bernardo, Jr Salas He is one of the only top ten players who has not lost to Harimoto yet.

[@celsopestana1656]

Wen ZJ was olympic and world champion the ball was the same,(offcourse all what u say in the video is true) he was playing must better than now...so i don't think harimoto will have any chance or any other player against ZJ at that moment...considering how is(harimoto) plyaing rigth now.

[@lcml]

nice video

[@my66Tube]

Thank`s. I will use that style for training my sun too.

[@pedrocruz5401]

What do you think about change of material in this new trend? Thanks

[@beanilsson6109]

Nice that you like, and use, a picture from my camera, "Photo (c) BeA Nilsson." But why don´t give me cred for it? Or ask me if it´s OK?

[@vinodmahale7434]

Please refer a good premade bat under 20dollars I am a penholder

[@eijimuroya8402]

FUUUUCK. I don't want to play close to the table, it's so hard for me... Maybe I'm outdated for table tennis too

[@table_tennis_fever]

close to table isn't as hard as you may think - once your balance starts moving to the rhythm, it's quite effortless actually. Try it

[@Frederic4455]

Je m'abonne... !!!!!

[@vincenttafeltennis9591]

I jus Play two years So i mist the change

[@Phorkyas31415]

While you have some good points and seem to provide a consistent overall picture I don't think it is all that easy. What you put depict as the "Horimoto style" has it not always been the Korean's? So why are they not already dominating? - Also the Women's game is like that for some time. So you are telling us LGL was wrong when he tried to teach women the men's game, he should have begung teaching men the women's way? Serously though. If what you describe is true, then the days of Ma Long's and Fan Zhendong's dominance are also counted, shouldn't they? - maybe,... we'll see, but I don't think so, yet.

[@Phorkyas31415]

Ups. The future is already now. Like with Alpha-Go which we thought 20 years away.

[@Stinger3oh3]

I really like EmRatThich for quite a few things but I feel he really tries to undermine Harimoto. It's always like harimoto is good but nothing really special. Look at Japan open '18, he even beat ma long but I am sure EmRatThich will come up with a reason why ma long wasn't 100% or he dropped the game due to some strategy (he claimed the same thing in another video which felt like bs).

[@canicetang8837]

Stinger3oh3 Harimoto is playing the modern Table Tennis suiting the new 'ball'. The coach is not talking trash about him. Relax. Like myself, he was looking to the fundamental and technical side of his 'game'. Right now, Harimoto is having the upper hand because most professional players are still playing the power 'loop to loop' style from the celluloid ball era. Those days are gone now. In fact, all those Chinese techniques that the Coach was talking about would be thrown out the window. Everything from 'Power from the Ground'. Hit with your legs and others would be changed slightly from now on. The strategies likewise, needed to have a complete rethink as well. 1. The game is now much closer to the table. In fact, Harimoto just crowding the table fishing for any high bounces coming from his side for flips or kills. That's his straight scoring method. 2. The ball will be bouncing higher and having more dwell time as the ball will simply does not respond well to incoming spins. The tactic is now of receiving serves and winning with the second ball. 3. 100% full out attack and counterattack is a must. The point is to move your opponent out of the table and get the rally ending on the open side, or hitting from the opponent's behind to get him/her by surprise. To do that, you stay away from your opponent's strike zone. In this case with Harimoto, key on his extremely weak forehand side. As well, short balls swerving away on either side will drive him further, giving you much better chances in scoring. Shorten your stroke and hit the ball at the 'rise' to give you more time (and your opponent less time) to respond. 4. Be creative and keep frustrating him often. As long as he didn't scream like a monkey, you are well on your way to dominate. 5. Be sure to take your chances with high percentage kill shots. That means hitting the ball much earlier. Ma Long didn't do that, hit the ball late and missing a ton of doable kills. 6. Don't be stubborn and change your playing gears. Move around your serving locations. Don't go toe-to-toe on his backhand side where he could use your speed, power and loops to use it against you. Down to line to his open forehand side with hook spins and kills are effective because of his poor footwork. 7. Jammed him often. His poor footwork when being jammed would hampered him even more as he would 'leaning up' with weak returns from his neck. As soon as you see this, pound him away for good. 8. Never gave him a second chance. Always put away the ball hooking away from the table so he will have no chance even to return. Let's give Harimoto a credit for a great tournament win. But he was exposed time and again this year with lower ranked players doing most of what I suggested. It is time for the higher ranked players to adapt. ZJK came almost a whisker of beating him in the final. He just needed to be healthy, playing more matches to get his game shape back. As well as adapting to hit sooner, harder, and faster to get straight scoring rather than doing his old game. Ma Long will also have to adjust, as well as many others playing in the celluloid era.

[@toekneema]

this seems like quite a bit of a stretch tbh

[@olaniyi570]

Zika is hitting underspin in this video and harimoto topspin very bad comparison

[@TableTennis-Man]

No..i think ZJK stops taking his Drugs...thats all

[@table_tennis_fever]

or needle injections to numb the pain...

[@districc409mc9]

He takes drugs?

[@stfu19999]

@@districc409mc9 every top athlete does

[@uchihasasuke7436]

ZBZH is pretty good but pls stop screaming

[@olaniyi570]

I don't like this trend or the modern playing styles.

[@canicetang8837]

olaniyi570 There is no point complaining. Most professional players think the new ball is shit but they have to adapt or they will be the old dinosaurs. Let's recall there were still players in the really old 1950s era who complained about the modern rubber and sponge paddles compared with their old pimpled ones. Guys like Marty Reisman who couldn't stand the 'deception' of the spins and other things with the modern Table Tennis game compared with his old 'Hard Bat' or 'Sandpaper Bat' style. Like it or not. This ball will once again changing how we play Table Tennis. We couldn't blame anyone, including the ITTF, for changing the ball once again to the detriment of the game. We just needed to adapt and no doubt, there will be new style of playing. Harimoto already is showing that so we must find new ways to beat this system too. If you think of it, it really is not that hard. But changing will take a bit of time from these professional players. Let's see if they can do it well, or not.