peteblue
Welcome back Wayne
You only improve by playing the best. ..
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Messymascot's faith in humanity and ginger safe haven
- Thread starter messymascot
- Start date
You only improve by playing the best. ..
Well....when I was 16 I was England ranked but was never good enough to play for the national team. I played for the county and town teams.
I've played ( and lost to!) some truly exceptional players and even some you might have heard of - Chester Barnes , Desmond Douglas, Dennis Neale and a European No1 .
In terms of pure stroke play I'm at least as good now , in fact by back hand is much better . However I had a very lengthy break from the game of about 37 years before I returned to playing when I was 55.
You lose so much in that time and with age, particularly reflexes ( at a high level the sport is very quick) and of course speed and mobility. Although I should say that my coach says that I am still very quick around the table , in fact too quick as according to him I need to take my time and be more considered in my shot selection and movement.
Interestingly despite being very competitive I have lost a lot of my drive, focus and intensity that made me the player that I was.
I still play to win but I am much much more interested in enjoying it now , winning isn't everything, which it used to be.
Your eyesight goes as well ( playing in glasses is possible but difficult for an attacking player like me ) and that makes it much harder to read spin especially off an elite players serves.
But I remain fit , play to a decent standard and enjoy it. In actual fact I'm far more use now as an administrator than a player !
Sorry for the long reply BL ......but you did ask
.
peteblue
Welcome back Wayne
Anj it goes without saying that we all wish it goes ok….
peteblue
Welcome back Wayne
A long time ago when I was at SFX college, a mate of mine in the same class as myself throughout our college years used to play at junior Wimbledon every year. I used to play tennis with him as he was really good but he was about a foot taller than me (we also played football together but that’s another story). I remember one particular match when the other kids were watching us and I hit four aces against him one after the other. The mate was a lad called Mark Farrell, who once represented the U.K. in the Davis cup and got to the final at Wimbledon in the mixed doubles with Lesley Charles only to be defeated by Billie Jean King and some other fella. He managed to beat both Bjorn Borg and Stan Smith at the odd event and was a great lad. He actually could have been a better professional footballer, he was that good, but he loved tennis. Anyway he died six years ago. I am privileged to have known him, played with him and been friends with him. But if nothing else, in life and professional life, if you want to progress, play or emulate the best you know….I’m sure you understand this Jazzy…..
Wow he sounded like some athlete Pete.
Always an honor to play with or against some as talented as that.
peteblue
Welcome back Wayne
He was the usual Victor Ludorum at our yearly college athletics competition, and considering the difference in height, together we also won the three legged race
together, I think he carried me tbh…..
Thanks for that, I appreciate you taking the time to write in detail . I do remember the three players you mentioned , although I can’t recall knowing any more recent players. ( I’m fighting hard not to crack a joke about loving Desmond Douglas when he sang “ Israelites “, too obscure!) It’s a long time you were out of the game and great that you came back. Are their age category competitions where you can compete against people in your age group?Well....when I was 16 I was England ranked but was never good enough to play for the national team. I played for the county and town teams.
I've played ( and lost to!) some truly exceptional players and even some you might have heard of - Chester Barnes , Desmond Douglas, Dennis Neale and a European No1 .
In terms of pure stroke play I'm at least as good now , in fact by back hand is much better . However I had a very lengthy break from the game of about 37 years before I returned to playing when I was 55.
You lose so much in that time and with age, particularly reflexes ( at a high level the sport is very quick) and of course speed and mobility. Although I should say that my coach says that I am still very quick around the table , in fact too quick as according to him I need to take my time and be more considered in my shot selection and movement.
Interestingly despite being very competitive I have lost a lot of my drive, focus and intensity that made me the player that I was.
I still play to win but I am much much more interested in enjoying it now , winning isn't everything, which it used to be.
Your eyesight goes as well ( playing in glasses is possible but difficult for an attacking player like me ) and that makes it much harder to read spin especially off an elite players serves.
But I remain fit , play to a decent standard and enjoy it. In actual fact I'm far more use now as an administrator than a player !
Sorry for the long reply BL ......but you did ask
Gwladysover
Player Valuation: £35m
As always keeping everything crossed and sending good thoughts and best wishes to you all, Anj.
Gwladysover
Player Valuation: £35m
Morning all, happy to report it is a beautiful morning here for the last school run as grandson’s school breaks up today. The sports day at granddaughter’s school today has been cancelled after yesterday’s deluge. They are very disappointed as it is Hannah’s last one, she moves up to senior school and also for Jess as she had been picked for the “best of the best” sprint relay, as mentioned before cancellation of sports day and I would have been absolutely cockahoop!
Have a good day, all.
Have a good day, all.
There are age specific categories but I don't play in them. In fact only last week the European Veterans Championship was held in Rome.
A female club mate of mine made the quarter final in the over 60s which is some achievement .
However they take it very very seriously, as seriously as me when I was younger. It's a bit difficult to explain to non TT players but some of them play with " funny" rubbers - perfectly legal - which makes the ball react inconsistently and it really isn't fun to play against.
Purists like me and call them dodgy bats and hate playing them. A lot of players turn to them to compensate for age and loss of mobility. They are difficult and frustrating to play against.
Anyway sorry to bore the rest of you lovely people on here so have a lovely day everyone - it's dry and not cold today - yay!
mate
@blueloon there is another more modern table tennis player that you will have heard of even though perhaps you never knew he played .
Matthew Syed the Times journalist and author was a stunningly good player. He's about 10 years younger than me so I never got to play him .
That's probably just as well because he was an incredibly skillful defender ( unusual for an elite player ). Matt was England No1 for many years and won several Commonwealth Games golds. I think he was top 20 World ranked which is amazing.
The top ranked England men's player now is Liam Pitchford who is at about WR 35 I think.
Matthew Syed the Times journalist and author was a stunningly good player. He's about 10 years younger than me so I never got to play him .
That's probably just as well because he was an incredibly skillful defender ( unusual for an elite player ). Matt was England No1 for many years and won several Commonwealth Games golds. I think he was top 20 World ranked which is amazing.
The top ranked England men's player now is Liam Pitchford who is at about WR 35 I think.
Good morning all. I've just been catching up with thread. I've enjoyed reading the table tennis stuff @jazzy. I had heard of a few you mentioned. If I remember correctly Chester Barnes became a racehorse trainer after he finished with table tennis. I'm genuinely impressed by anybody who can play any sport to a decent level. I'm sure I've said on here before that I have the co- ordination of a slightly drunk octopus and I am truly awful at anything. I fact I aspire to be average 
.
I didn't know you were an Old Xav @peteblue. I had a few mates who went there and my Dad and uncle did as well. My brothers went to St Edwards. Trying to guess your age, I think you are considerably younger than my Dad but older than my friends so you won't know any of them. Dad used to play cricket for the Old Xavs in his younger days.
Thank you for all your good wishes about Chris. If thoughts, prayers and positivity mean anything he's going to be fine. It's just been a long bumpy road.
No plans today. It isn't raining so I might do a bit of gardening. Nothing outrageous, just some tidying up.
Have a lovely day all.
.I didn't know you were an Old Xav @peteblue. I had a few mates who went there and my Dad and uncle did as well. My brothers went to St Edwards. Trying to guess your age, I think you are considerably younger than my Dad but older than my friends so you won't know any of them. Dad used to play cricket for the Old Xavs in his younger days.
Thank you for all your good wishes about Chris. If thoughts, prayers and positivity mean anything he's going to be fine. It's just been a long bumpy road.
No plans today. It isn't raining so I might do a bit of gardening. Nothing outrageous, just some tidying up.
Have a lovely day all.
My bessie went to St Eddie's Anj. He's same age as me , how old are your brothers?Good morning all. I've just been catching up with thread. I've enjoyed reading the table tennis stuff @jazzy. I had heard of a few you mentioned. If I remember correctly Chester Barnes became a racehorse trainer after he finished with table tennis. I'm genuinely impressed by anybody who can play any sport to a decent level. I'm sure I've said on here before that I have the co- ordination of a slightly drunk octopus and I am truly awful at anything. I fact I aspire to be average
I didn't know you were an Old Xav @peteblue. I had a few mates who went there and my Dad and uncle did as well. My brothers went to St Edwards. Trying to guess your age, I think you are considerably younger than my Dad but older than my friends so you won't know any of them. Dad used to play cricket for the Old Xavs in his younger days.
Thank you for all your good wishes about Chris. If thoughts, prayers and positivity mean anything he's going to be fine. It's just been a long bumpy road.
No plans today. It isn't raining so I might do a bit of gardening. Nothing outrageous, just some tidying up.
Have a lovely day all.
Well done it will give you more next year . Don't tell MrF and have them when he is out !
All our best wishes for Chris' scan and the result next week .