How to Improve: The Methods I Recommend
Today let us assess the fastest methods to improve.
Switch to a Fresh Sheet of Rubber
Undoubtedly, this is the most direct and effective method. Often, poor playing state relates to mood, rest and so on. But most of the time, switching to a fresh sheet of rubber can effectively ease it. I lost two matches, glanced at the rubber — under 4 months, and the T05 was already like this. For someone at my level and this playing frequency, it should be changed every two months! The Butterfly Tenergy line has always had better sponge built-in-energy durability than German rubber, but the surface scuffs too easily. A player joked that Butterfly makes rubber not durable on purpose, because too durable would hurt sales. German rubbers — many surfaces scale, but the friction is still okay; instead, the sponge’s built-in energy is too short-lived. The urgent move: switch to a fresh sheet and get a brand-new feel. Fresh rubber’s bite raises error-tolerance and landing rate, and gives you more of the joy of creating spin. Judging rubber lifespan, everyone has their own standard. But where finances allow, these tensors, if you play two or three times a week, are best changed within two months. A fresh sheet always easily raises your rating directly.
Switch to a Suitable Pair of Table Tennis Shoes
Suitable shoes have better grip — besides preventing injury, they let you start faster and somewhat make up for footwork shortcomings. For example a budget Mizuno Crossmatch Pilo or Asics Hyperbeat series, the lightweight kind, let you quickly feel wind under your feet, moving more nimbly. At every official match, I switch to my favorite reliable shoes. In play, movement is faster and attacking stability is higher than usual.
Sports Drinks
If you are very sleepy that evening, in my experience, Red Bull really refreshes the most. After drinking, the mind is less foggy. It really is more obvious than Mizone, Gatorade and other sports drinks, raising competitive state the most. Speaking of refreshing — especially for office workers like us who can only play at night — with energy, the competitive state is surely better. So go to bed earlier when possible and keep enough sleep for better effect. But my favorite is still Pocari Sweat. After drinking it, I feel less prone to fatigue. Of course, the healthier choice is mineral water. If you do not feel weak during play, mineral water and plain water are enough.
Multi-Ball Training
To maintain a high competitive level and good state, multi-ball training is a very important and effective method. Know that most of our real-match time actually tests reaction and reflexes. And multi-ball training best improves these. By my personal experience, multi-ball training really does improve your game the most.
Throw Yourself Into Unfamiliar Environments
Frequently improve via unfamiliar encounter battles, putting yourself in a more excited state and developing more possibilities. Usually we mostly play familiar people, and many good balls are just practice making perfect. Once on the match court, it is greatly discounted. Only by keeping more interaction with unfamiliar players can you be forced yet actively to raise your game.