Game and skills analysis John Hilton (England)

In the category of “Retired Masters” I don’t do any analysis.  I added them just for the record. Only for those who don’t Know the history: In the eighties you were allowed to play with unicolour bat on both side. This was giving John Hilton a big advantage since the opponent could not see the difference between Anti-spin-rubber and sticky rubber in. You could only here it. But at the time not only John stumbled with his feet everytime touching the ball trying to prevent the opponent from hearing the difference. Rightly ITTF changed the rules in favor of two colour blades fearing that a “minority sport” like table tennis will  even lose more spectators disliking to see presumably unforced errors. Also you can observe the “unfair” advantage of a serve played right out of the palm of the hand (without throwing up the ball at all).

Simply enjoy some of the videos

Here comes John Hilton (England):

 

Game and skills analysis KIM Doyub (Korea)

The following observations are of course my personal view and do not claim to be the “truth”!

Here comes KIM Doyub  (Korea):

One video is not enough to judge, but

Strengths:

• very good footwork
• good forehand topspin on push and as countertopspin from behind the table
• good and consistent backhand defense
• good variety of forehand serves
• good forehand defense

Weaknesses:

• Forehand return on serve often too high or not containing enough backspin, not preventing opponent to get in with heavy forehand topspin
• sometimes he is a bit too far behind the table when confronted with a heavy slow and short topspin thus returning to ball too high or event not at all
• not using the rubber in occasionally on backhand when pushing

Suggestions:

• twiddle the bat when pushing when it makes sense
• use pushlifting the ball occasionally with long pips (see Gionis or Ruwen Filus)
• use more backhand serves