Blog entries

On the mend

David Bernstein — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:17:32 +0100

It's been roughly 8 weeks since I've been to a club and hit a ball but it seems like a million years. With physical therapy and other treatments the nerve in my neck seems to be a bit less squished than it was a month ago but it still gives me trouble most of the time and the specialist say it's best not to do any vigorous exercise until the symptoms go away completely. Which at the current rate feels like another 6-8 weeks, i.e., another million years, before I get to play a matc...

John does his talking on the table (for once)

Andy Wignall — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:08:52 +0100

John Malone starred in the re-arranged match between Crus A and Crus C last week, taking the prized scalp of Dan Rimmer in the process, but coming under pressure from Dan Otter who was two one up at one stage. Dan Otter was successful against Ian Sleight though as a consolation, as the A team scraped to a 6/4 victory, no card up on the website yet (I've been waiting for it) to report further, but by all accounts it was an enthralling match.

New member shows dogged determination..

Andy Wignall — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:52:08 +0100

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jaAgAFLtL0

What a week

Andy Wignall — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:46:30 +0100

I have played superbly this week, I'm so happy, you know when you just have one of those weeks when you just play well?

Anyway enough about me, Billy Holmes is continuing his personal progress mission, learning about flicks/flips he is entering into a new realm of thinking, and I have to say, he absolutely loves it, he's so enthusiastic.

Dan Rimmer is also happy to learn from my experiences of TT, Dan is the undisputed number two in Lincoln, but he is so willing to t...

Question from Wingspan

Andy Wignall — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:44:14 +0100

Hi Andy, We haven't done this in a while! I know you coach a chopper so my question is this: what is the basic technique or set of techniques that a chopper uses to vary the spin on their chops? Does it differ between the long pips and inverted sides?

Hi Dave.

long pips are subject to the incoming ball and what spin is on that, so most of the variation is done with the reverse side. Faster or slower contact speed is the normal way of an oppo...

County champs vets

Andy Wignall — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:21:46 +0100

Lincolnshire finished 3rd in Div 1a behind Cleveland (winners) and Hertfordshire. Myself and mark Donoghue were unbeaten over the eight singles matches, along with Lesley keast who won 4/4 in ladies singles. Jim Brewster chipped in with 2/4 and Brian Hill with 1/4

I played with the new Xiom sheet on my f/hand, and although it let me down touch wise on a few occasions, it was fine in the power/spin ratio department, if anything it lacks 'gears' compared to Tenergy, particularly at...

Sidelined

David Bernstein — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:07:16 +0100

Sometime around December 18th I did something which caused a pinched nerve in my neck. I'll spare you the details but it involves the phrase "radiating pain," which is never a good thing. Fortunately it appears to be not very serious and should heal on its own with some physical therapy. In the meantime I can't do any activity which requires turning my head quickly or abruptly or at an odd angle so ping pong is out. It may be 2-3 months before the symptoms decrease eno...

Good 10 nil away win.

Andy Wignall — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:56:55 +0100

My team (crusaders 'D') played away at Claytons against their 'B' team last night, and recorded a great 10-nil victory, 3 wins for Alkisti, Graham and Wayne is a good result at a difficult venue.

The Xiom is nice to play with, seems a tad fast, but very spinny, I'm playing county TT this weekend, I'll keep it on my f/hand, but swap back to the T05 on my b/hand I think, under pressure It will expose my touch if I don't because I have not had time to adapt. I have a new rubber bein...

New Rubbers

Andy Wignall — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:35:30 +0100

I'm trying some new rubbers, Xiom Vega pro, they have just arrived, and i will be playiong with them tonight, after that i'll do a mini review on here.

The wilmott cup day was a success, Lincoln finishing 3rd, behind Hull and Nottingham, and ahead of Grimsby, had we been at full strength, I think we would have finished second, behind the very strong Hull side of Chris Clinton and Sean Madden.

Strongest team shows gulf in standards

Andy Wignall — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:37:17 +0100

My team (crus 'D') turned out their strongest line up against the crusaders 'A' team and ran out easy 10 nil winners, but most of the matches were enjoyable and reasonably competitive. They were never really going to trouble myself and Mark Donoghue, but Steve Barnes is nearer to the standard and that is where the most competitive games were produced, with the highlight being Steve's unbelievable fifth game comeback against Nigel Keal, Steve having gone 4-0 up, then only winning one poi...

Back to the action next week

Andy Wignall — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:26:15 +0100

On Monday its my team against Crusaders 'A' a much anticipated fixture. I'm not sure as to my teams selection, in theory if we field our strongest side of myself, Mark Donoghue and Steve Barnes, we will crush them, but Its more likely to be Me, Alkisti and Graham, in which case we won't.

I hope Jimmy Wynne has actually got in his head what I was telling him earlier tonight, I'm sure Karl will keep reminding him lol.

Remember everyone, The Wilmott cup is coming to Cru...

Goal for 2012, part I

David Bernstein — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:28:51 +0100

My goal for 2011 was to improve my backhand attack and, in particular, to stop pushing so much on the backhand side while waiting for a forehand opening. I think I was more or less successful in that insomuch as I broke the pushing habit although the actual attacks themselves are at this point a hit and miss affair.

For 2012 my first two goals are to improve stroke recovery and to videotape some of my matches. The first one I know can be done since having a slow recovery is...

The law of diminishing returns.

Andy Wignall — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:09:56 +0100

What the hell am I on about? Its the point where you realise that the input you can make will not deliver the results, in relation to the input. It applies to very few players in Lincoln, Myself, Mark D, Mick Thornley, and Paul Moore. I would say that all of the players mentioned have been past their pinnacle, they remain potently serious players, but to improve each of their games would require so much dedication as to be not worth it, considering that all of them have been through it before...

British league report

Andy Wignall — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:23:52 +0100

I was pleased to get a mention in the ETTA BR league reports;

The Speedwell Chesterfield side had fewer problems in round six. It was pretty much plain sailing as Alice Sheng, Jasmine Yang, William Cooney and Andrew Henry disposed of bottom side Wadsey Bridge 8-0.