Robo-Pong the Table Tennis Robot @ Newgy.com

Photo and Tip of the Week

PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Mike Wetzel, 6, and his dad Michael made this table tennis table car that raced in the Cub Scout Pack 222 Pinewood Derby on Feb. 26 in Moulton, Alabama. It finished second in the Tiger Cub division. The car was shown in a photo package printed in the Decatur Daily. The car is shown here on the starting block, about to be started by official race starter Hollis Armstrong.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Using Funny Stuff Effectively

By Carl Danner

 Many players don't think about the fact that long pips or anti significantly limit your shot-making capabilities. So as a user of the funny stuff, you'd better get the most out of what these surfaces do have to offer.

Besides the obvious ability to cope with severe spin (and send some back), long pips and anti also permit you to deny your opponent time by blocking and pick-hitting off the bounce. This is a valuable tactic that many neglect, and it can tie even a strong opponent up in knots if he's not careful.

Executing these shots is all about timing and clean contact, not about the pace of the ball since the surface won't let you apply the topspin needed to bring a hard shot down. Focus instead on making a low, consistent block or soft hit right off the bounce. So long as it stays low, this will be challenging for most opponents to handle. With practice, you'll recognize that this shot isn't that hard to execute if you have no aspirations of pounding it.

Denying time to your opponent is a great tactic that no long pips or anti player should overlook.