Coach Samson Dubina US National Team Coach 4x USATT Coach of the Year
 

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Probabilities vs Indicators

Do YOU know the difference?

 
Probabilities vs Indicators
By Samson Dubina
www.SamsonDubina.com
 
A probability is what is likely to happen, an indicator is what is happening.  Why is it important to understand these terms?  Because your ability to anticipate properly totally depend on these 2 – probabilities and indictors.  Let me explain…
 
Every serve, return, loop, chop, block, etc, has a likely return based on your shot and based on the style and level of your opponent.  When serving long backspin to the forehand, there is a high probability that Billy will loop.  Once you have served and you see him preparing to push, you now see the indicator that he is indicating that he is going to push.  The probability is what is likely to come.  The indicator is what you see is actually coming.  Typically, you should adjust your ready position based on probabilities, but you should not commit with your backswing until you see an indicator.  If you don’t see an indicator, you will likely need a shorter swing.  If you do see an indicator, then you will sometimes be able to take a slightly longer swing.
 
Most players have a very lopsided approach.  For example, they serve topspin short to the forehand and expect a normal flip crosscourt to their forehand.  They are playing so much with the probability, that they aren’t looking for an indicator.  The other wrong approach is to not consider the probability and just feel it out looking for last-second indicators.  This too is wrong.
 
Your coach can give you guidance on this as well.  Simply start with your serves.  Think to yourself about when you are playing Billy…  When I serve ______ or ________  or ________, what is the likely response.  Learn to take your time between points and consider the probabilities before serving.  Don’t, however, get stuck on watching your amazing serve; open your eyes and look (yes, look) for an indicator.  Once you have mastered doing this on your serve, then move to the more difficult aspects of the game, the rallies.  As you are playing points with your practice partner and coach, talk about the rallies.  Wow, you really tricked me on that deceptive block!  Wow!  Was that a probable return?  If so, you should have been ready!  If not, were there any indicators that you should have read?  As you learn to know the probabilities and read the indicators, you can become the most consistent, yet trickiest player at your club!
 
 
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Hi Friends,
 
Since closing the Samson Dubina TT Academy, I have been working full-time online with Power Pong International in sales, marketing, and online coaching!  It is great to have the best robot in the world, it is even better to have the best robot with a coach working with you every step of the way.  I'm here to give you online support!  I have given over 700 online table tennis lessons and you will be surprised at how much you can learn about techniques, tactics, your playing system, probabilities, indicators, and much much more (from the convenience of your home)!  Buy any robot here from my website and get free online lessons!  These lessons can be through FaceTime, Zoom, or any other online video chat!  
 
Have a question?  Great!  I love questions!
 
Just send me an e-mail tt@SamsonDubina.com and I'll get right back to you!  I look forward to coaching you soon!
 
Samson Dubina
tt@SamsonDubina.com
 
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