Liu Guoliang - Kalinikos Kreanga /2001

[tato4527]

definitivamente es el mejor golpe de revés del circuito profesional de tenis de mesa.

[Dgoxcore]

the best backhand in the world

kreanga

[Goddeity]

That would be wang hao.

[EDGQ1013]

Speaking only of their backhand swings, Kreanga's is fierce and intended to kill... Wang Hao's clean, artistic and intelligent, while Persson's is usually 'at the last moment' and desperate. Choice is a matter of taste, and their opponent's state of readiness at the moment. :)

[gpnok91]

also look at jorgen perssons backhand swat kill!

[ahmedotado]

i'm penholder, but the kreanga backhand is soooo beautiful !! o.0

[EDGQ1013]

Yes, it's beautiful because it's free, full-swung, natural, graceful yet forceful - particularly in contrast to Lou's very restricted, unnatural over-compromised version of the pen-hold style. For a supreme example of a much more natural and free PH style, look closely at Wang Hao's far more evolved version.

[haydonlee93]

lui is playing very restricted so he can use short strokes to attack the ball off the bounce

[EDGQ1013]

Liu IS using short strokes, not because they're the best attack strokes to use but because his close to the net play forces him that. Hits 'off the bounce' are not really attacks in the best sense of the word, but blocks, quick as they might be.  Attacks are best to happen when ball contact is at its peak or thereafter, where the longer swings are most likely - which Kreanga gets to do more as his variable table distance allows that - checkout what they do with their elbows during each swing...

[klu501]

you do realize that this is in 2001, with the different ball size, game length, and everything

[EDGQ1013]

Yes, the smaller size in 2001 made for an even speedier ball, quicker exchanges and endings... making Liu's blocks all the more remarkable, and perhaps more effective. Now the question begs itself: Did Liu's style die off because the larger ball made it less effective? Or is it the larger and fuller swings of the new generation of players (look at Ma Long and Wang Hao) that made it less effective in comparison?