TT Doubles at the usual place and some new ideas!

Wed, 17/9/2025

The first was 

JA / OD (winner) vs KE / WX

The second was 

KE / OD (winner) vs JA / RO 

The third was 

OD / LK (winner) vs JA / KE

So if it was the case that, in singles, 

KE is 8

RO is 7.5

JA, LK and WX are 7 and

OD is between 6 and 7 (so 6.5) ...

The assumption that doubles results are just a simple add-up of the players’ skill level doesn’t really hold. 

In the first match, 13.5 defeats 15. Perhaps a particular player did illegal serves that were hard to read so this might not mean anything.  

The second: 14.5 wins 15. Most narrowly; the tiny difference means it could be because one pair had a little more chemistry or luck played a part. 

The third match is the weirdest. 13.5 defeats 15 again?! We can’t just attribute this to illegal serves because the players had already familiarized themselves with each other’s serves by this time. Perhaps it was tiredness as KE has played the longest at this point, but this has to be the best example against the “add-up theory” for doubles.

Potentialities for future doubles

So, what for future doubles matches? If we assume

NK,

KL,

KV,

XZ are probably 7.5

DV,

SM,

HC,

AU are probably 7 and 

XJ, RA are probably 6.5

And as previously mentioned, 

KE is 8, RO is 7.5, LK is 7…

What results might these great combinations yield? 

1. KL / XZ = 15+ (dual penholder finesse advantage)

2. KE / KV = 15.5 (dual chopper)

3. RO / XZ = 15+ (dual experience advantage)

4. KE / DV = 15+ (dual shakehand offensive advantage)

5. NK / RO = 15+ (left & righthander advantage) 

6. RO / LK = 14.5+ (dual shakehand offensive advantage)

7. NK / WX = 14.5 (dual shakehand)

8. DV / HC = 14+ (dual shakehand offensive)

And maybe…

9. AU / SM = 14 (dual penholder) 

10. XZ / RA = 14 (dual defensive all-round)

11. AU / XJ = 14 (dual penholder) 

12. XJ / HC = 13.5+ (dual speed defense advantage) 

Incorporating a Home gym, TT den & walk-in closeted bedroom into a 180 sqm luxury apartment

Here at Sports and Things, I’m dedicated to not just helping my readers level up their table tennis game but also explore ways to live a gymbro exceeding all-round buff life. No more table tennis and gyms in dingy garages - here, I have redesigned a real-life home design for the purposes highlighted in the post title, and I’ll explain why it’s ideal for the accomplished high-flyer, the elite table tennis player or someone who just wants a cool private den.

The double L-shape layout separates the public and private areas, wherein the entrance room, kitchen and dining area constitute the foremost part of the 1st L, followed by the long room - the living and guest entertaining zone. Activities and uses there include big-screen movies, table tennis, card games-on-table, office table work and gym. A spacious bathroom with a bathtub and two separated toilets (obscured in the picture) provide ample convenience on guest-filled occasions. The second L is the private bedroom which accommodates a walk-in closet and a gym area of two large machines and an all-purpose exercise mat. The machines can be wheeled out into the long room to replace the foldable table tennis table, and tatami mats also taken out for extra sleeping capacity, in addition to the expandable sofa (-bed) in the living section of the long room. The overall floor space is estimated at 180 sq m. Artist (badly photoshopped) impression only.