Monther Aldwairi    

Home About me Research Islam Jordan
Professional Personal Family Album Resume



Name
Monther Aldwairi
USATT rating: current/highest
1687 (still way underrated :)
Birthday
Feb, 1976
City/Country of origin
Irbid, Jordan

Personal History
Lived in Kittim, Amman, Jordan
Moved to Raleigh NC in 2000
Finishing up my PhD in Computer Engineering @ NC State University
Single! For all of you out there ;)

Other Hobbies
Soccer, Jogging, Working out, SiFi/Mystery movies, Bowling, Pool, Golf...

Currently/Formerly employed with:
Research Assistant and Student @ NC State University (00-present)
System Integration Engineer @ ARAMEX International (98-00)
BSc in Electrical/Computer Engineering from JUST

TT accomplishments
My biggest achievement was reviving NC State's TT club and bringing back its lost glory. As a team captain I helped the team win the Carolina Division and qualify to the NCTTA05 National Table Tennis Championships (teams). The nationals took place at Texas Wesleyan University @ Fortworth, TX on April 1-2, 05. NC State finished 18th (out of 105+ NCTTA member schools).

Clubs
CTTA, CTTC

Equipment: racket, rubber
Butterfly VSG-1000 Proline blade.
I go back and forth between Butterfly Ecrips Soft for forehand, Butterfly Bryce for Backhand AND
Friendship RITC 729 Tack Speed (FH), Friendship Super 729 FX (BH)
I'd like to find a rubber as tacky as Chinese rubbers, fast as Butterfly's Bryce and Soft as Yasaka Xtend or Tebhar Torpedo Soft
Till then, I am doing very well with any fast/tacky rubber as long as the blade is fast:)

Style: shakehand/penhold, attack/defend, etc
Right hand shakehand, lopper/attacker
I would rather lose the game attacking than pushing.
I've a very strong forehand loop/smash and i put them to use!

Memorable Matches
Two matches against a 1300 Maryland guy and a 1850 Rutgers University player @ the 2004 collegiate nationals
I learned that you can loose to anybody and win anybody! Since then I got over "points/ratings" they don't matter anymore.
I careless who I am playing against, I am gonna force him to play my game and do what i do best (that is loop every ball!)

Memorable tournaments
Playing in the2005 NCTTA National Collegiate Table Tennis Championship. Magical is the only word to describe the experience. The first time felt like a professional player, from the badges/tags, security, uniforms, umpires, crowds (in the 100's I estimate) marching into the play area with music, cheer leaders (believe it or not they "borrowed" then for the opening)

TT: strength/weakness
strength: Forehand precision variable spin/speed loop and Smash.
weakness: inconsistency and adapting to opponents changing tactics during the match as well as weaker backhand loop

Common mistake people make when playing you:
Pushing or blocking, unless you're a 2000+ defender
who can block several loops to the sides of the table, you're in big trouble

favorite shot
1. Forehand loop off underspin/deal balls and any long serves.
2. Loop, Smash and drop combinations against choppers and blockers.

Favorite serves
Heavy disguised under/side spin deep to the backhand (90% an ace till they figure it out)
Short top spin or deal ball to both FH/BH to force long high return!

Overall strategy
Finish the point as quickly as possible, loop/open up on serves and returns to keep opponents on the defensive!

Strategy against higher rated players
Force him to play my game. Serve short and Loop and Smash. Once the get nervous the match is yours. Higher rated players don't try hard to force the point they wait for you to make mistakes, so minimize errors and make you plays

Strategy against lower rated player
Take him out of the game quickly, show him all you got, never loosen up. Adjust to cover up your weaknesses

Comments
I've got my own special loose unorthodox grip! don't expect any finger balls!