How to defend fast topspin shots

Strokes and Technique

yan huo
yan huo Asked 12 years ago

I've been playing table tennis like 4-6 months now. We are playing pretty competitively and im thinking about joining in to a real "club". My footwork, positioning and everything else is above novice level. But defending fast topspin shots... I just cant do it. Out of 100 "loops" (or what ever that kind of shot is called) I managed to touch 15 of them, and one of them hit the table. (and I even knew they were coming :()

My problem is not being afraid. Thats for sure. (i think:) When the opponent hits hard topspin, I just freeze. It feels like I cant really do anything. The further I back away, harder it seems to hit it and react to it.

Personally I think our current training place is too small. There is approx. 3-5 metres free space behind the table and 1-2 metres at the side of table. I like to think this is the issue why I cant defend fast balls properly.

Any brotips, anything.


Alois Rosario
Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago

Hi Yan Huo,

It sounds like you are doing really well.  Joining a club is a really good idea because you will get lots of experience playing a lot of different players.

Learning to block fast topspins or loops comes with playing and getting used to the pace.  It is not something that anyone can do straight away.  You slowly get used to the ball travelling faster and faster.  The more you face faster balls the better you will get at it.

I don't think the smaller room will be a problem, in fact it will make you a little faster in the long term because you will learn to react faster rather than moving backwards.


Thoughts on this question


Caleb The

Caleb The Posted 12 years ago

Hi Alois,

What do you mean by a small room being better for playing in? I always found big rooms easier to play in because I can move more away from the table! To be honest, I don't really understand the concept of a topspin.

Thanks


Caleb The

Caleb The Posted 12 years ago

Hi Alois,

What do you mean by a small room being better for playing in? I always found big rooms easier to play in because I can move more away from the table! To be honest, I don't really understand the concept of a topspin.

Thanks


rahul gupta

rahul gupta Posted 12 years ago

Topspin means brushing the upper half of ball upwards.


rahul gupta

rahul gupta Posted 12 years ago

Topspin means brushing the upper half of ball upwards.


Ji-Soo Woo

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 12 years ago

Of course more room is better for playing in, but what Alois was saying is that playing in limited space can actually train you in better habits.  This is because too many people (myself included) drop back from the table too quickly as a way of buying themselves more time.  The simple fact is, however, everything being equal, it is the player who plays closer to the table who dictates the rally and wins most of the points.  Having no room to back off from the table means you get used to playing clsoe to the table even against aggressive strokes.


William Butler Denby

William Butler Denby Posted 12 years ago

I first played in a small garage with about a metres space behind the table (tiny I know), and it forced me to learn to play close to the table. Because of this, my reaction times became very quick, and I had to learn to get lots of topspin to keep the ball on the table if I wanted to hit a fast shot.

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Hi Caleb,

Ji-Soo and William are right and have explained well what I mean.  Desmond Douglas an old English player had the same experience.  He had lightning quick reflexes which he attributes to the fact that he played in small rooms early in his development.


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