Always under pressure

Table Tennis Match Strategy

Last updated 9 years ago

Rob Janssen

Rob Janssen Asked 9 years ago

Hi coach,

When Im playing a match in competition I find myself multiple times 10 feet away from the table lobbing the ball to my oponent because I just cant get them under pressure unless I am to serve so I know where the next ball comes but when my opponent recieves a serve differently of what I expected I can start lobbing again haha... I am alright at Lobbing, I think I find myself at least 20-30 rallies lobbing behind the table until my opponent misses or I make a counter attack.

The 2 problems I am having are that I have a bit of a weak backhand, I mostly only counterhit during a rally and sometimes I loop against backspin but only when I am expecting the ball. 

And the second one is that when my opponent plays differently from what I expected then I get confused and I dont know what to do anymore.

On the other side; I find lobbing a very funny way of playing and I think I make more points with blocking and lobbing then with attacking and putting pressure on my opponent.

But I was thinking about getting a long pimple rubber on the backhand and start defending. to be honest I always hated to play against those defenders but I think it would be very funny to just chop everything back to the table. since Im 80% of the rallies under pressure of my opponent and I am lobbing away from the table it would be more effective to chop instead of lob and maybe mix it up a little bit to confuse my opponent.

So do you think defending is something for me?, or do you think I would just improve my game so I can pressure my opponent more.

thanks!


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago

Hi Rob,

It sounds like you do enjoy moving back and defending.  This will also solve the problem of your backhand.

I would say give it a try.  You have nothing to lose.  You can try doing it for a couple of months.  If you don’t enjoy it, you can always go back to playing with normal on both sides and attacking more.


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Rob Janssen

Rob Janssen Posted 9 years ago

okay thanks tonight i will try it tonight at the training. i will borrow a bat from one of our defending players. 

do you know if there are long pimples that allow you to chop and reverse the spin but also allow you to topspin almost like a normal rubber ( with less spin ofcourse)?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago

Hi Rob,

I am not very familiar with the different long pimples.  Maybe others will have some advice on the type of long pimples to use.


Ayesha Noon

Ayesha Noon Posted 9 years ago

Hey Alois, 

Some of my shots end up either in the net or out of bounds because I don't know how to angle them right. So do you have any tips that can help me aim all my shots where I want them to go? Can you help me with this?

 


Rob Janssen

Rob Janssen Posted 9 years ago

Well, I have tried some long pimples. First I tried some pimples without sponge. It took took 10 minutes to get a little bit used to it and then I played A practice match. It was pretty funny, the only downsode was that I somethimes couldnt get the ball on the table with the pimples but thats just the matter of getting used to it more. 'I was very annoying already' they said. What was the most fun part to do was to do a fast serve to their backhand and then they just counterhit the ball back to my backhand and I turned my bat around and topspinned it down the line. I think that gave me the most points. I also tried some pimples with a 1,8 mm sponge that allowed me to do backhand topspins. Sometimes the ball went over the table and sometimes it was on the table but I think that was just because with the pimples I cant create my own spin and when the loop and a loop the ball back I actually do a backspin loop so the ball doesnt dip. The guy that lend me his bats said he would bring a half long pimple rubber which makes it even easier to topspin the ball, wonder how that will work out.

Anyway thanks for the advice Alois!


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago

Hi Rob,

You are having too much fun : )

Keep working on the skills and see how they develop.


Ayesha Noon

Ayesha Noon Posted 9 years ago

Hey Alois, some of my shots end up either in the net or out of bounds because I don't know how to angle them right. So do you have any tips that can help me aim all my shots where I want them to go? Can you help me with this?

Please answer.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago

This is a matter of experience and hitting enough balls.  With this you start to learn the small changes that you need to make for each ball.  That is why this game is so interesting.  You need to learn through experience the subtleties of the game.


Ayesha Noon

Ayesha Noon Posted 9 years ago

Thanks


Ishan Pandey

Ishan Pandey Posted 9 years ago

alois sir,

please give me an description on all types of shots and defending

reply soon 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago

Hi Ishan,

Take a look through our Strokes & Techniques section.  Work your way down the page of all the strokes.



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