Block technique for superheavy topspin

thijs gruwez Asked 10 years ago

I played a guy yesterday who had a really low heavy half-long backspin serve with some sidespin.

The only thing to do with it is push it back which I did as short and low as I could. But this Guy is waiting and spins the ball even 1 inch behind the table towards my forehand. I'm ready to block but almost every time the ball goes high/long. Doesn't help if I block early or later (let it drop). Nothing seems to work.

Am I looking at it wrong. I used to hold still when blocking and could not hold the ball on the table (some years ago). The ball would crawl up the rubber and jump high. Then somebody told be I should block more active (move the bat towards the ball a bit and steer it actively). This seemed to work exept for the really heavy topspin.

Am I using the wrong method for blocking? Should that forward motion be a rubbing motion only? Should I focus on holding the racket completely still and closing the bat more?

My backhand rubber is slower so I could also try to block most of those heavy spins with that side but that would give the opponent an easy return on the next ball.

Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago

Hi Thijs,

If the ball is really heavy I think blocking down on the ball can help.  So like you are punching the ball down towards the net with quite a firm action.

We do have a lesson on how to Counter a Slow Spinny Topspin which will also help you.