Counter a heavy backspin / side spin opponent

Hi Chaps,

Firstly, great videos and tips. Always helps with my commute home from work.

I play regularly (at work) and having some trouble with one opponent who plays a very heavy chop / backspin. My natural game is suited to a quicker / top spin rally kind of player. However, against this particular opponent, the more I top spin the harder that chop comes back. In the end it becomes very awkward to return. 

Do you have any tips for counter attacking / defending against a heavy back spin? and throwing them off their rhythm ? ... it seems my natural game is very suited to his (if that makes sense) but not the other way round. This opponent is very beatable but I somehow need to change my style / strategy to find more success.

One thing that comes to mind is my bat, and as I am playing regularly again its about time I updated. Its very old and thinking the rubber has gone. How can I tell ? .... the guys here all use very new bats / rubber and can see this generates heavy spin. It seems I am not able to return / counter with the same level of spin. I was thinking about picking up a PingSkills Touch ... are these build for speed ? or spin ... or both ? ....

(any videos to help with the above, do let me know).

Look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers

Matt 

Sydney (matraville).

Hi Matt,

I would break up the topspin with some pushing.  When you have made a few topspin shots and the ball feels like it is getting too heavy to lift, push the ball.  If he doesn't have a good attack, there is not much pressure on you to make a good push, just push it back on the table.  However, if he does attack well, keep this push lower and to his weaker attacking side.

The other thing you can do is mix up the pace of your topspin.  Often a slower higher topspin can be more difficult for the chopper to return.  Again, think of the direction of this shot and try to find awkward positions for him.  The middle, into his right hip, can be effective as well against a defender.

We do have a tutorial on this but it is a Premium one. Playing A Defensive Chopper.

Enjoy those commutes home... make sure you don't play that Harimoto celebration video on the train! Too loud!