How to play against good FH attacker

Hi, coach!

Yesterday I played an attacker who tries to do powerful topspins immediately after serving. He doesn't attack using BH topspin, but he moves and does FH topspin. I tried to push to his BH side, if the ball is very short it is uncomfortable for attack then he does very fast, spinny and low push to my BH side, and I can't return it by attacking. I returned it by pushing. How to play him?

Hi Ardak,

Playing against a strong forehand attacker can indeed be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can definitely turn the game in your favor. We have a tutorial that will help you on Playing an Attacking Looper.  

Here are a few more tips on how you can adjust your tactics: 

Since your opponent is comfortable attacking with his forehand, aim to keep him guessing where the next ball will go. Mix up your shots by placing them deep on his backhand side and then suddenly switch to his forehand side. Also, include some short balls to his forehand to make him move forward and disrupt his rhythm.

When pushing to his backhand, ensure your returns are low with good backspin. This reduces his ability to attack effectively. If he sends a fast spinny push to your backhand, try to control the return rather than just pushing it back. You can use soft hands to drop the ball short or employ a chop block that changes the pace and spin of the game.

Since it sounds like you're having trouble when the play switches to your backhand, consider working on strengthening your backhand loop or drive. This will not only help you in returning his attacks but will also make you a more versatile player overall.

Use your serve to create opportunities for yourself. Employ different spin and placement in your serves to force weaker returns from him, which you can attack or place strategically.