Long pips against underspin

I am 67 years old.  Last year I converted from playing pen hold spin play to shake hand close to the table.  I currently win more then I lose against 1500 level players but am happy to take the 2000 level players to the tie breaker.  I play with long pips on my backhand and inverted "defensive" rubber on my forehand (lots of spin but slow)

We have a new guy that joined the group.  I should be able to beat this guy most of the time, but I don't.  I know he will serve me underspin/sidespin (which I will normally push with my back hand to his back hand side).  I know he will return with a floaty underspin (normally short).

If I know he will 99% of the time give me underspin to my backhand, why can't I beat this guy more often?.  I will often use what I would call an aggressive push to my far right, but he has no problem returning it with another underspin to my left.  The other shot I try is a backhand flip to his forehand.  same story, I get underspin back.

So what should I be doing knowing I'm playing with long pips? (he is playing with inverted rubber)

Thanks!

Craig Smith

Hi Craig,

Perhaps try to be patient and just push the ball back a few more times and invite him to attack.  You have the defensive set up to be able to control the ball on the table several times and put the frustrations back into his court.