Problems with tracking

D K Asked 10 years ago

Hi Jeff and Alois

Recently I have played a young tall player with very good footwork.

When I started to attack,he was easily able to cover his center,so the shots at his body did not work.

But this was not the biggest problem.

The biggest problem was when we started a pushing war,he was not very good pusher,his pushes were quite high and had a little spin.

But it had still enough backspin to prevent attacking.

Then,he suddenly started to unexpectedly smash the pushes (they were twice the net height)

His smashes were weak and I would easily be able to return it as he did his stroke purely by his wrist.

It means I would need to be about 2metres away from the table.

But I was absolutely unable to predict when he is going to do his smash.

When I accidentally chopped it,it was a deadly shot for him.

How can I learn how to realise when he is going to do a wrist smash,when he does not any telegraphing movements?

Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago

Hi DK,

The best thing is to move in and out each ball.  There will be some give aways that will allow you to tell that he is going to attack.  Watch the ball carefully each time and you will start to pick some of these up.