Push vs. Push
Strokes and Technique
Romeo Chua Asked 9 years ago
If I serve a short backspin ball, and the opponent pushes it back, does this mean that the backspin I placed on the ball is cancelled out? If that is the case, then will the backspin be heavier if I pushed it long?
Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago
Hi Romeo,
You can put your own backspin on the ball. The spin bites into the rubber and kicks out so that you can generate your own backspin.
If you push it longer you can swing through a bit faster and therefore generate some more spin. You still need to maintain the brushing contact to get the spin.
Thoughts on this question
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Romeo Chua Posted 9 years ago
I see. I'll have to look at the opponent's bat more since I wouldn't be able predict it. Oh well
.
I'll just try this later. Thanks
Dieter Verhofstadt Posted 9 years ago
A smooth rubber with grip inverts the incoming spin but not with the same intensity. You can see this when you spin a ball into the air, then let it drop on your bat again. The spin will make the ball move in the direction of the original spin, but the spin itself on the ball will be inverted. It's an odd thing to watch.
This means that, when the opponent merely opens the bat to return your ball, the ball will spin opposite to your original backspin (so topspin from your perspective). However, the ball is now moving towards you, so the spin coming to you is backspin again.
As Aloïs says, the opponent can also brush the ball, increasing the effect.
Similarly, when you simply block a topspin, the spin will be inverted and with the change of direction come back to you with (slight) topspin again. The opponent can likewise add topspin to increase the effect, i.e. counterloop.
With pimple or anti rubbers, the original spin remains or is merely weakened, so with the change of direction it's effectively reversed towards you.
I'm explaining this because I always thought it was the other way round. Smooth rubbers invert the spin and pimples keep the spin. But since the direction is opposite, what you experience is same spin and inverted spin respectively.
Correct me if I'm wrong, Alois.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago
Perfect Dieter.
Romeo Chua Posted 9 years ago
Woah! I didn't know that the pushing game is so detailed! Thanks Dieter!
D K Posted 9 years ago
When we are talking about pushing game:how can I make more sure that I will win a pushing war (I mean win not break),when my opponent is able to easily deal with strong backspin?
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago
Hi D K,
When your opponent is good at dealing with strong backspin you need to just play more balls on the table than they do. It is not an attacking stroke so your really are just waiting for an error.
D K Posted 9 years ago
Hi Jeff
And has there any role my longpips and twiddling?
How can I use it in a pushing rally?
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago
You certainly can twiddle DK.