Returning Forehand Smash

R Unknown Asked 16 years ago

I played against an opponent recently who has an awesome forehand smash.  Anything on his forehand side, even low balls, he will smash ferociously.  I tried to counter this by doing two things: (1) hitting short, slow balls and (2) hitting to his backhand side, which is weak.  However, he adjusted for this by moving so far over to his left that nearly the whole table was on his forehand side.  As for my short balls he would play them back with a little bit more height, wait for me to hit it back with a little more height and then smash it.  What should I do now?

Alois Rosario Answered 16 years ago

Hi,

The one area that it seems like you have explored is wide or deep to the forehand. As strange as it sounds, sometimes players with strong forehands can be weak there.

Some other things to explore are, trying to get a bit more backspin on your pushes.  Unless he is an extremely strong player there is a point where the backspin will be too much for him to smash.

Also again as strange as it sounds players who are good at smashing low balls may have more difficulty with a ball that is a little higher. Everyone has their favourite hitting zone and your job is to try and keep it out of that zone.

The last thing I can recomend is to perhaps change the spin and speed.  You may be able to give him a rolled topspin ball that he doesn't like or slow the topspin up a little.

In summary, work on the three basics, Placement, Spin and Speed and find something that he doesn't like.  Reemember slower and higher may be options!

Watch him play others and see what troubles him.