Short pimples
Table Tennis Match Strategy
Last updated 1 year ago
Dariusz Rypień Asked 1 year ago
Hello, I've got a question concerning short pimples and I've already watched your video about it, which I found very useful :). Basically I understand the cycle that if I attack to the short pimples with a heavy topspin, and if an opponent blocks, then I get a ball with a some backspin which I have to lift. But my question is what to do next? Should I attack then with some aggressive topspin or will the ball again come back with some backspin?
Alois Rosario Answered 1 year ago
Hi Dariusz,
The short pimples will flatten out the spin. It may feel like backspin but usually it is just less topspin than you would expect from inverted rubber. It doesn't reverse the spin on the ball however it will feel difficult to lift or flat a strong topspin from. Long pimples will reverse the spin on the ball.
Sometimes after one or two topspins you can push the next ball to relieve the pressure of making the topspin against the flat ball. You can put that push to an effective position and hopefully get an easier ball to attack next.
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Dariusz Rypień Posted 1 year ago
Thanks for the answer I found your tipis very useful. However, I used to play with some short pimples and my game was not so distorted. I’ve been playing recently with one guy who is using as he told dr neubauer killer pro rubber. He told me that it is a short pimple rubber but for me it looks bit like a mixture of short and long pimples. So maybe it’s a medium pimple rubber? If so do you know any tactics on how to play with them in a rally? What serves would be the best?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 1 year ago
Hi Dariusz,
Yes watching some footage of them they do behave a little like medium pimples even though they are listed as short. Often serving a backspin ball to the pimples will give you a topspin ball to be able to attack.
Play for a little reversal when you play to the pimples. So if you topspin to the pimples expect them to come back with a little backspin.
Dariusz Rypień Posted 1 year ago
Thanks for the answer. I've recently played again against that guy, and that's right it is a medium pimple rubber that he is using and it does reverse the effect so my topspin became backspin after his return, etc. But now I'm not so sure what to after my topspin to medium pimples. Usually then the ball comes back to me with a backspin, so the question what is the best way to do next? Should I push it to get an easy ball? Or maybe should I try to topspin again against backspin? Will it work like long-pimples that the more I topspin the the harder it gets? Or will I get an easy next ball through which I can go harder after my topspin against backspin?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 1 year ago
It works similar to long pimples so there more topspin you put the more backspin you will get back. You can still topspin the second ball but just make sure you account for the extra backspin.
Jasper Low Posted 1 year ago
What's the difference between long pimples and medium pimples
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 1 year ago
The length of the actual pimple. Medium pimple has more control and easier to attack with. Long pimple has greater reversal effect.