Should I play the chop block?
Table Tennis Strokes and Technique
Last updated 7 years ago
Mayo May Asked 12 years ago
I've been wondering how to Chop Block, and if someone gives you a heavy topspin aim it away from the player. i have no idea what its called but i see Kenta Matsudaira, Oh Sang Eun and Ma Long do it a lot on their backhand.
Simon Gerada Answered 12 years ago
Hi Mayo,
The first thing to realise is that the chop block is a high risk stroke to play against a heavy topspin. The topspin by your opponent will hit your rubber and want to fly upwards. It is difficult to counter this by coming down on the ball and executing the chop block. If you want to try this in practice that is not a bad thing as it will give you some more feeling and help your block in general. However in a match it is probably a 1 in 50 shot.
My tip for the day though would be to counter the topspin with a standard Backhand Block.
Thoughts on this question
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Mayo May Posted 12 years ago
Simon Gerada Posted 12 years ago
Hi Mayo,
I’ve found that brushing the ball with a little topspin usually works; you could try hitting the ball back with a little topspin, aiming to play the ball with a higher trajectory. This will make the ball kick off the table a little and may trouble your opponent. He’ll need to make a different body and footwork position if he wishes to continue playing the topspin during the point which may let you back into the point or at best could even force an error.Ji-Soo Woo Posted 12 years ago
For close-to-the-table LP players, I find the chop block to be one of their biggest weapons. Much easier and higher percentage with LP than with inverted.
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Good point Ji-Soo. The answer to this question applies to players with normal inverted rubber. If you are close to the table and using long pimples when someone plays a heavy topspin, a chop block is probably the higher percentage shot.
Mayo May Posted 12 years ago
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Hi Mayo,
Again you can try the sidespin block if the situation is just right but it is a lower percentage shot than a straight block. Simon's suggestion of a variation is to add a little topspin on the ball. This makes it harder for your opponent who is attacking to make the next shot.
Mayo May Posted 12 years ago
Rohan Rurik Posted 11 years ago
Thank you for all the info. So, to be clear... the chop block is played at the same angle as a regular block, with added downward motion to produce backspin? I find the great difficulty is knowing when and where to strike the ball.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago
Hi Myrna,
Remember this is a really difficult ball to play.
Depending on the speed of the ball coming to you the angle will be varied slightly but it is basically the same as a block with a downward motion.
Jon Ferguson Posted 7 years ago
Easier if you have a pimple out rubber, especially long pimples, as this will give you some leeway to control the spin. Otherwise, it's a risky shot.
Ma Long has made it a part of his style, and in his hands it is quite effective- but that's Ma Long.
Johan B Posted 7 years ago
Don't forget the master of chop blocks: Ma Lin
I once were 2-0 behind in a match against someone who played steady loops that were so good that I couldn't counterloop, but that I could block. Obviously this player thrived on the balls with slight topspin that a normal block produces... Anyway, I started to chop down to varying degrees on every block and his steadiness crumbled. Unfortunately, I still lost 3-2 when he finally adjusted. My point is, chop blocks are a great weapon to have.