Strategy for first championship win

Jasper Low Asked 1 day ago

Hi Alois, I just had the best night of table tennis yesterday. I played my best table tennis and I finally won a singles championship of a tournament after 7 years of playing experience! It was a strong amateur tournament. I remember telling myself during the tournament to trust my ability to spin and place the ball well with good variations and not to play power. Spin and placement variation is like my biggest weapon and I'd say I executed my game plan really well. I remember my school head coach criticising my slow heavy spin and saying it's 'easy to counterattack' and that my loops should include more power. Feels so good to prove to myself that my slow spin style is useful and play my way successfully. Sometimes when opponents could block them, I throw in a no spin lift against backspin and they'd dump the ball in the net. This makes my next few spins even juicier because now they're stuck guessing. I'm so proud I was able to achieve this big win for myself by trusting my play style and tactics! Very big milestone for me. There were also multiple topspin to topspin rallies where I also played more spin than speed and came out on top. Every time I try to apply the head coach's power forehand in matches, it fails because his multiball is never applicable to real amateur table tennis matchplay. Looks like impressive training as a spectator but really useless in amateur table tennis. So I just kinda ignored his advices and played the way I want to and like. I'm probably gonna continue playing the way I am. What are your thoughts?

Alois Rosario Answered 2 hours ago

Hi Jasper,

That is a fantastic achievement, congratulations on your tournament win.

The key message in what you’ve described is that you trusted your strengths and executed them under pressure. Your ability to create spin variation, place the ball intelligently, and use change of pace to force errors is a genuine weapon. Many players try to always hit harder but you’ve shown that consistency, spin, and variation can be just as lethal.

Your coach’s advice about adding more power isn’t wrong in principle as you move higher up the levels, being able to accelerate through the ball and finish points is important but that doesn’t mean abandoning what makes you effective. A slow, heavy spin loop that causes uncertainty and hesitation is incredibly valuable. You’ve already found the balance: build the rally with spin and placement, then occasionally surprise with variation (like the no-spin ball you mentioned) or a faster topspin when the chance comes.

The fact that you won the tournament using your natural game is a sign that your instincts are serving you well. Keep refining what you do, making your spin heavier, your placements sharper, and your variations subtler and you’ll continue to trouble opponents. If you want to gradually layer in more power you can do so on your own terms.