Taking risks

Hi Alois & Jeff,

I need some advice about how I should develop my game further. In the basic lessons, you underline that the most important skill in tabletennis is to keep the ball on the table. In other lessons, you encourage us to attempt a third ball attack or to attack long balls.

This is where my troubles start: often a decision has to be taken whether to push back a ball or whether it's time to topspin.

My push is relatively stable - that means that I can keep the ball in play most of the time. My topspin on the other hand is not bad, but far less consistent. This is why I feel that attempting the attacking ball also means taking a higher risk.

My feeling is that I should practise the attacking ball more often - especially in real matches. But when I play for my team and miss a topspin or two, I'll be advised to play more "safely" (meaning pushes) and let my opponent make the mistakes (which works sometimes and sometimes doesn't, because he/she switches to topspin and leaves me in a defensive position).

So what is the right tactic here? 

Thanks for your thoughts!

Claus 

Hi Claus,

This is an interesting situation.

For your development it is definitely better to be attempting to topspin those long balls. The answer is to find some more practice time to work on the topspin off backspin ball.  It doesn't have to be a fast stroke, but a consistent topspin that goes on to the table every time.

This is something that you may be able to practice in some easier matches as well when you haven't got the pressure of your team mates on you.

Long term, topspin will be better.