When to be aggressive

Hi Alois,

In a few months I will go to play in a tournament. I was wondering when I should be choosing to play aggressively and when else to play safe.

Here, by aggressive, I mean an all-out very fast shot which has a greater chance of missing but a lower chance of return if it does not miss. Not a controlled topspin attack, which has the same chance of missing as of a defensive chop/block will have (if the player is equally good in both).

I thought for sometime that I should be aggressive when I have the lead in the score, because even if I fail, I still don't have to worry as I am still ahead. But if I am able to hit them well, I do create a sense of fear in my opponent's mind which makes them go nervous and hence, play bad.

But also, maybe if the game is not going in my favor and I start to lose hopes of winning, I can make some of these shots, to maybe hope to turn the tide, again with the objective of making my opponent go nervous and play bad.

So question is, in which one of these two scenario do you think it is worth it to make some shots like these? Or do you think that it is good to play some risky shots here and there no matter what the game condition is like? Or do you think that it is best to play safe and make only those shots that I am confident to succeed in even if it makes them a little weaker...?

Because, no matter if someone is a beginner, an intermediate or a advanced player, there are always some situations in the game where you know you can make a powerful shot which will earn you the point, but the chances of success are a lower than usual.

I would love to read your thoughts.

Chandrachur

Hi Chandrachur,

The first thing is to play each shot as it comes and to be able to read each situation.  It depends a lot on the abilities of your opponent as well.

If you are playing against a higher level player who can control everything that you would normally do then it may be time to try some more aggressive strokes that may throw them out of their comfort zone.  If you play conservatively against that level of player you will probably lose the match as they will have better control than you.

If you are playing a weaker player and you play risky strokes then you are levelling the playing field.  If you will it doesn't matter who is at the other end of the table, Ma Long or a beginner you will lose the point.