when to start a stroke against topspin

hi alois and jeff, 

i am often driven behind the table where i can really pull my punches: fast topspins against a block or sometime even a very fast smash from bh/fh. but when my opponents play a topspin when im forced back i cant recieve it. by analysis of my game i found that i start my defensive/offensive strokes later .

do i start to play my strokes once i hear the ball landing on the table against a normal topspin or is there some other cue? also when do i start the motion when they play a topspin to backspin. 

thanks a lot for all the advice so far.. 

Hi Shripathi,

You need to watch the stroke of the other payer before starting your stroke. When yo are back from the table the topspin of your opponent will make the ball dip and drop in front of you.  You may need to think about moving in a little closer to the table if this is happening.  The smashes will tend to come through a little further for you.

It is a matter of reading the flight of the ball which will come with more practice against the stroke.