Bad eyesight and table tennis

Strokes and Technique

D K
D K Asked 9 years ago

Hello coach

I have a little problem with recognizing some kinds of strokes.

For example, I often make errors when an opponent uses a "no spin loop" instead of a normal loop.

I know the difference, but the stroke and the ball are too fast for my eyes so I cannot see the difference.

Another example: I have a problem to return the sidespin serve on my backhand,because the move is too fast and I cannot tell if it is a sidespin chop,sidespin topspin or pure sidespin serve.

Another problem is predicting where will my opponent attack: for example,I tried to surprise one player with a fast spinless serve to his uncovered forehand (he was standing on his backhand corner). He made a succesful attempt to attack it and made a spin into my backhand. I attempted to chop it but the spin was too fast and poweful for me to get back and prepare for it, so I returned a high ball near the net and his forehand line. He prepared for a smash and stood next to the table so it appeared that he plans to smash it into my very extreme forehand so I ran there in order to chop it. But I suddenly saw the ball hitting my BACKHAND CORNER while my opponent's hand was stretched towards me.

Do you have any idea how this is possible?
And do you know if it is possible to somehow bypass the problem that I cannot see what the opponent does with his bat even with my strong glasses?


Alois Rosario
Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago

Hi DK,

Just watch the ball and track it during the whole rally.  This will also improve with training because you will start to adjust to the speed of the ball and actions of your opponent.


Thoughts on this question


D K

D K Posted 9 years ago

Thank you

And can I train something like that with a robot?
because it shows me where it will shoot several seconds before it shoots.

A player does not do it. So I usually can start a reaction when the ball touches the table.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago

This is not something that you can really practice with a robot.  It is one of the limiting factors of a robot.


D K

D K Posted 9 years ago

So I guess that it will be very difficult to train,when there is nobody who will help me to train it,am I right?


Become a free member to post a comment about this question.