Overcome fear of defending

Strokes and Technique

LeangHeng IT
LeangHeng IT Asked 12 years ago

Hi coach,

My name Phil and I really like playing table tennis. But whenever I play competition, I feel afraid and lose balance when my opponent raise hand to strike (if I can see that my opponent is defending, I have no fear at all, but find ways to attack)!!! How can I overcome this?

 Phil


Alois Rosario
Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago

Hi Phil,

In training practice your blocking a little more.  Once you feel comfortable with blocking you will not panic as much when you see your opponent has an attacking shot.  Because you are more relaxed, you will be able to react faster as well.  It is a bit of a positive cycle.


Thoughts on this question


LeangHeng IT

LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago

Hi Alois, thank you for your useful suggestion.

May I ask another question? I have one main problem with my foot work. For me, I can reach two steps to the right to hit the ball, but I feel very difficult to step back to the left for good position (preparing for second hit). I feel I lose balance completely!

I hope I can make change to this problem!!!


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

When you are moving to the right you need to make the shot and then get balanced as quickly as possible so that you can push back for the next ball.  Once you are balanced, push hard with your right leg to get back to position.

LeangHeng IT

LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago

Gday coach, your advice is really useful, and I hope I can get it in mind (me frogetful person). Today, I tried to hit and get balance, it was not so good, but I feel something (better than before).


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Good LeangHeng, work on it and let me know how it works.

LeangHeng IT

LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago

Today, at 7:30pm I have to face a young junior who beat me the last five week!!! It seems to be a bit hard put all advices into the upcoming match, but I will try and let you know after the match.

This junior has very nice serves, and he is ready to attack most of the time!!! His serves can get points from me, but mine not!!! He has very good foot work with consistency loop, and I wonder why he is still playing in the lowest level (A5 at Dandenong)?

This is very, I reckon, hard question for the coach if I want to win the guy???


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Work on making it as difficult as possible for him to make an attack.  Keep the ball low and give him a lot of variation of shots.  Put the ball to his weaker side a lot, which is probably his backhand side.  

Returning his serves, make sure you get them back on the table first and allow him a chance to make a mistake.

Good luck.


LeangHeng IT

LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago

Well, I lost again coach, :)!!! the last 5 week I lost 0 to 3, but today, lost 1 to 3 (with a bit hiccups for the junior player!!! His services are great, and in the game he could prepare for big swing because of these. I did not really know whether the serve was back, side, or top spin when he started serving. So I blindfolded returned the serve. But when the ball reached my side, oh god this was top spin, that was side spin, and damn this was short back spin!!!

I know I have to be trained otherwise I cannot improve the skills for the table tennis game (in the next level A4). Unfortunately, I really have no time, :(! 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

You are getting better.  Receiving serve is something that takes a while to improve but it will get better the more you play against good servers.

LeangHeng IT

LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago

Coach, no one wanna play with the lower level player, :( ! Even my friend (coach at coburg) does not want to have a hit with me!!!

I think for solo player, the basic skills are very important. I missed them, and it is hard to get to used!!!

I would like to ask another question! I can loop the flat or top spin ball well, but when I try to loop the back spin, it increases the top spin back, but the ball seems to be slow and no power(so easy for opponent to block or smash back)! How can I make the ball heavy top spin to counter the back spin push??? 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

You can brush through the ball faster.  Also see if you can keep the ball low sometimes over the net.  this will also make it harder for them to attack.  Try to vary the speed and spin on the ball.

Take a look at our lesson on the Forehand Loop Off Backspin.  This will help you with your technique. 


LeangHeng IT

LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago

Thank you coach, I am physically strong, but with the ping pong ball, I seem to be weak!!!

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Allow yourself to relax and not try too hard.  This may increase your power.

Satya Prakash

Satya Prakash Posted 11 years ago

First time I faced a big problem in a competition. The competition was for going to getting a coach in org. Those who will get selected in top 30 will go to coach and he will make it to top 15 based on potential. 

 

I lost badly in my first ever competition I had on TT. I lost in first round by a player I could have defeated. I became nervous when I start loosing few points. Another thing and that is more important is that I realized that I never made a habit of defending. Defending correctly is important I realized after much thinking after a month or two. 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago

Hi Satya,

The more competition you play the better you will get at handling the situation as well.  Try to play in more competitions of any kind.

You are right, learning to defend is also important.  Think about practicing strokes like the push and block during your practice time.


Manfred Rolfsmeier

Manfred Rolfsmeier Posted 9 years ago

True true. Being alert and staying calm and relaxed really is a challenge. That reminds me of Koki Niwa. I love his style bedause it often looks as if he doesn´t care at all ;-)


Abhishek Joseph

Abhishek Joseph Posted 8 years ago

Great video, fear has always messed my performance.


Marv Anderson

Marv Anderson Posted 8 years ago

This is one area where a robot is really helpful, as they can feed balls much faster than any multi-ball server.  I just a few minutes today, I got much more comfortable blocking fast topspin shots.


David Mr

David Mr Posted 8 years ago

Keep up the good work!!


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Thanks!


David Mr

David Mr Posted 8 years ago

Is ping pong going to be an Olympic sport this summer?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Yes it certainly is.  Both Olympics and Paralympics.  It is really a universal sport.


kathy mckelvey

kathy mckelvey Posted 8 years ago

Thank's great video!!


James Finch

James Finch Posted 8 years ago

when I am playing against an aggressive player I find it very hard to block all their spins as well as spinning and attacking back... I also tend to just change my bat angle for a backspin instead of top spinning back... any tips?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

One of the main things is to keep them away from the attack.  Try to get the ball lower and closer to the net if you can.

When they give you a longer ball look to make the topspin every time.  If you commit to this you will change the way the game is played and you you will find more attacking opportunities.


James Finch

James Finch Posted 8 years ago

Thanks, what if they serve with heavy back/side spin. What is a good counter?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

If it is long then still make a topspin.  If it is short then try to get the ball back short.


James Finch

James Finch Posted 8 years ago

What shot should i use to return it? I can't really pull of a good forehand topspin but I am good with backhand top spin. I am afraid of it going to far or to short... I usually just end up returning a no-spin back hand


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

You need to work on this shot.  It is not something that comes easily so work on it regularly and you will then find you will be able to utilise it in the match as well.  Take a look at the lesson on the Forehand Topspin Off Backspin.


kathy mckelvey

kathy mckelvey Posted 8 years ago

Skillful,  thanks!!


Barry Cornforth

Barry Cornforth Posted 7 years ago

I had trouble getting a backhand spin serve deep to my left,i used to stand back from the table which made it harder to return,now i get closer to the table and take it early which i find much better


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