4th ball blocking

Cristh Garrido Asked 12 years ago

Hi Alois and Pingskills

Today in training we make an exercise, my partner serve, i push, he hits the ball with a topspin to anywhere of the table and i block this. I could see that in this situation i lost a lot of points, because a have a bad reception and my opponents attack this ball very easy. My coach said that when we push the ball, we must adopt a defensive position of block in the middle of the table, but if i do this i can't react to the speed of the ball, then i push (generally too high) and i take distance of the table to try hit the ball.

My question is...what i can do to get better my reception? the push must wants the corners of the table or the middle?  i am trying with the metod of my coach...how i can better my capacity of reaction?

Please Help

Thanks

Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago

Hi Cristh,

This is a good drill to do but it is difficult for the receiver because you are being attacked with a topspin and the server knows beforehand that they will get the opportunity to attack.  Their attack will be stronger than in a game because they have that prior knowledge.

As your coach says after you push get into a position where you know you can block on both sides.  Watch the ball carefully after your push so that you can get the best information as to where the next ball will come.  Be prepared for it to come on both sides.  Often we favour one side that we would like the ball to come to.  By just watching the ball you will have a better reaction time to the block.