Strategy
Hi, Coaches.
Today, I played against an opponent who was particularly skilled at keeping the ball low and short enough so that looping would be hard. How do I force him to return with a higher ball to initiate the attack? Should I continue pushing the ball into hard-to-return places in hopes of an error or is there a way to initiate the attack without waiting until the opponent to make a mistake?
Hi Henry,
It is best to try and keep the ball short and beat him at that game. If he is the first player to stray long then you will get the opportunity to make the first attack.
If you find that you are not strong enough at playing the short game, then try to surprise him with a long fast push and hope that he is not ready to make an attack.
When playing penhold players it is important to remember to first analyse your opponent as you would if they used any grip. What are their strengths and weaknesses? A common weakness of penhold players is their forehand block especially against a slow spinny topspin. Their backhand may be a weakness if they use the traditional style, or you may wish to explore the crossover point if they are using the reverse penhold backhand.
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