Awkward long ball
Table Tennis Strokes and Technique
Last updated 5 years ago
Chandrachur Mukherjee Asked 5 years ago
Hi Alois,
I know about the 3rd ball attacking in table tennis, and have been recently working on developing it further so that I can surely start the attacks whenever I have the chance to serve. So for a short ball I have been practicing the backhand side-spin flick and for the long balls developing my forehand and backhand topspin attacks.
But yet there is another type of ball, which always throws me off-guard. The balls where the ball drops near the center and are long, but by the time they reach the end of the table they are not even close to the peak of their bounce. Also they have a slight-medium amount of backspin to them.
I can judge these balls fine. I know that they are going to fall down by the time I get the chance of having a full swing topspin stroke at them. I know that I will fail that 3rd ball attack opportunity. But I literally cant stop it from happening.
I can return them nicely, but whatever I do, I cannot have the attacking start. Sometimes I end up looping them, creating a slow spiny topspin(just like I asked in the previous question), where my opponent just straight up punches through it. Other times I just hit it flat from under the table (like in the wobbly shot) but that does not bring much success either. Also since these are not short balls, I cannot do a flick shot. I tried hitting the ball flat at the peak of the bounce too, but that slight-medium backspin that it has does a nice job of dragging the ball down to the net most of the times.
Sorry for the question being so lengthy. I cannot explain all of this in short. The previous question I was trying to tell this only but I don't think I was able to communicate very well. I don't have any experience/knowledge to come up with any idea to tackle this. Your ideas and suggestions are welcomed.
Thanks for all your support.
Alois Rosario Answered 5 years ago
Hi Chandrachur,
This can be an awkward ball but also one that you can do a lot with.
Take a look at this tutorial we have on Hitting Topspins From Below Table Level. I think this is what you are after.
Thoughts on this question
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Chandrachur Mukherjee Posted 5 years ago
So Alois,
As I said, I know this shot in the video you suggested. This shot usually results in a slow spiny topspin which opponents just straight up punches through flat thus I lose my chance of starting the attack.
D K Posted 5 years ago
Chandradur,refer to your other question,I think they are quite similar.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 5 years ago
Work inn being the placement and speed of your swing.
Nigel C Posted 5 years ago
Chandradur,
Your slow spiny topspin shot needs to have a nice high slow arc and to land as close to the end of the table as possible (on the white line is best!)
I love using this against defensive players, but it must be varied - you need changes of pace and changes of spin to upset the defenders rhythm.
If your shot is landing mid table it will be too easy to block/counter hit etc.
D K Posted 5 years ago
Nigel is right.
As a chopper and also as a player who frequently uses this against other choppers I can confirm both.
But I must admit I love when someone varies spin and speed without thinking :DD