Blocking the ball during match

Sivachandran Duraisamy Asked 9 years ago

Hi Alois,

Thanks for your support and the video tutorials which you have shared in the site. It's really useful. 

I am kind of intermediate player in TT game and I am practising TT for the past 3 years. I have quite good forehand topspin and little backhand topspin.

After seeing your footwork drills, practising the same with my practice partner. 

I have very serious problem in blocking the balls. During the match, my topspin is around 60-70% accurate in landing the table but when my opponent hits topspin, mostly I’ll miss to block the ball. Even if I block, ball will go outside or will go to net. I tried to focus on the ball all time, but still I unable to get confidence in blocking the topspin balls. During practice session, I can block all the balls, but during matches not even single block I can do successfully. I guess I am going wrong in angle of the bat and also I guess I am late in reaching to the right position to block the ball. 

I would like to hear from you, how to solve this problem. I guess my problem is dynamically moving and blocking. Do we have any exercise or foot drills to correct this? Please let me know.

Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago

Hi Sivachandran,

Thanks for the kind words about the site.  Always nice to hear that it is useful.

In training, practice blocking when your partner is topspinning the ball to anywhere in the table.  This will help you to improve your tracking of the ball as ell as the stroke.

See how tight you are holding the bat when you are blocking.  You will probably find that you are tightening you grip.  See if you can keep the hand relaxed.