Defense against strong attacker
Match Strategy
Rajdeep Paul Asked 5 years ago
Can you give me also a suggestion... yesterday in a tournament, my opponent hit me flat in every service, every receive... which was out of my control ability... I couldn't even touch any ball, even sometimes I couldn't see the ball... rarely he did topspin, also with very fast and close bat angle... there was no rally, every points were ending at 2nd or 3rd ball... I lost the game in 3-0 (each game under 5)... how can I force my opponent to do a loop topspin, and resist from doing this... [I often serves backhand mix spin (backspin+side spin) like ruwen filus and same with pimple rubber, rarely as a variation, and very very rarely do forehand serves, and almost every serves of opponent I receive with pimple (red feint long 2 (1.1)) and my opponent seemed more dangerous than kirill gerassimenko]
Alois Rosario Answered 5 years ago
Hi Rajdeep,
It sounds like your opponent is very good so you have to take that into account.
Think about making the serve shorter and sometimes long to stop him from making a strong return. It is about making the first attack more difficult for the attacking player. Also think about making some more attacks yourself to break up the rhythm. Experiment with different positions on the table and also heights of the ball. Surprisingly, sometimes the attacker doesn't like the defensive ball a bit higher.
It is worth experimenting with a few things if you are in this position again.
Thoughts on this question
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D K Posted 5 years ago
Rajdeep,I have experience with a player who is similar to what yo udescribe.
From what yo uwrote,I assume you are a modern chopper,right?
I know a powerful player,who violently bombs even balls which look like unsmashable,he is a high risk player although he has some control when needed.
However,if he uses control,he greatly slows down.
He is good at serving both very fast and long,also very short and spinny.
He dares to smash with full force even against extremely low or short balls. My attack power is nothing compared to his.
I was not able to defeat him,but I was able to cause serious trouble to him several times.
I am not sure how much is your opponent similar.
What I was able to use to cause trouble:
1)short serves. I mean SHORT. Varying spin and majorly placement. Basically,I returned his own service pattern.
2)length variance of returns.
In first set with him,I was able to even dominate the set by harshly varying length of the ball.
My most successful combination was receiving his long serve shortly,forcing him to come in as he was too far,and then I pushed long to him,causing hinm to overshoot.
3)Keeping the ball low. I mean LOW.
4)Footwork. I am by no means any fast player. But this man was one of those who tested my footwork to its maximum extent.
when I pushed,I made sure to be about 4 metres from the table (since I am a chopper) to cover his blast range.
I was using a space normally used for 3 tables. Surprisingly,I was not attacking too much.
But do not take it as an example :D I do not know the exact style of your opponent or your own style.
I know well your opponent can be much weaker than it seems and vice-versa,since if you are much lower level than me,you can see even my shots as bullet bombs and vice-versa.
Rajdeep Paul Posted 4 years ago
thanks for your advice, it really works.
D K Posted 4 years ago
Tell use more :)
Did you win?
What worked best against your opponent? :)
D K Posted 4 years ago
*tell us more
Rajdeep Paul Posted 4 years ago
SHORT service works good.
Rajdeep Paul Posted 4 years ago
and sudden long service and sudden attacking also works really good.
Rajdeep Paul Posted 4 years ago
but I felt too much tired, when anyone tests my stamina. there is one senior player in our club, he do normal forehand topspin then back hand short push then may be again topspin in backhand, then short push in forehand. sometimes do a crazy side spin. sometimes normal topspin, then the next ball suddenly winner topspin. he hardly allows me to attack. he controls my playing and I could not do anything with him...
what to do with such type of player? after 1 match in a best of 5 set, I get fully tired!
Jasper Low Posted 4 years ago
Perhaps try attacking more balls fast to his crossover position. This will cut down his time while he is in an awkward position. So you can get an easier ball to attack. Give it a try, let me know how it goes.
D K Posted 4 years ago
Rajdeep,you are one-side chopper if I remember well?
Rajdeep Paul Posted 4 years ago
sorry, both sided. but I can also do counter topspin in forehand, fishing in forehand, when opportunity arises. and even backhand topspin by twidling, when required.
D K Posted 4 years ago
Hmm ok...
I think one of the keys is also anticipation.
Defenders are overally the ones who are non-initiative.
I cannot imagine the rally since I do not know your counterstrokes