Playing against a flat bat

Table Tennis Match Strategy

Last updated 7 years ago

Mayo May

Mayo May Asked 7 years ago

Hi pingskills !

Been playing with a buddy and he plays with a paddle with no rubber just the sponge and he hits everything i give him . topspins drives low chops . how do i overcome this problem? 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 7 years ago

Hi Mayo,

This type of bat is difficult to play topspin with.  If you put a lot of backspin on the ball and keep the ball low you will find they will find it more difficult to lift the ball.  This type of bat also doesn't cope well with a lot of topspin.

They are forced to play very flat with low margins of error because of the lack of topspin.


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Thoughts on this question

Mayo May

Mayo May Posted 7 years ago

when i serve backspin i can see that. But once in a rally since he hits flat and fast my backspins pops up high. 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

Put more topspin on the ball.  Play the ball slower as well and if you have plenty of topspin it will be a very difficult ball for them to play.  They rely on your playing faster and flatter which is what they are good at.


Mayo May

Mayo May Posted 7 years ago

So lifting the ball more too ?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

Yes higher topspin can work.


Mayo May

Mayo May Posted 7 years ago

Becuz once blocked i return it to the net. 

Thanks a lot !


david j

david j Posted 7 years ago

no rubber an just the sponge? is that even legal? never heard of that

or did you mean the other way around


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

Probably not legal... but in some situations you will find players that play with those type of bats.


Mayo May

Mayo May Posted 7 years ago

A lot of the guys peel off the rubber and just play with the sponge. Crazy !


Johan B

Johan B Posted 7 years ago

Balls should be round not flat... Pretty sure there's a rule about it


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

cool... thanks Johan


Bob Van Deusen

Bob Van Deusen Posted 7 years ago

If what he is referring to is a hardbat (no sponge, just rubber), then yes, you have to be careful with that. My friend is an acocmplished hardbat player and if you dont know what you are doing, a good hardbat player will cause you lots of problems! He has excellent placement and he can really run you around if you do not take the initial attack. The ball off a hardbat comes at you with little to no spin and it can really throw you off. Chopping works well against them until they pop one up. 



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