How to attack a slow and floating ball
Strokes
Dorian Olivier Asked 7 years ago
Hello,
I often use a long topspin serve, but I make it look like it's a backspin serve. The opponent then tries to push it, but the ball goes up quite a bit and is slow, kind of floating. I could finish the point there, but I can never seem to understand how to hit the ball, it always goes out of the table when I try to loop it or just smash it.
Is there a specific technique to attack that kind of ball ?
Thanks, Dorian.
Alois Rosario Answered 7 years ago
Hi Dorian,
This is often a tricky ball for a lot of players.
The key is to realise the ball has some backspin on it even though it is high.
You need to brush the ball up a little to counteract that backspin. You also need to get into position quickly to make that attack. I see a lot of players drag that ball into the net because they are not accounting for the backspin.
For our Premium members we have a previous Ask the Coach video response to this same thing. High backspin close to net.
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Anticipation
How is it that a player can always seem to get back those extremely fast topspins? Is it their incredible anticipation? The key to good anticipation actually lies in tracking the ball well. When you watch the ball closely your peripheral vision will pick up your opponents movements and with lots of practice those signs will help you anticipate what your opponent is going to do. This happens naturally with lots of experience. So it it your job to ensure that you are tracking the ball really carefully.
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Dorian Olivier Posted 7 years ago
Alright, thanks for the answer I'll try to work on that from now on.
shrihari kapse Posted 7 years ago
hello,I often use backhand topspin,but i am getting trouble to put hit forehand top spin,any suggestions please.
Hi Shrihari,
Take a look at our tutorials on the Forehand Topspin Against Block and also the Forehand Topspin Off Backspin.