Learning the fourth ball block
Strokes and Technique
Cristh Garrido Asked 12 years ago
Hi Alois and Pingskills
generally when i'm in the serve i can win the point, because my loop is very effective, and i develop this with a lot of training, but my weakness is when i am recieving and my opponent make the third ball attack, the same problem i don't know where will go the ball. My question is, i can develop this with a lot of training or help the talent in this situation?
Jeff Plumb Answered 12 years ago
Hi Cristh,
It sounds like you are progressing well. Keep working on your serve and third ball attack as this will serve you well.
As for returning, as you get more confident you can try returning the ball short. This will stop your opponent attacking. However it's not possible to do this all the time so you will need to learn how to block their third ball attack.
To get better at reading where the ball will go, you need to watch the ball really closely. Even though your are focussing on the ball, you'll start to pick up signals with your peripheral vision. As you play more and more these signals will help you to know where your opponent is going to hit the ball. A lot of people think the great players have better reflexes but often they actually have more time because they see earlier where their opponent is hitting the ball.
You still need to work on your block and the more training you have, the better your block will get.
Thoughts on this question
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Cristh Garrido Posted 12 years ago
Thanks Jeff
this is exactly...the little confidence in my reception, of backhand principally. Complicate me the short serves with topspin or with a lot of sidespin, generally the ball goes out the table (when i return on the backhand)...what i can do in this situation???
my problem is not return with a short push, the problem is the consistency of the stroke, generally to high and not enough backspin...how i can get better my short push????
Besides the problem is not the consistency of my block, when the topspin comes where i am i can block it non problem, with a punch or a topspin (now i have RPB), the problem is that the ball never goes where i am, generally the ball goes to the bottom and to the corner of the table, i should risk for a side of the table (forehand-backhand) to solve this, while i solucionate the problem???
Thanks again Jeff
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Hi Cristh,
To improve your short pushing you can play a short pushing game during your practice.
As for the ball not coming to where you are, as I mentioned above, you need to start watching the ball a lot closer. This way you will pick up where the ball is going earlier and be able to move into position. Your opponent is not going to hit the ball to exactly where you are so you need to work on this skill. Start with your next practice session and really track the ball very closely. Make it the focus of that practice session. The more you practice this the better you will get.
Cristh Garrido Posted 12 years ago
Thanks Jeff
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
You're welcome Cristh.