Losing even with Better Strokes

Training

Cihan Unknown Asked 16 years ago

Hello Alois and Jeff,

After watching your videos and practicing those movements in the video, I am confident that now my forehand topspin is solid.

Despite this, however, I still find myself losing many games to players who don't have as good strokes. These players are very consistent - they don't lose any points, making me work to win every point - although they don't have the greatest attacks.

(If you were to watch me practice and them practice, for instance, you would probably conclude that I was slightly better, since I'm topspinning it in the practice and they are usually hitting it back and forth flatly in the practice.)

I usually lose the point before I can even get to use the heavy machinery I have developed through practice.

What do you suggest that I do to address this malady? Is there a particular form of practice? Or should I just swallow my eagerness and stick to a very conservative game? This last option seems interesting but I have a feeling that if I don't take my chances with risky shots in a game, I won't develop as a player.

Thanks,

Cihan

Alois Rosario Answered 16 years ago

Hi Cihan,

This is common when developing. That doesn't make it any less frustrating though.

As Mr Zhou Lan Sun one of the coaches I trained under in the National team, (Semi finalist in World Singles 1965) put it;

You are trying to get to a destination. You have developed the Highways but now you need to develop the small roads as well.

The critical thing that you have noticed is that "I usually lose the point before I can even get to use the heavy machinery". Your pushing, serving and receiving, or the early part of the rally is what needs to be developed. This is often the hardest part to develop and the one that takes the most time. That is the little roads.

It isn't about taking risks it is about developing the touch to deal with the subtle differences and the strokes that will get you to the highway.

What those opponents probably have is experience or at least a simple enough game to get by on. Their game is limited and it will be difficult for them to develop to as high a level as the player that is developing correct technique.

I know your pain and have felt it as I am sure many other readers will have done.

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Ji-Soo Woo Posted 16 years ago

Amen!

When people make that first (exhilarating) step up from beginner table tennis to a degree of competence, they tend to (forgive the gross generalisation) branch off into one of two paths:

1) they hone a style born of experience against similar level players that lets them win as easily as possible as often as possible.

2) they dream of playing like Timo Boll et al. one day and practice proper strokes.

Invariably, players who follow the first path get lots of easy wins and have great W-L records. Players who follow the second path look great when warming up, and play well when their opponent's style allows them to play their strokes. But struggle against unorthodox players.

start to improve it is my general observation that players branch off into one of two paths.

Cihan Unknown Posted 16 years ago

Hello Ji-Soo,

Do you have any advice for me? Make no mistakes, I will go down the path of (2) (but I dream of playing like Wang Liqin :-)), since I think that's the more exciting, creative and challenging path to go.

I have already started considering parts of my game that I previously would ignore or not consider as important - most importanly my chops. This has benefitted me greatly, as I'm no longer "smothered" (i.e. not being able to return low shots with heavy backspin) easily in the early game and also improved my serve.

But anything other advice you can impart?

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 16 years ago
Hi Ji-Soo

I couldn't agree more when you said

I am enjoying learning to play against the unorthodox styles because this is still table tennis..it's not like they are cheating!

To become a better player you do need to learn how to play against all sorts of players. And it certainly does help improve your Table Tennis to play against these styles. It is all about having the right attitude.

jamie champion Posted 16 years ago

hi guys

you have great comments Ji Soo and Cihan. Im always getting beaten by this kid whos strokes are absolutely ridiculous but i keep trying. ive beet him 3 times whoa (sarcasim) i wont stop trying till i find a gap in his defence you should do the same Cihan it may seem imposible but once you find that gap and keep your offence consistant (as well as your defence) you will get them

but just because there strokes aren't good doesn't meen there not good. just wont improve as fast as you

Alex Polyakov Posted 15 years ago

I've not posted here for a while and found this thread.

I've started playing not so long ago, but immediately began training with a coach. I was beaten frequently and badly in the beginning. Now, alittle bit more than a year since then. Players are making bets of how long it will take for me to break 2000 USATT.

All I can tell you is keep practicing the right way. Why? Because the shortcuts do not let your losses disappoint you. In the long run it will pay off. My coach always says "against unorthodox players, if you make a good technically solid stroke, they need to respond with another technically solid stroke. Otherwise, they will miss."

As an example, I used to loose to a player who flathit a lot. He was able to take my opening loop and simply smash it on me. He always laughed since it didn't matter how hard I tried to spin the ball, he was able to take the point from me with a single next shot. Pretty disappointing until my training took me to another level. Not only being able to open up with stronger spin, but controlling placement, being able to block and counter his shot. Improving serves and 3rd ball attacks. Last time we played I lost 1 game out of 5 matches we played. So I won 4 sets 3-0 and 1 set 3-1.

Keep practicing and it will all pay off.

Piers Grey Posted 15 years ago

One thing when it comes to playing against unortodox players that I remember is trying to find a way to make their poor technique start to backfire so that they miss more often.

For example placing them in a position where they can't reach for it and their footwork isn't very good and they completely miss the ball because there not in the right ready postion to take their poor technique shot.

Another example would be not nessercarily having the best placement in the world, but putting a spin on the ball that their not quite use to or know how to deal with so they hit it into the net or make the ball fly off the table.

Even if you lose a game to someone who doesn't nessercarily play in a very othodox method, its still experience that you've gained and next time you play against him you could try something different. After all isn't the basis of a successful table tennis player the ability to change their approach to a situation to confuse their oppenent (like changing the tactic used) depending on who their playing against.

nsri varun Posted 13 years ago

many of my friends have not visited any clubs and i first played in my friend's dusty uneven board,so we started developing our own strokes.so,i started to play in a club during holidays and went on to play with my friends. i went on to find one thing.. the aim of these players is to just make the ball to go back to the opponent's side but after some time they just won't be able to block your shots so never give up to find and exploit the weakness all the best!:D

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