Modern Defense Practice

Günter Reiter Asked 3 months ago

Hallo, I was a quite successful player when I was a teenager. I played the old school defense style, mainly chopping,  some distance away from the table. Playing Tackiness and Feint. I started to play again just recently, after a 20year break. This time I play with two inverted rubbers, everything goes well. Forehand topspin, backhand topspin etc...but I want to get me long pips (ox) and practice modern defense. Pips chopping backhand, topspin forehand mainly. My questions: is it worth sacrificing practice time for inverted rubber backhand offensive shots? Or should I invest rather more extra time in practicing my backhand chopping skills...I don't know how important the backhand offensive play is in modern defense...

Alois Rosario Answered 2 months ago

Hi Günter,

Welcome back to the sport. It's fantastic to hear that you're diving back into table tennis with a modern defensive style. It's a dynamic way to play, blending traditional defensive chops with aggressive offensive shots.

Regarding your query about whether to focus on backhand offensive shots or to hone your chopping skills further, it largely depends on the style of play you're most comfortable with and the level of competition you're facing. However, in modern defense, versatility is key. Being able to switch between offensive and defensive plays not only makes you unpredictable but also allows you to control the pace and spin of the game more effectively.

My suggestion would be to aim for a balanced practice regime. While it's crucial to maintain excellent chopping skills with long pips on your backhand, integrating some offensive shots can tremendously benefit your game.

However, it's important to prioritise based on your comfort and effectiveness during play. If you find that your backhand chops are consistently more effective, they should remain your primary focus, but don't neglect to then develop a backhand attack as well.

Practise sessions could be split to start with more focus on refining your chopping skills and gradually incorporating some backhand topspin drills. This could include exercises like alternating between chop and topspin against a block or controlled topspin from your training partner.

Lastly, keep assessing your game as you train. If you find the offensive shots are becoming a crucial part of your strategy, you might decide to allocate more time to them. Remember, the modern defensive player thrives on being able to adapt and manipulate the spin and speed of the game to their advantage.

Best of luck with your training, Günter. It sounds like you're on a great path to mastering modern defense in table tennis.