Perfect moment to attack

DHS Lover Asked 9 years ago

Hi PingSkills, I want to ask when is the perfect time to attack in a match?

I think that I was too greedy and want to always attack all the time and it makes me lose a lot of points. I know this is a fatal mistake, but I also can't control myself to be very greedy

Yes, my style of playing is Aggressive Attacker (OFF+) but I realize that it doesn't mean I always have to attack all the time

So how to control myself and find the perfect moment to attack? So that my strokes can be more consistence and don't lose a lot of point

Please help me, thank you very much ^^

Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago

Hi Frendy,

Perhaps do some stats on how many first attacks you are making on the table. It needs to be up around 80%. If it is less then you should think about slowing it down. While you are playing a game get someone to record this for you. It is quite simple to do and will give you some good insights into your game.

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Erriza Shalahuddin Posted 9 years ago

Hi, frendy

I have the same issue like you. I kinda feel like I must attack every ball, thus I end up doing too many unforced error and giving my opponent easy points. A few days ago I played just like that. In the first set it was terrible. Then my coach taught me to play more control. "Just focus on making proper contact first before actually making the stroke", so he said. He also said that I should focus on returning the ball first. The result was miraculous. I won the next 3 sets straight without actually making too much effort on attack.

One more thing. There's a different approach in "practicing" and "playing for winning". In practicing, you will play to break your limit. So making mistakes is essential. In fact, if you don't make mistake in your practice, maybe your practice isn't hard enough. If you play to win, there's no room for mistake. Every single mistake can be deciding, especially in a match of 2 equal players. In other words, in real match, you must play while knowing your own limit.

Hope this helps, cheers!

Jaydev Ashra Posted 9 years ago

Great, Erriza!

It will certainly be helpful!

For some days, I was thinking about what is the difference between experienced and unexplained player. I don't have that much experience, so I was trying to get the key to break it. I realised that the experienced player play sensibly and with control, as you narrated, while unexperienced player tries to attack wildly to win the match as soon as possible but he can't win, because of unforced errors. Knowing this, I have started to play more aggeessively in practice to fine tune the attacks and more sensibly in matches. That's the key!

DHS Lover Posted 9 years ago

In the ask the coach show you said that it's better to push the ball until I have time to attack. But the problem is if I push it short, they'll push is short to and I can't make a topspin or fast flip. But if I push long they'll attack

What should I do?

Johan B Posted 9 years ago

Either double down on the short pushing (perhaps change direction or add some sidespin, vary how much backspin you put on it...), if you think they will fail first, or improve your flicks, or push it long to a place where they will have troubles attacking (backhand? forehand? middle?)