Playing against defense

D K Asked 2 years ago

Greetings Team,

I would like to announce that I am switching to new club,where I have much more sparrings now.

Since there is a few strong defenders occassionally appearing there,I have started thinking about how should I deal with defense again.

I rarely train with defenders,but I am confident against them despite that I lack neccessary power to break the defense by power. Though, what would you recommend to use from my point of view of a defender against another defender given that the defender has better defense than me?
Should I try to change it into push-push war? That would be much safer game but I am not very comfortable in push-push especially pips vs pips.  Or should I try to play without spin being aware of its effect on longpips but also being rather comfortable with using heavy spin against pimples at long range. Alternatively should I rely on my patience and try to basically "put the defender to sleep" by repeatedly and monotonously looping into the defender, forcing him to play still at the same rate..?
I am patient enough to perform dozens of gentle loops against chops and I am trying to even vary the contact point height (sometimes highest point,sometimes off-bounce,sometimes even late..)

What do you think about this?

Thanks
Dan

Alois Rosario Answered 2 years ago

Hi Dan,

When a defender is playing another defender I think it about feeling where your strength lies in relation to them.  If you can push for longer than them, then I would say keep pushing till they make a mistake or they are forced to make the attack.

If however, they are more consistent and patient with the pushing then you will need to take up the attack at some stage.  The idea of gentle loops can be good but again you need to be better at doing that than they are at getting the ball back consistently.

Against each defender this will be different.  You need to feel what they have in relation to your skills.