Playing as chopper with smooth rubber
Match Strategy
Brandon Wong Asked 8 years ago
I recently changed my style of playing to defensive type (eg: playing as chopper for 1 year). However, i felt it quite impossible to chop back (hard to catch the ball and if I manage to chop, it will fly high or out of the table) when the opponent give a super topspin returning my backspin.(not normal topspin, it is kinda like super super fast with a lot of topspin in it). I can chop back if the opponent gives a normal or slightly a bit more topspin than normal low and safe on both side. Both of my rubber are smooth (not rough: long-pimpled, not considering changing to long-pimpled as I am used to smooth surface type rubber). My attacking skills are pretty ok i think, I have played for at least more than 5 yrs, as I realise I have to play variation in order to win. Any suggestion on handling that super topspin type of ball with chops? And kindly give some match strategy for my case. Thanks a lot:)
Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago
Hi Brandon,
It is about keeping the ball lower and with more backspin to stop them from making that faster topspin shot.
Focus on getting your shots low and also deep on the table.
If that opponent likes the heavier backspin and can still generate a good topspin, then try a less spin chop which some players find more difficult to generate a lot of spin with.
Thoughts on this question
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Jean Balthazar Posted 8 years ago
If you can't prevent your opponent from doing the super-spinny topspin, choping it back with a grippy rubber will require you to a least match the rotation speed of the ball, or else it will naturally tend to pop up. That means you'll need a very fast action. If the ball goes high but isn't too long, you can try to chop a bit more vertically. If the ball has a good heigth but goes long most of the times, and if you don't need a fast bat for your attacking game, you may consider a slower rubber (or the same rubber with a thiner sponge) and/or a slower blade (if you chop on both sides).
Michael Song Posted 8 years ago
I would take a look at satoshi aida's match from the 2015 US open, where he plays Wang Jixin (available on YouTube), inverted on both side and is a chopper, absolutely incredible!
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago
I will have to take a look Michael.
david j Posted 8 years ago
satoshi aida's chops seem really weak and inconsistent in that match. he seems to have a really weird playstyle, the commentators dont really know what to say either
david j Posted 8 years ago
also, from the comment section on that video:
"He said he has mark V from when he started and never bothered or liked to change the rubber (although he has newer version of it)" (taken from a japanese table tennis magazine"
so he actually uses mark V which is recommended here on pingskills too :D
Jean Balthazar Posted 8 years ago
Mark V comes in a large variety of sponge thicknesses, including very thin ones, so it should indeed be usable for a defensive style as well.
Brandon Wong Posted 8 years ago
How about joo sae hyuk? Is his back hand side rubber long pimpled? His defence is incredibly strong
Arjan van Luttikhuizen Posted 8 years ago
Joo Sae-Hyuk has only ever used long pimples on his backhand professionally, there is no way you can play chops in the same way as him with smooth rubbers as Joo often tries to keep increasing the spin on the ball with each subsequent chop.
I've seen people say that he uses mainly TSP Curl P-1R or Tibhar Grass D.TecS, but some people also mention Butterfly Feint Long 3. All with a 1-1,5 mm sponge.
I read a forum post where some one asked Satoshi Aida on Facebook what rubbers he used, I can't find the post anymore but if I remember correctly it was Yasaka Mark V HPS on both sides - max on forehand and 2.0 or maybe also max on BH. But something is giving me the impression that he is not an equipment expert. He openly admits that whenever he tried something new he'd switch back to his trusted setup almost immediately.
Brandon Wong Posted 8 years ago
Hmmmm....I see.
Thank you guys for all ur comments. Have a nice day:)