Smartest win

Match Strategy

Ji-Soo Woo
Ji-Soo Woo Asked 16 years ago

G'day Alois

We all have days when we are just firing on all cylinders and everything we hit is going in (well, I USED to have those days anyway). And we also have days when we win purely on physical talent and better shotmaking. But it's easy to win if you are a better player. I was just wondering what was the smartest win you've ever had. A match where the other person was at least as physically talented as you, and you were not necessarily playing your best, but you just plain out thought and out foxed your opponent. And how exactly did you out smart your opponent?

Thanks

Ji-Soo


Alois Rosario
Alois Rosario Answered 16 years ago

Hi Ji-Soo,

This all happened as long time ago, but I think one of my smartest wins was when I was playing a player in a major championships and even though I lost the first game and was in some trouble, I stuck to a plan I believed would work in the long run.  My game was all about making the first topspin and even though he was abe to hit some excellent shots against my topspin I felt that by persevering and placing the ball well, he would not be able to maintain his level.

Luckily I was right and ended up winning.

Do you have a similar tale? 


Thoughts on this question


Ji-Soo Woo

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 16 years ago

I don't have one stand-out example, but generally I include all games where I might not have had the best start but I quickly figured out the opponent's style and weakness and adapted my game accordingly.  For example, coming up against aggressive blockers who crowd the table, and slowing my game right down so they have no pace to work with, and adding a lot of spin variations that make it hard for them to block consistently off the bounce.

I guess there are times, like your example, where you have to stick with your gameplan and not to let short term drawbacks make you panic.  But there are other times when you have to have the presence of mind and versatility to adapt your own style if things aren't working.  I have to say, aside from my rustiness, it's been much harder to adapt on the fly since my return to the game because at first-to-11 the game is already over before you know it!


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 16 years ago

You are right Ji-Soo, you do have to change sometimes if things are not working. It is always a difficult call as to when to change tactics or if someone is just getting lucky with their shots or if that is what they can do all the time.

Ji-Soo Woo

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 16 years ago

I now have one more 'smartest win' highlight to add.  I played a good opponent who had a much stronger forehand drive/smash than I.  First set was very close with me trying to keep the ball low and undercut and moving it around between forehand and backhand.  The opponent was however able to work the rally and get enough winning smashes in to win the set.

Second set, I realised that he must be used to people trying to stay away from his forehand weapon, and that his game was built around sharp skimming backhand chops and crushing forehand blows.  Therefore I simplified my game.  I limited my serves to straightforward forehand chop serves to his forehand (with some no-spin variation) and I hit EVERYTHING chop/push to his forehand.  My thinking was that people don't normally (at my level anyway) have a strong offense AND defense/control on the same wing.  The plan worked beautifully.  He was completely taken aback by someone actually hitting consistently to his weapon.  Plus, because his forehand's strength was smashing, he was finding himself continuously tempted to smash chops that were not really smashable...and when he missed a few he became indecisive and you could see the confidence draining away.  Plus because the rallies were getting so predictable (just forehand push to forehand push) I found that I was able to return his smashes even when he got them in.  As a result, I won the last 3 sets easily.


Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 16 years ago

Well done Ji-Soo. It is a great feeling to win a match by using your head (as well as your physical skills to execute the plan). Your story reminds me of a blog entry I wrote a while ago which I know you commented on: Test out your opponent's forehand. Keep up the good work!

Aurel Drejta

Aurel Drejta Posted 14 years ago

Hi.I usualy test serves on the first set i play with someone when i sense a weekness i mostly use that serve.But not all the time because then he may figure out how to return the serve and then ill be ending up losing

Jo Boermans

Jo Boermans Posted 14 years ago

Nice story Ji-Soo.

there is some one in my club, who smash all the time with his forehand.

And when he do that he says always "you shouldn't send the ball to my forehand".

I think those players are too confident with that.

I used a simple plan against him, i give him the ball as many as i can on his backhand. So he is more focused on the backhand, and then change to his forehand. If he can return it, it's with less power than when he expect it, so i can smash easily.

 


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