Table set-up for one-player practice
Training and Drills
Rohan Keogh Asked 7 years ago
Hi guys. When I am setting the table up for one-player practice, what's the best position and angle for the 'back/return board'? Should it be positioned right behind the net or a little further back, even far enough that the ball bounces on the table before rebounding (so I see I'm not over-hitting)? Should the return board be vertical or at a slight backward angle to help lift the ball back over the net, or will this create easier (higher, slower) returns?
Cheers
Rufuss
Alois Rosario Answered 7 years ago
Hi Rufuss,
It is better to position it back where an opponent would normally hit the ball from.
I am not a big fan of backboards for practice though. I think it is too difficult to get any sort of consistent practice with it.
Thoughts on this question
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D K Posted 7 years ago
I would like to try it,though.
Because i need to practise pushing fast and agressively and noone wants to train anything else than powerlooping and bombing
Rohan Keogh Posted 7 years ago
Same here D K. I want to practice push and block but have no practice partners so I figured the half-table with a rebound board would at least provide some practice opportunity. The major shortcoming I experience is that rebound board always returns a no spin ball if it is vertical or a mild back spin ball if it is angled back slightly (and the ball comes back either "soft" or too long).
Still as Alois says, some/any TT is better than no TT :)
Rohan Keogh Posted 7 years ago
So Alois, if single-player practice is all we can get, and you are not a big fan of rebound boards, do you think robots are a better option?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago
Robots are a better option than return boards.
Rohan Keogh Posted 7 years ago
OK thanks. Are then any under A$250 (€175) you feel you could recommend?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago
Can't really recommend any but others may have some experience with them.
D K Posted 7 years ago
Hmm..Alois....?
COuldn't a returnboard with normal rubber surface be used as a sort of "measuring" the amount of spin I am capable of creating?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago
Yes that is one use of them.
D K Posted 7 years ago
Another reason to use them that comes to my mind is practising against unusual rubber (pips/anti)
Rohan Keogh Posted 7 years ago
I made a new (larger) rebound board today and tested the mounting and position before I put any rubber on it. What I noticed was that when I pushed with heavy backspin I got topspin back. When I did topspin I got a no-spin ball that released with topspin once it bounced on my side. No matter what adjustments I made I could not get it to return backspin. Why is that, and will rubbers on the rebound board change the spin I'm getting back from the board?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago
Rubbers will make all the difference.