Tactics for Pips Players

Match Strategy

Gerhard Mlekusch
Gerhard Mlekusch Asked 8 years ago

Hi Alois,

I'm a shakehand player with  Long Pips FH (61Second Artist) / Middle Long Pips BH (Armstrong Attack 8) and would be grateful to hear from you how to organize a tactical concept to build up some forward oriented style of attack. Given that a lot of pips inside players are using some stuff , which incredibly give them undreamt-of possibilities (not always associated with their own level of performance) , it would be very nice from you to give an ear to those minority of table tennis players with pips (at least in Europe) who are not really supported meaning they to be more tolerated than integrated in a complex sport like table tennis.


Alois Rosario
Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago

Hi Gerhard,

It is great that you are doing something different in this game.  I think that is what makes this game so much more interesting.

With the long pimples on the forehand it is difficult to attack.  It is mainly for defensive play.   You can stay closer to the table to give your opponent less time to work with.  The medium pimples on the BH will allow a little more tolerance for attacking and staying close to the table as well.

Cutting down the attackers time and using variation are key aspects to improving your game tactically.


Thoughts on this question


Gerhard Mlekusch

Gerhard Mlekusch Posted 8 years ago

Hi Alois,

first of all thank you for yours profound diagnosis, it's really hard to attack with Long Pips but there are main differences between stuff created for defence on one side and for attackers on the other side to be noticed.  Applying the second type of pips you're full right recommanding to reduce the distance to the table in active play. But there is also a second point to be observed: it's also essential to perform a very good short-short play in order to force the opponent approaching the table. Playing an active long pips attacker play it's counterproductive to play full loaded Top/Side/Under Spins (pips inside players perform this in a better way), but your'e able to create more variability under the slogan 'constant dripping wears the stone' and in further consequence according the motto  'he laughs best that laughs last'.


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