Transition of Topspin against different spins

Mantas Pocius Asked 13 years ago

Hi,

I really enjoyed watching your DVDs (training secrets revealed and serving secrets revealed) and your DVDs and free lessons helped me to improve my game a lot!

However, I would like to ask you one question. I can hit about 40-60 FH topspins against a no spin ball (a robot feeds balls), about 30 times of FH topspins against a backspin ball and only about 4-6 times FH topspin against a medium/heavy topspin ball. This stroke is very inconsistent atm. However, I have no problems if I counterhit the ball (I can hit 70-100 times of FH counterhit in the row) and because of that when I topspin the ball against a backspin ball and if opponent returns the ball with a block I have a big trouble, because I try to topspin it and not counterhit it (it is strange that when they block the ball it has some topspin so the ball goes off the table). Would you suggest me to improve my topspin against backspin, so they can't return it or would you suggest me to counterhit the ball instead of trying to topspin it or would you suggest me to practise topspin against topspin?

 I have the same problem with my backhand as well. 

Or maybe the problem is in my equipment? My blade is really fast (OFF+) and my rubbers are Hexer (it is like Tenergy, but a little bit slower and has more control). However, even before I changed my bat I had the same problem and it seems that this new bat has more control.

By the way, I really love reading the blog and watching PingPods, you should do more of them :)

Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Mantas,

This is a really common problem.  Changing from topspin against backspin to the next ball seems easy but the adjustment is difficult.  

You need to practice this transition.  So practice making a topspin against backspin, your training partner then blocks the ball back to your forehand and then you make a forehand topspin.  You will find that the ball will often go off the end of the table.  Focus on getting over this ball but still topspin the ball.  Really get over the top of the ball.

This will take some training but it will come to you if you persevere.