Using LP in doubles

Ji-Soo Woo Asked 13 years ago

Hi Alois

I've made a permanent change to LP and have been using it for the past 6 weeks. I find it's the best rubber to use when sleep-deprived from having a baby in the house!!! If I can't keep up with the younger players, I can at least slow the game down!!! Also it seems to suit my temperament which is to back up and get everything back - looking for a chance to counter attack. Thus I'm facing a new steep learning curve and feel like I'm starting from scratch again. I've got one LP question for today:

Currently, at the start of a rally, when a ball comes to my LP side, I generally push long and scamper back to prepare to retrieve my opponent's vicious loops and drives. Now in singles this isn't too bad because scrambling and retrieving is something I need to be able to practice and do consistently anyway (and with my LP I'm well equipped to handle heavy spin).

However, my regular doubles partner is an aggressive double wing looper who is best suited to close-to-table attacking, and my long pushes means he has to try and fend off all the loops and drives close to the table. Last competition we entered, we got slaughtered for this very reason. As a LP combination player, how can you overcome this? And, more generally, what is the difference in approach for a combination player in doubles compared to singles?

Thanks!

Ji-Soo

Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Ji-Soo,

This is an important question. In doubles you need to work with what your partner needs. In this case I would use your forehand a lot more and not use the long pimples because if your partner is not comfortable with the ball that comes back from it, it is difficult to change that in a hurry.

If you can play the ball short with the LP it may be more useful so that he isn't defending a topspin stroke.

You may need to get around and use your footwork and forehand a bit more!

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Ji-Soo Woo Posted 13 years ago

Thanks for the insight Alois. Something that didn't occur to me during the tournament unfortunateloy.

I don't think I have the stamina to run around all my backhands, but next time I will twiddle and hit my midcourt backhand loops (like you taught me!).