OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I have a player in my club I always struggle with, even though he's about a grade below me in competiton (sound familiar, everyone probably knows a player like this is their club )

He's a pengripper, who blocks very well allround, hit hard anything high, and has good control on return of serves.

Although I can usually win points with fast spinny loops on my own serves (since I can set them up), I struggle setting these up on his serves. He mostly serves medium pace no-spin to my BH, not too wide but into my body a little.

If I'm really quick I can step around and fast loop this, but it need to be a winner or he'll block fast and wide to my FH.

I can push/chop it back with my LP, but can't generate enough spin to make him push back so that I can loop it. He tends to keep pushing me with little spin in the the general BH area, stopping me from attacking.

Because my blade is quite slow, I have a fairly fast and glued up FH rubber. I could twiddle and push with this, but the control with such a fast rubber is not great. I could twiddle and attack, but I struggle with the rubber for my BH.

I can win point by slow looping and mix up the spin and speed, but he blocks so well, I struggle setting up the point for a fast loop kill.

I seemed to have gained the upper hand a little since I started attacking with the LP more, but it's still a real battle...

Apart from practicing my obvious weaknesses, any suggestions on strategies I could try?

Cheers!

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

well actually learn to handle your fast rubber on your bh.
Or have him loop first and then re-loop it.

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Frame: Nittaku Violin
FH: Joola Energy 2.0
BH: Bty Solcion 2.1

I would use the more different rotations I can: one chop with the LP, then one attack with the LP, if it comes back: short retourn with the LP or quick attack with the forehand. Attacking with the 955 gives a difficult ball to play, at least till good players. Quite difficult to estimate as I can't compare the level between Australia and Belgium.

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Blade : Tibhar COS3
Forehand: Moon Pro 2.0
Backhand: Neubauer Desperado Ox
****
http://www.diabolosyl.net (my own site)
http://www.tennis-de-table.com (biggest forum in France)

Servio: Yes I need to work on my BH, but this will take a lot of my time...which i can't spare ATM. He does not loop, he hits hard...counter attack is tough with this player...

Diabolosys: Yes that is what i try, but when there is no spin or pace of him to work with, it's hard to attack with LP...

This person is in a lower grade because he often struggles with chopper or defensive player...but he loves loopers...

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Drop shot?

Drop shots are probably no good against this person, he's quick, close to the table and loves to go for the angles... I'll give it try this weekend though...you never know...

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

So I have myabe a solution for you, after the training of yesterday evening, I found another way to use the 955. Use it as a backside! Attack, topspin, block, it is possible with this LP. Of course you have to find the right movement but it is possible and seems quite disturbing for the opponent. I even wonder if the 955 is a defensive LP

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Blade : Tibhar COS3
Forehand: Moon Pro 2.0
Backhand: Neubauer Desperado Ox
****
http://www.diabolosyl.net (my own site)
http://www.tennis-de-table.com (biggest forum in France)

Ok yeah in that case a no spin drop shot is probably no good. Guess keeping it tight and hard against their bh is classic against pen-hold - but you'll know that more than me :S

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Tibhar Grass D.techs OX | Donic BigSlam 2.0mm .
Re-Impact Medusa (balsa / 1-ply cherry wood)
Frictionless strokes | Attacking pip strokes | Greggy's advice | Bollsbrother | Sebastian Sauer . . . . . .

Thanks for the tips! I'll keep trying and will report back if I find a new strategy...

I wonder if it's worth having a strategy section on how to play with LP against other styles/rubbers?

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Good point. The trouble is that LP players have such varied playing styles I'm not sure how you'd do it, viz. frictionless, attacking and defensive.

This current problem is most interesting. Personally I'd attack repeatedly bh to bh using both inverted and pips.

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Tibhar Grass D.techs OX | Donic BigSlam 2.0mm .
Re-Impact Medusa (balsa / 1-ply cherry wood)
Frictionless strokes | Attacking pip strokes | Greggy's advice | Bollsbrother | Sebastian Sauer . . . . . .

Yes, perhaps this is a good opportunity to practice twiddling...

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

LOL You know my game!

_________________
Tibhar Grass D.techs OX | Donic BigSlam 2.0mm .
Re-Impact Medusa (balsa / 1-ply cherry wood)
Frictionless strokes | Attacking pip strokes | Greggy's advice | Bollsbrother | Sebastian Sauer . . . . . .