OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I have just realised that short pips gives that no-spin ball when it hits a topspin ball.
usually I would chop the ball back.
Is there any better way to defend against short pips?

I don't think so. I have had little training against SP, so my experience is based on match play, where I don't always maintain an analytical mindset . Keep that in mind when reading on.

If playing defense against SP my main priority would be to keep the ball low. Instead of blocking off the bounce, I wait it out a little and counterhit from the top of the bounce. Not sure whether that is the optimal strategy, but it works for me (sometimes).
From some distance you need to chop to keep a flat trajectory, or the bounce will be high enough for a SP kill. You just need enough spin to get the ball to float. Heavy underspin does not cause much extra trouble for a SP player, but may cause loss of precision in your stroke. Also, when attacking with SP I guess you want to stay close to the table, so against it I have found that mainly deep returns is a good strategy. (If your opponent then twiddles to inverted and loops well, that strategy fails.)

Reading spin: SP hits will mostly carry a little topspin, unless your opponent uses really low-friction SP. If you don't see wobble, there is most likely some spin. Wobble means that the ball has virtually no spin.
When chopping against low spin, I open the bat slightly and use some forward movement in the stroke. Also, adding some sidespin helps me to control placement better. (Seems that I always get a sideways component to my spin, and when I add it intentionally I can better compensate the bat angle to place the ball where I want.)

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Rating in the middle/low range in the region.
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I have played my fair share of SP players in my time, and I have played guys who use it on their BH or their FH (and even one who uses it on both ). A lot in playing them depends on how good they are with it and how they use it. Keme is right on about keeping the ball low being crucial, although I have encountered SP players who don't do well with quite high balls also (and I mean higher than the prime kill zone). Generally a high ball that they have difficulty with though will be carrying heavy underspin either through a chopped lob or a block with an open faced racket. Sussing out their strengths and weaknesses on a case by case basis will always be necessary. If they don't hit well with it from deep, send it deep. If they tend to net smashes when the ball is fractionally above net height because they feel "invited" or "obliged" to slog at it but its not prime height for them, then do that (but don't do it if you keep accidentally raising it to prime height for them The odd successful one that they get is not only ok, its almost mandatory, cos the feeling they get of a successful smash will drive them on to keep at it. Your aim is to put the ball in a place where they miss more than they get. But if they are getting more than they miss, either you're doing something wrong, or they are just too good at it...so try something else!

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I'm always in the dark, but the Dark sheds lights upon everything!! Beauty is only pimple deep! Beauty is in the eye of the pipholder!
S/U 1: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Andro Rasant 2.1 . BH Red Tibhar Grass Dtecs
S/U 2: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 . BH Red GD Talon
S/U 3: Blade: Bty Gergely . No rubbers...thinking of adding Red Dtecs and Black Rasant
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