OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Hi guys,
I am having some trouble against my cousin, who is a counterhitter. When I start looping, he just blocks it using his forehand(SP). It seems that he only
Ever uses FH. Since my loops are quite fast, I receive very fast balls which I can't react to fast enough. Pls help.

Cheers,
RJ
P.S I've already read the basic strategy against but I'm not very good at putting heavy spin in the ball. Also, my cousin has very good footwork and can lunge from the other end of the table.

If your loops are fast I find it difficult to believe you can't get him to play a BH block. In any case, practice looping heavier with a higher net clearance.

It's because he plays penhold

You can either stop looping (ie try a different strategy) if you don't like the returns, or loop slower and go for better placement and/or more spin. Mixing in some sidespin loops can be effective too, coz if they're mis-read they'll often block them into the net.

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As a counter hitter I don't like it when players give combinations of the extremes, lot's of spin or no spin as it stops me getting in to a comfortable rhythm.

A counter hitter won't like having to generate their own pace. Having to do so can throw off their timing or expose flaws in their own technique. So I wouldn't get hung up about the idea of going for more and more power.

Also be careful with your ball placement. Don't put the ball in their hitting zones - or blocking zones. Again the idea is to make them have to move or "lean". If they aren't good at movement, ie they tend to reach or lean for the ball, their bat angle will change and if they don't pay attention to their bat angle they'll make mistakes.

It is possible to hit through counter hitters but you'll need good placement skills to do that as much as the ability to put pace on the ball and remember the more pace you give them to work with the less they have to do and the faster the ball comes back at you, giving you less time to prepare for your next shot.

Play heavy underspin pushes early in the rally. Serve nospin or very heavy underspin. Wait for him to open weakly and counterloop into his elbow.

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Defense Blade with pimples on one side ...

Whatever you do, do NOT, do NOT, make fast drives or fast loops, unless they will be clean winners. All counterblocker has to do is get the bat there and grip the bat to reflect back what you gave him.

ESPECIALLY, regardless of the shot, do NOT make the shot land half-depth. That makes it too easy to block or go on attack.

DO, change the spins, especially in favor of very slow, deep placed HEAVY spin. Give a push sometimes when he thinks you will attack, get a bump back then open HEAVY.

The suggestion of baiting counterdriver to attack is also a sound way as there is a different rythm to attacking, then going right back to fast block defence.

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Goof-off chopping bat
Gambler All Rosewood
Aurus Soft / Gambler GXL .6 sponge

Status - Out of Business Janitor/Babysitter

I agree, except that as he is penhold I would tend to counterloop wide. Long heavy pushes - largely to the middle - is definitely worth a go.

you can also try standing slightly further back (6 to 12 inches) than you normally do, his quick counters have less effect, and you have more time to generate much more spin...

He's been to familiar with your loop thus can adjust accordingly. Try to add variation to your shot..

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Enjoy the game. It is a never ending learning experience once you play and keep the ball on that 45 sq ft of space or should I say half of that space.

Thanks for all your opinions and time. I'll be sure to use your advice the next time I play against him. But I don't think that will be very soon as during my previous training I forgot to do warm ups and pulled a muscle. Now my shoulder hurts like crazy...

Ouch.

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Goof-off chopping bat
Gambler All Rosewood
Aurus Soft / Gambler GXL .6 sponge

Status - Out of Business Janitor/Babysitter