OOAK Table Tennis Forum

In some reviews of rubbers, I've heard this term used...good for 'third ball attack'.

Now I assume it means you serve, the other person returns, and you immediately attack?

So what kind of characteristics does this phrase describe?

Is it basically the same as saying the rubber is good for 'initiating attack' or 'quick attack'?

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Blade: TSP Black Balsa 7.0 flared; FH Rubber - Donic Acuda S3 max sponge; BH Rubber - Speed Spectol 1.8mm

Yeah pretty much. It just literally means that you attack the 3rd ball (serve, return, attack).

It mostly means just a flick.

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Chasse Patate

Either traditional tacky Chinese rubbers or short pips tend to be the best for this. I personally think that short pips are a more powerful weapon, but they're much more difficult to use unless you have VERY good serves (see: Liu Guoliang).

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Jpen: Galaxy 982 juniper 8mm- Darker Provine Tension-50 2.2 or Tibhar Torpedo Soft 2.2
Shake OFF: Galaxy T8 ST- FH: Darker PT-50 2.2, BH: Juic Varites 1.5
Shake DEF: modified Joo- FH: Reactor Corbor 2.2, BH: Globe 979 1.5

My understanding is : To serve in such a way that your opponent will return it in a manner which allows you a hit to kill.

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Expert II crwi C-Pen
Red Acuda P1

interesting..so it doesn't refer to the attacking 3rd shot itself but the serve that sets it up.

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Blade: TSP Black Balsa 7.0 flared; FH Rubber - Donic Acuda S3 max sponge; BH Rubber - Speed Spectol 1.8mm

hrmmmm
I reckon it refers to the attack, not the setup.

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Chasse Patate

If you don't have good serves, you will not get many 3rd balls to attack.

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Shakehand, left handed.
Blade, Yinhe, W-1
Forhand, H-3 National
Backhand, Sriver FX Max

3rd ball attack refers to the 1st attack you perform following your serve.

Alot of rubber reviews mention how a rubber is excellent for 3rd ball attack. This makes no sense at all since its all down to the players skill rather than the rubber.

A excellent serve will force a weak return from the opponent hence allowing you to pull off a strong 1st attack.

Well put!

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i was under the same impression as speedplay... i see the "3rd ball attack" as the opening loop (slow and very spinny) that opens the door to the faster 5th and 7th ball attacks.

but yah.. it's silly to use it as a rubber description!

I really think that the 3rd ball attack is an agressive attack. You try to win the point right away! Just like Liu Guoliang or something.

i thought the days of 3rd ball kills were over with the bigger balls!

unfortunately they still occur

Hi LawOCG,
LOL, thats only because you are on the wrong end of the 3rd ball kills.
I just listed my serves so I could see them. I have 10 major serves. Six of them I can do side, top or chop or twiddle to use short pips or LP for no spin, depending on which bat I am useing. That makes 24 variations without counting placement. I could probably play 3 games without useing the same serve twice, but I do have my favorites.
I am always ready for a 3rd ball kill. Thats why I use serves that use a similar stroke to make different results, hoping for a popup.
Most people only consider the serve they are about to make. It is really TWO serves and the first serve can affect what your opponent will do with the second creating a point outright or a 3rd ball opportunity.
Third ball kills still exist all right.
At the world level, you don't see a huge variety and I would probably eat most of them. They would be turned into 2nd ball kills. But at the levels I am interested in, they serve me well.

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Shakehand, left handed.
Blade, Yinhe, W-1
Forhand, H-3 National
Backhand, Sriver FX Max