OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Hi everone, i was hoping some experienced players who use short pips could help me.
At the moment i am using ritc 802 with a harder sponge on the backhand of a avalox 700. I often find when any oppenent serves or pushes with some, or heavy backspin long to my backhand i don't know what to do. Since i have the harder sponge i find it difficult to loop the ball back with topspin. If the ball has heavy backspin, i find it hard to hit through the spin, concequenting in the ball hitting the net. What do i do?

Thanks in advance to people who replied.

Sometimes it helps to open the angle of your racket more; even though you may get less topspin, the chances of it making it to the other side are greatly increased. With some half grippy rubbers (not short pips, but I imagine they're similar), I can flat out attack backspin, but to do so I actually have the face of my racket pointing about 10-15 degrees UPWARD and swing pretty straight. The backspin pulls the ball down enough that it won't go sailing over the edge, and if you hit it properly, much of that backspin should be continued, thus turning into your topspin.

Try rolling the ball back with not too much speed instead of looping it. Short pips are weak against long serves and pushes especially if you're used to looping it.

You can loop it but you'll need to open your blade, let it drop and go forward more. Looping it while it's rising is very difficult compared to inverted.

I find I have a lot more control with a softer and thinner sponge, not a hard or thick sponge. I don't lose any speed on flat hits with a fast blade.

-- Andrew