OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Using low friction pips in ox, I find some players are easily beaten by blocking near to the table. Some bump shots, some blocks but all done close to the table.

However...!! Then there are players who seem to eat these balls up and have little to no trouble in attacking them. So, against them, I will drop back and play a more passive backhand using chops. Keeping the long balls going until they play a softer one I can attack with the fh.

My question is... why is this the case?! Against the same rubber and ball types, why are some people terrible vs blocks and good vs chops or vice versa?!

I don't really enjoy having to swap styles, because I feel it has more to do with bad skill! For instance, you don't see players like sreeja Akula dropping back to chop against some players... and you don't see people like jian li (ox chopper) hovering newr the table against some opponents. Or Gustaf erricson for example

They either seem to exclusively block or chop, and very rarely do players (less so the higher up they go) swap between the two strategies of chop/block.

For me, I think it has to do with time/speed. With a chop, I have more time to transition between attack/defense and can use the fh with more ability to position. With blocking, I think there is less room for error because they will hit the ball past you if not anticipated correctly. Whereas from chop range, you can stick out an arm or whatever and retrieve a stray ball.

Maybe more of a hybrid like liu song, where his pips are used more sparingly from shorter range.

I can't tell you why some people have problems with block and other with chop. Some are good with the shorter ones because they use less spin so they get easier balls back what they can attack.

I always play close to the table, i never chop (sometime only when out off position after a FH attack).
There are more tactics than block of chop. I play close to the table and if they know how to handle I play more aggresive and longer on the table.
Take the ball VERY early to give them less time and hit the ball lower over the net.

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Regards Marc

Setup: Stiga Cybershape Wood / FH:Tibhar Evolution FX-D / BH: S&T Hellfire X 0x

I embrace having to figure out how to win. I love the fact that I can change strategies and thus change the outcome. To me this is the most fun of the game!!!

So my question is why do players not enjoy swapping styles?

Because the equiment for chopping and blocking is not the same.
I have created a combo that suits my playing style .... behind the table chopping will not go well with my hardware.

_________________
Regards Marc

Setup: Stiga Cybershape Wood / FH:Tibhar Evolution FX-D / BH: S&T Hellfire X 0x

Some LP can do both quite well. Saviga V and Monkey do well-I am sure there are many, many more LP that can do well. I commonly do it-using an OFF- blade.

Yes some, but some can do both. You asked why they did NOT like to switch

_________________
Regards Marc

Setup: Stiga Cybershape Wood / FH:Tibhar Evolution FX-D / BH: S&T Hellfire X 0x