OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Hi all,

Had an interesting match tonight. All three players on my team lost against a guy who used a fairly thin-sponged 729fx and had an unbelievably spinny topspin serve.

That's not unheard of for me - my serve receive still isn't the best in the world - but the two other guys have been playing for over 70 years combined and I've never seen them struggle with serves before.

It was partially because his motion was really hard to read, but mostly just because every time he topspinned a serve to our inverted rubbers we could barely keep the ball on the table. I ended up simply turning my bat to face the table, closed rather than open, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't!

So, after a vastly long-winded introduction, my question is simple: how do you attack long, fast, really heavy topspin serves?

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

A well placed block would be easiest I think. These types of serves can kicks on the table sometimes, so you've got to watch them carefully.

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

By block, do you mean the kind block where I effectively do a small counter-hit? Like six inches of swing at the top of the bounce?

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

With inverted I usually do what most players do, try to counter incoming spin, so if it is a straight topspin i will try to block or loop/drive it back. If the spin is more than I can handle, I try two other approaches:
- Stand back and chop. The spin fades a little as the ball travels through the air, and you continue that spin so it affects the speed and direction of your return less than when you counter the spin.
- Angle your bat and do a "sideways loop". Your bat touches the ball near the axis of rotation, so you won't feel as much of the spin.

If there is a sidespin component (like you get with a tomahawk serve), I also try to counter it first. If that doesn't work, usually I can counter the topspin and continue the sidespin (i.e. reverse the sideways direction of the stroke, compared to what you'd do for a straight counter).

Did that make any sense?

_________________
My blog of failures, etc., also containing equipment list at "resurrection" (referred to in a few of my early posts), and my current lineup
Rating in the middle/low range in the region.
Moderating the LP Attacking subforum in the Technique section.

Not quite... take the ball early with a fairly closed bat, with some forward movement depending on how aggressive you want to return it. Taking it early with little swing reduces the chance of missing due to kick.

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Taking it early as said will feel like there is less spin. Also you could wait till the ball is below the table and loop forward. Waiting will also have reduced spin feeling because spin is dying off the ball. You could stand slightly further and chop it with your pips also. He will most likely push if not in position to loop.

_________________
-Teddy

As God as my witness (think I've said this before), I have faced heavy topspin from two different players before and here are my observations:

1) a fast low arc heavy topspin curved so much that it almost followed an L pattern if you ca imagine that;

2) A slow high arc high topspin to my fh resulted in the ball going straight into the net...we were rallying fh to fh and he kept increasing the op spin until that happened...

I'm still puzzled about these extreme top spins?????????

_________________
A big bag full of blades and long pimples, donuts and coffee!

The difficulty there is getting to the right place quick enough - the ball moved very fast from his serve and if I can't get to the ball as it bounces, it sounds like it'll vastly increase my margin for error.

I think I'll try it though - if I'm in the right position, "block" it back like this. If I'm not in the right position, take a big step back with my right or left foot (depending on which side, obviously) and chop through it.

I didn't have too much of a problem returning it with my pimples but I ended up literally in my forehand quarter to return serve which made my point-winning forehand completely redundant.

_________________
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

You really only need to get your bat to it... it's already got the pace and spin to get it back to the other side.

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

It cant be heavier or faster than a reasonable loop. Blocking and counter-topspinning should work. If you are getting beaten for speed (which souldnt happen) then check your receive position...is your bat in a neutral position? Are your knees and back bent? Are you on your toes? Etc. also. Be sure not to be too central.