Dear pingponger,
From 4 January I give training every Thursday. We set up the tables from 19:30. We start at 19:45, and I’ll pair you with someone of the same level. Students and beginners get priority, but the training is for everyone.
What we work on
I pay a lot of attention to technique (footwork!), insight and exercises where you don’t know where the ball will land. Just like a real match.
Think, look and consciously vary: you’ll be surprised how many more matches you win by playing smarter. Variation only costs points if you haven’t trained for it. Not your thing? You’ll still benefit — you’ll handle it better when your opponent does vary.
Playing with backspin
It already scores a lot if you can push alternately with a lot and a little backspin. More backspin comes from hitting the ball thinner with a downward motion (otherwise the ball goes up). Little backspin from hitting it thicker, with a horizontal motion. That’s how you vary the speed too.
Against a passive player (right-handed, no pips) it’s often smart to push the ball straight unexpectedly after a few backhands (bh), with little backspin (and faster), planning to spin the next ball with the fh — or smash it.
Is the opponent less passive? Push the ball straight with a lot of backspin. Many opponents then step forward with their right leg and can no longer open properly. Or they hit it into the net. :-0
And if they push back, the ball no longer goes out to your bh, at most straight ahead — making a fh easier. (We’ll train the bh opening another time. :-)
All variants are easy to train, useful for both players. If all goes well, player A pushes straight ahead irregularly with a lot or a little backspin: player B has to look carefully and watch the footwork.
See you Thursday
Those things, then. ;-) I build the training up as you read, so be on time. There are always basic exercises for steadiness and fitness.
I’m really looking forward to it. Hopefully I’ll see you there — and certainly afterwards in the Big Bang. :-)