Brushing the ball has its place and its time.
But it also has its downsides and drawbacks:
- Is really dependent on the incoming ball
- Takes time to execute precisely
- Requires more "finetuning" and accuracy in hitting
- Is hard and risky to "scale",
meaning its difficult to put more body parts and energy into the ball
without risking that it will go out, fly too high, go into the net or something similar
- when you try to add power, the ball doesnt get much better
adding 20% body power doesnt add too much energy to the ball
- Player needs to be careful and "hold them self back" a little
- Too much spin without the supporting power behind it is prone to mistakes
- Gives the opponent more time to react, speed is the most effective pressuring aspect in a shot
"Hitting" the ball more than just brushing, like they are showing, solves a lot of those issues.
Especially with a chinese style rubber.
- Can "overpower" and "override" the incoming ball ( most of the time)
- Doesnt require that much finetuning or accuracy in hitting, ( goes with 1. point and playing under pressure )
- Easy to scale in power and energy,
use more body parts and better economy of motion,
"just go harder",
- Player doesnt need to restrain themselves as much,
Important for playing under pressure where mind and body is higher in tension
- Gives the ball speed AND spin
- Less time for opponent to react, more effective and puts more pressure on them ( most of the time )
- Can be more risky at times but also less risky at times, depends
Ovtcharovs forehand has been more brushing than hitting for a lot of his career.
Also in part due to his tensor-type equipment.
That equipment gives speed naturally and if you brush it gives spin.
Obviously also Timo, but for him it suits his playstyle and his abilities more than Dima.
Dima is a power and rally player and his forehand has never been as strong as anyone of the CNT for example.
He probably puts more pure power into his shots.
But when he puts a lot of power into the ball, it doesnt translate into a super-powerful loop.
Still worldclass of course, but not super high and powerful either.
Same for Harimoto, but he is changing it up more and its getting better.
My advice:
Learn both
Gather experience
Figure out what works for you and what doesnt
Know when to apply which one according to your intentions
Table tennis does not function in absolutes and fixed sets of guidelines, but in relatives.