So in order to not sound cryptic, let me point out the influences on my game so you know my biases.
Brett is obviously one. Brett believes in having uncapped technique on your strokes ans serves and footwork then using those strokes and serves to play and get better with experience. He tries to help people avoid confusing bad technique with temporary or short term problems which will resolve with practice and experience once technique is right.
My other coach, Gerald Reid, who coached me and Alex Polyakov to USATT 2000, is a very tactical mind who believes in good strokes for a certain level and them rebuilding them to solve new problems as you get to the next level. He is also big on just in time plays and tactical approaches to the problems you face. His bias is for strong serve receive and rally over strong serves. He believes that if you can attack serves, you dismantle the games of lots of players.
Ultimately, both preach aggressive TT but Brett thinks at about what would prevent someone from being world class first and foremost, while Gerald is more about solving the problems that currently keep you from the next level.
Gerald IMO would have a more generous view of your game as Gerald gained a lot from being a good blocker. That said, both coaches would say that you can't get much better unless you consistently try to play the first topspin.
Of course, you can get away with it against certain players. But you need a very high level countering and serve return game to survive playing that way as you get better. And the problem is that habits lock you up in this game. When I got to 1800 as a blocker and pusher, I had to spend a lot of time changing my instincts so that I could attack serves. I popped up too many serves as a pusher.
Most better players will challenge you with backspin no spin combos and side backspin ans sidespin combos to get attackable balls. It gets harder to anticipate and move to loop kills Even spinny loops get really spinny at a certain.point. if o had good knees, I don't see myself missing an opening loop at my level. And I see it in the drilled kids.
So to cut a long story short, don't underestimate the fact that you are building habits and plays now. Some people play in places where better players undervalue the first topspin. In fact, I beat many old school players who push serves because they don't have strong over the table.attack.strokes. but all that changes against the young players.
So remember, think long term. Today, I played a guy who usually beats me but I.have been getting relatively even recently. I lost the last match 5-9 up and same today. But then won the second match 10-8. Having lost the first,I stopped pushing his serve as much and flicked and.looped if more often. I went down 0-2, but the tone change made him attack my pushes worse and let me set up my blocks better. I could probably lose another 5matches to him but I can't get better.unless I practice attacking his serves. Pushing them.will keep me stuck.because.other players will serve similar stuff and attack as hard.
So always think long term in practice. Note the risk in sticking with a blocking game. Few people can play it at the 2000 level and survive.
