Playing Style, can it be changed?

[ML fan]

My play style is like I want hit hard for speed. Like one blow, but I want to make my game to be spinny. I think, I can get more points on spinny shots, however, I am always tempted to hit hard in games. Not spinny. How can I change?
Why is Ma long called the looping machine? I thought loop is very spinny? But it seems super fast and speedy. Maybe, speed and super spinny too?
Because usually, in the club, spinny is slow spinny yet a little bit higher.

 

[olive-nguyen]

Yes certainly can be changed. About loops, there certainly is a difference, and when it comes to how spenny it is is relative to the forehand technique, and what the player wants. Ma Long’s forehand loop is skinny yet fast, but very thinly not as skinny to say, Xu Xin. But you can really see the difference between the stroke, and it does appear that Xu Xin pulls his loops and loop drives further down, getting the ball slightly later compared to ba long. You can really see the topspin arc sometimes when Xu Xin pulls it up deep.

Another good looper in my opinion and game intelligence is TImo Boll. He pulls his loops from what seems like his knees.

 

[olive-nguyen]

Basically spinny doesn’t always equal slow.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

My play style is like I want hit hard for speed. Like one blow, but I want to make my game to be spinny. I think, I can get more points on spinny shots, however, I am always tempted to hit hard in games. Not spinny. How can I change?
Why is Ma long called the looping machine? I thought loop is very spinny? But it seems super fast and speedy. Maybe, speed and super spinny too?
Because usually, in the club, spinny is slow spinny yet a little bit higher.

Can change. It is all up to you. Where there is a will, there is a way.

However, I opine, instead of seeing it as hit hard as one technique and spinny loop as another and they are mutually exclusive, rather, see it as type of weapon in your arsenal. Sometimes you need to hit hard while another time you need to loop. Different player response differently. Some players can handle one type of stroke much better than the other.

 

[McSmasher]

yep, this topic speaks to me personally lol... I was always a forehand slapper from when I was young up until adulthood (as a social hobby player who only played once in a while). When I started competitive tournaments in my 30s, this "technique" got me to an intermediate level... but as soon as I got to the point where I was playing against well-coached players that train a few times a week, my technique got completely found out.

So pride kicked in, and I decided to learn the game "properly", by doing a deep dive into the technical elements of the game. This helped me to start beating players that don't give much height to hit (e.g. short pips, well drilled attackers). In saying that, you should still slap the crap out of lobbers that play 5 metres away from the table lol

This is what I did:

• Went back to square one, and learnt all the fundamentals (forehand / backhand drive, push, topspin, loop), following Youtube videos
• Changed my mental approach to technique: it took me a while to understand that acceleration is more important than speed and power in table tennis, as this helps to better generate spin while still allowing for fast speed
• Lots of shadow practice: If you've had a slapping technique for a long time, it's more difficult to change that technique, especially if you have lots of bad habits and no fundamentals. So shadow practice will help to lock in a better technique
• Record training / matches: Watching yourself play can be one of the most glaring things that you can do in this game, your strokes can look way different to what you're expecting

And this is what I should have done as the first thing (if I had enough time amongst work and a young family):

• Got a good coach
• Join a training group
• More table time

While coaching and training more would have fast-tracked my improvement, if you're the problem-solving type, then it's still possible to improve following a more "hobbyist" approach like I did... it's an enjoyable process to understand the intricacies of table tennis technique, there's so much depth and details to learn.

Also bear in mind that changing technique can make your results worse in the short-term, as your brain needs time to adjust between the old technique and new technique, but that will be less of a problem the more you practice. In the long-term, it's definitely a worthwhile venture. Good luck!

 

[SFF_lib]

My play style is like I want hit hard for speed. Like one blow, but I want to make my game to be spinny. I think, I can get more points on spinny shots, however, I am always tempted to hit hard in games. Not spinny. How can I change?
Why is Ma long called the looping machine? I thought loop is very spinny? But it seems super fast and speedy. Maybe, speed and super spinny too?
Because usually, in the club, spinny is slow spinny yet a little bit higher.

Table tennis is like the chess of sports. Your playstyle follows your strategy. Tons of muscles don’t get you points. Your strategy does.

Of course training is pivotal.

ML has tons of weapons in his arsenal. He doesn’t have to loop hard if he can force you to make mistakes. Looping is one thing. How you loop and where you place the ball are even more important.

In summary, table tennis has so many elements. I recommend you to train well in the fundamentals and develop a set of strategies.