How to play against flat hitter?

[Synapse]

The guy doesn't know how to do a forehand loop, he's hitting flat. Playing top spins against him is exhausting, because his flat hits doesn't require leg movement, and playing another top spin against no spin ball is much harder than against top spin ball, i'm spending more enegry and often don't have much time to react to his smashes with a very fast rubber.
When i try to push with heavy underspin, he performs an open up deep into my table(basic heavy top spin, pre top-spin loop, heavy hitting the back of the ball against underspin). The best option is to top spin this ball, but then he counters with flat hit again and this situation repeats.
Basically, it's easier for me to play against more skilled opponents, rather than against this self learner.
My forehand loops aren't perfect and fast as pro's, as i'm still learning how to loop with chinese Hurricane 3 rubber, it's harder for me to keep the high speed and the arc low every time, so he always finds how to hit his flat shot.
Any other tactics i can do against him?

 

[vvk1]

Devastate the Short Pips Attacker
The above applies generally to any flathitters, regardless of whether they use short pips or not.

 

[KM1976]

If I play against hitters, I don't try to match speed to speed. But instead I try to work with my placement and always make sure that my opponent moves for each stroke.

 

[SFF_lib]

I played such a hard hitter in the last season. I struggled quite a bit at the start I lost like 3-11 quickly, then adjusted.

This doesn't apply to all but, in general their weaknesses:

1. Not as fit = slower footwork
2. Weak spin creation (she used non-spinny rubbers)
3. Sucks when away from the table

How I overturned the game?

1. Placement of pushes. For example, serve very short to FH side, then push very long to her BH side. Whatever she pushed back will be long with little spin. If ready, I will loop kill. If not ready, I push another long backspin.
2. Not sure about your opponent, I served long float to her mid body. Her worn out non-spinny rubber struggled with this.
3. I playfully chopped or snaked. They're so used to attackers. She was so frustrated. Do unusual tricks 🤣🤣
4. She received much better with BH than FH, so i often served long to her FH, alternating side-top, float or heavy backspin.

 

[pingpongpaddy]

The guy doesn't know how to do a forehand loop, he's hitting flat. Playing top spins against him is exhausting, because his flat hits doesn't require leg movement, and playing another top spin against no spin ball is much harder than against top spin ball, i'm spending more enegry and often don't have much time to react to his smashes with a very fast rubber.
When i try to push with heavy underspin, he performs an open up deep into my table(basic heavy top spin, pre top-spin loop, heavy hitting the back of the ball against underspin). The best option is to top spin this ball, but then he counters with flat hit again and this situation repeats.
Basically, it's easier for me to play against more skilled opponents, rather than against this self learner.
My forehand loops aren't perfect and fast as pro's, as i'm still learning how to loop with chinese Hurricane 3 rubber, it's harder for me to keep the high speed and the arc low every time, so he always finds how to hit his flat shot.
Any other tactics i can do against him?

hi synapse
perhaps you could be more self critical. It sounds as though your partner has more of the good elements of topspin attack.
Actually, based on your description your "self learner" is more correct than you.
To make your topspin more effective, make the arc higher over the net, this will result in your shot landing deeper and driving him back.
Being ' spin happy' is an amateur failng Make sure that you contact at peak bounce and that the moment of impact your weight is going FORWARD.
Yr racket should be brushing FORWARD over the ball (good) rather than UP the back of the ball (bad)
Once you have your legs driving you forward correctly you will probably find the need to recover .
once the instant of impact is over get yourself back into ready position.
good luck!

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

The guy doesn't know how to do a forehand loop, he's hitting flat. Playing top spins against him is exhausting, because his flat hits doesn't require leg movement, and playing another top spin against no spin ball is much harder than against top spin ball, i'm spending more enegry and often don't have much time to react to his smashes with a very fast rubber.
When i try to push with heavy underspin, he performs an open up deep into my table(basic heavy top spin, pre top-spin loop, heavy hitting the back of the ball against underspin). The best option is to top spin this ball, but then he counters with flat hit again and this situation repeats.
Basically, it's easier for me to play against more skilled opponents, rather than against this self learner.
My forehand loops aren't perfect and fast as pro's, as i'm still learning how to loop with chinese Hurricane 3 rubber, it's harder for me to keep the high speed and the arc low every time, so he always finds how to hit his flat shot.
Any other tactics i can do against him?

It is worth knowing that, if what he is doing is harder to play against than someone you are viewing as higher level, then, regardless of what his technique looks like, he is presenting challenges for you that are worth suring your skills against.

When someone gives you good topspin, it is much easier to give good topspin back. When the ball is empty you have to generate the power on your own. If that is harder than playing a good topspin player for you, then for you, what this guy is doing will help you improve more than someone who gives you a consistent quality ball that you are used to playing against.

Tactics are fine. But it sounds like regardless of tactics, you need to work on playing against this type of player and if you do, your level will go up.

It makes sense you are solid against what you normally train against. You will be better if you get strong at playing against the variations this guy is presenting as well.

 

[sebi]

What i did against a flat hitter was give them no spin balls, they need your spin. Without your spin their ball usually goes long, it does not bend down. If you want to spin their flat hit you have to loop more like its a underspin ball. Also i try to move them around and play far to their forehand so they have to hit the ball from under the table, but with a topspin ball or float ball.

I get what you are saying sometimes "weaker" or unusual playing styles are more difficult to play against. I think you should see it as a chance to improve even more.

 

[SleepyMaster]

I try to serve heavy side/top mostly mixing with heavy under and many flat hit players pushing it or just gave me an easy ball to attack bc they often they lacking ability to brush good spiny serves to make a quality return

 

[omelet]

A video would help us understand how to better give advice. What we think we do and what we do can be shockingly different (reel vs feel).

 

[Der_Echte]

Get a super FZD with D05 on each side, then call it a day.

Everyone on the internet reports being world dominant with this setup.

 

[pong99]

If I was the hitter playing the OP, I would probably be thinking this:

The opponent has a weak topspin game, I can let him open anytime because his loop is very easy to smash and he hits it to predictable spots every time so I barely have to move to return it.

If he pushes, I give him deep no spin balls that he can't do anything with. He has no plan B for when plan A doesn't work.

I love playing against players who can't loop me off the table but think they can. I predict this player will also have a very hard time against LP.

 

[blahness]

Do you boost your Hurricane? If not you may have found your problem xD

 

[Scarfed Garchomp]

Get a super FZD with D05 on each side, then call it a day.

Everyone on the internet reports being world dominant with this setup.

Only real ones remember when the meta setup was Bryce on a Schlager Carbon 😎 Nowadays kids are obsessed with Super fiber this and Spring Sponge that... Still can't hold a candle to the legendary Schildkröt 900

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Get a super FZD with D05 on each side, then call it a day.

Everyone on the internet reports being world dominant with this setup.

Only real ones remember when the meta setup was Bryce on a Schlager Carbon 😎 Nowadays kids are obsessed with Super fiber this and Spring Sponge that... Still can't hold a candle to the legendary Schildkröt 900

It looks like the goon squad might be about to pay a visit.

 

[Der_Echte]

Lookout TTD !!!

Carl just blew the secret dog whistle !!!

 

[Synapse]

Do you boost your Hurricane? If not you may have found your problem xD

No, and i never will, since it's against the rules. I want to learn full chinese technique, otherwise i would buy D05 or any other euro rubber and it would be easier to play. But i don't want an easy way, i want to master the hard way and reap more benefits in the late transformation, with more speed and spin. And ofc, i'm kinda far away from it right now and asking for advice.
Players in my club are mostly veterans 45+, exactly 0 of them can loop the ball either with top spin or back spin at all. But they all smash like crazy and have a really good ball feeling. I don't want to play like that, i'm trying to learn the proper and correct techniques, and looping against flat hitters is kinda hard on not very high level.

 

[boretennis]

I want to learn full chinese technique

like boosting a hurricane?

 

[thisisit]

like boosting a hurricane?

top chinese players don't boost their h3s.



they have designated people for that.

 

[blahness]

No, and i never will, since it's against the rules. I want to learn full chinese technique, otherwise i would buy D05 or any other euro rubber and it would be easier to play. But i don't want an easy way, i want to master the hard way and reap more benefits in the late transformation, with more speed and spin. And ofc, i'm kinda far away from it right now and asking for advice.
Players in my club are mostly veterans 45+, exactly 0 of them can loop the ball either with top spin or back spin at all. But they all smash like crazy and have a really good ball feeling. I don't want to play like that, i'm trying to learn the proper and correct techniques, and looping against flat hitters is kinda hard on not very high level.

All high level Chinese players who use hurricane boost. There are almost no exceptions to the rule. If you don't boost you're leaving too much performance on the table. If you don't wanna boost just get D05 or D09c...

 

[vanjr]

The hardest part of this thread is the implication that a "hitter" is not a proper style of table tennis. Of course it is different, but it is a traditional and respected (well at least by me) style.
The second is the arbitrary separation of hitting from looping. Topspin is on a continuum.
A mindset of respecting all opponents-ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO BEAT YOU (lol) goes a long way into one's own improvement.

Best advice given so far: use placement-short FH, long BH, play the hip etc.
Second best advice is no spin or dead ball options.