How to deal with high risk strategies

[Yuomay]

I recently faced a challenging match scenario that I believe many of you might have encountered. I was playing against an objectifly weaker opponent and managed to dominate the first two sets, going 2-0 up. However, my opponent then switched to a high-risk, high-reward strategy, and frustratingly, it worked for him. I ended up choking and losing the match.

What happened specifically was that he was more comfortable than me at the pushing game and he simply smashed my opening loops on the table.

I wanted to open up a discussion on strategies to "trap" players who go all in with risky plays.

 

[Chunkyrock]

I’ve had people who use the “smash every loop” strategy on me as well. The main way that I combat this annoying strategy is to very the placement of the loops, this strategy mainly works because they except you going for your loop in the same place. Other than that improve in the short game and remember ITS A HIGHT RISK STRATEGY even if it works 30% of the time it will fail 70% that also means that if someone gets this on you again odds are it won’t work.

 

[d3nium]

I recently faced a challenging match scenario that I believe many of you might have encountered. I was playing against an objectifly weaker opponent and managed to dominate the first two sets, going 2-0 up. However, my opponent then switched to a high-risk, high-reward strategy, and frustratingly, it worked for him. I ended up choking and losing the match.

What happened specifically was that he was more comfortable than me at the pushing game and he simply smashed my opening loops on the table.

I wanted to open up a discussion on strategies to "trap" players who go all in with risky plays.

Sometimes you just have to accept that the opponant played a high risk game and it paid off. The next day he might try the same thing and miss everything. It is what it is.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

so he went high risk, what was stopping you from returning the ball?

the trap, you are talking about is returning the ball and eventually high risk will be high risk.
it is only high reward if you can't return it.

if he is smashing your loop, does that mean you are looping too high of an arc?

 

[Yuomay]

so he went high risk, what was stopping you from returning the ball?

the trap, you are talking about is returning the ball and eventually high risk will be high risk.
it is only high reward if you can't return it.

if he is smashing your loop, does that mean you are looping too high of an arc?

Well I actually think the first few he just got lucky, big swing and hit.. But after that I reacted the wrong way trying to force it, more arc, more spin, more energy. But all of that did not increase my shot quality at all lost my consistency and I started doubting myself, so I choked.

So my thought is, if I have a turn-to tactic (can be mental or anything really) to restart my game without playing into the hand of someone who's playing all or nothing with nothing to loose. Maybe I can avoid getting to the choking part.

 

[d3nium]

Well I actually think the first few he just got lucky, big swing and hit.. But after that I reacted the wrong way trying to force it, more arc, more spin, more energy. But all of that did not increase my shot quality at all lost my consistency and I started doubting myself, so I choked.

So my thought is, if I have a turn-to tactic (can be mental or anything really) to restart my game without playing into the hand of someone who's playing all or nothing with nothing to loose. Maybe I can avoid getting to the choking part.

To be honest, it just sounds like you completely bottled it. It happens to all of us. Work on your mental game, slow everything down, take time before serving etc.

 

[NextLevel]

Losing a match can be helpful to adaptation. Unless you are professional (and often, even then), the battle didn't end with that match, you just have new things to work on. Making the opponent play worse is a skill that has to be learned, nobody who plays high risk likes the ball equally well at all points on the table. And sometimes and on some days, the opponent is just better than you, you sometimes need to develop new weapons to contain these strategies.

The biggest thing when facing a player taking risk is to try to use location and spin variation to create balls and placements he doesn't like. What those are depends on the opponent and your ability to create variation.

 

[Yuomay]

To be honest, it just sounds like you completely bottled it. It happens to all of us. Work on your mental game, slow everything down, take time before serving etc.

I mean, well yes very fair assessment.

Nonetheless, I recognize it happening but am unable to combat it. So I'm looking for a strategy (conceptual).

 

[Yuomay]

Losing a match can be helpful to adaptation. Unless you are professional (and often, even then), the battle didn't end with that match, you just have new things to work on. Making the opponent play worse is a skill that has to be learned, nobody who plays high risk likes the ball equally well at all points on the table. And sometimes and on some days, the opponent is just better than you, you sometimes need to develop new weapons to contain these strategies.

The biggest thing when facing a player taking risk is to try to use location and spin variation to create balls and placements he doesn't like. What those are depends on the opponent and your ability to create variation.

Thanks that could help.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Well I actually think the first few he just got lucky, big swing and hit.. But after that I reacted the wrong way trying to force it, more arc, more spin, more energy. But all of that did not increase my shot quality at all lost my consistency and I started doubting myself, so I choked.

So my thought is, if I have a turn-to tactic (can be mental or anything really) to restart my game without playing into the hand of someone who's playing all or nothing with nothing to loose. Maybe I can avoid getting to the choking part.

there is a lot to it.
if he is only smashing with FH, and he is pushing to you and your top spinning the ball, then have you tried top spinning to his BH or to a position that is not that comfortable and even when he swings at it - are you able to block it and counter the ball back?
if you can only do the former, then maybe that would work, if you can't do the latter, that means you a sitting duck and if anyone was to attack hard into you, the ball won't really be coming back.

other strategies is to push the ball back and let him top spin. For lower level players, pushing back is actually a useful skill to have.

If he was to push to me, and I know he will smash my top spin, then I will do a low arc top spin deep onto the white line, and if he was to smash, I am sure it will clip the net and fly off the table - so willing to gamble that risk.
or if you are comfortable to counter, then to play with different arcs, but most important is to land the ball deep.
Different arc would mean the ball will skid differently, but if you land the ball half way between the table, then he can smash over the table - which isn't really a high risk shot, it becomes a lower risk shot.
so if he does attempt to smash when the ball is deep onto the white line, you need to be ready there just to block the ball back and hopefully get the tempo your way.

 

[Yuomay]

I mean, well yes very fair assessment.

Nonetheless, I recognize it happening but am unable to combat it. So I'm looking for a strategy (conceptual).

So things I have tried over multiple matches and seasons with different rates of succes :

• Turn my racket, inspired by the goat. (I played very diferent FH and BH rubbers at that time)
• Serve simple backhand underspin short to the middle of the table, just play the rally from there don't rely on fancy serve with a studied return, inspired by Ovtcharov
• Step back from the table at service return
• Serve from the other side of table (not pivoted)

 

[vvk1]

I recently faced a challenging match scenario that I believe many of you might have encountered. I was playing against an objectifly weaker opponent and managed to dominate the first two sets, going 2-0 up. However, my opponent then switched to a high-risk, high-reward strategy, and frustratingly, it worked for him. I ended up choking and losing the match.

What happened specifically was that he was more comfortable than me at the pushing game and he simply smashed my opening loops on the table.

I wanted to open up a discussion on strategies to "trap" players who go all in with risky plays.

If he is more comfortable than you at the pushing game and smashes your opening loops, then there wasn't any switch to "high-risk high-reward" strategy. From his point of view, he found your weakness and exploited it.

Work on your opening loops and try to land them as deep and as low as possible. It is very hard to consistently smash low and deep balls. Obviously, fix your pushing game first ...

 

[NetProphet]

I recently faced a challenging match scenario that I believe many of you might have encountered. I was playing against an objectifly weaker opponent and managed to dominate the first two sets, going 2-0 up. However, my opponent then switched to a high-risk, high-reward strategy, and frustratingly, it worked for him. I ended up choking and losing the match.

What happened specifically was that he was more comfortable than me at the pushing game and he simply smashed my opening loops on the table.

I wanted to open up a discussion on strategies to "trap" players who go all in with risky plays.

If a 'weaker' opponent is better than you at pushing the ball then you have a huge problem.
I would ask why are you not practicing your pushing? 😉
It's a far easier shot to master than than the loop V backspin. Then your problem is solved.
Think about it, hours of practicing loops, loops, loops and then almost every point v these opponents starts with a pushing rally where you get dominated and forced to loop something that you may not want to.
Learn to dominate (or at least hold your own) the pushing duel then choose a weak push to attack.

But secondly, how can a 'weaker' opponent just simply smash all of your loops?
Your spin, placement and/or speed must be lacking.

Or maybe the opponent wasn't weaker but just figured you out by realising that you loops were not dangerous and he could simply counter hammer them at you.

Have you really analysed the match properly?
Reading from the outside it seems maybe not and, tactics aside, you have only to practice the execution of all the shots you were forced to play in this match.
Because if your weakness are so bad that you think inferior opponents can beat you (oxymoron territory here) then tactics can't hide these e weakness for long and almost certainly any opponent stronger than him will take you apart.

But there are tactics V flat hitters that could help you, even if you practice nothing before you next play this opponent.
Keep the ball LOW.
Loop DEEP.
Avoid slow 'arc'y topspins.
Focus on their weaker side.

 

[Yuomay]

Ok thank you all for responding.

I replayed the match in my head and concluded the main issue was indeed placement (and maybe fatigue but that's no excuse). I did not put pressure on my opponent in open play and expected him to make mistakes. This in turn made me passive and reactive so I was always late.

Sidenote it is indeed true that I haven't done a single full session on pushing in over a year.. Oh well, work to do I guess.

 

[sebi]

You already got a lot of info, but here is my take. I would try to lift the pushes so he can't give you crazy spin with his next push, then spin v downspin pretty aggressively and fast low arc and try to place it on his week side. Probably far in backhand corner so he has to move to the ball.
If you play generally with less spin his smashes will not come back down because the miss arc. Also I would serve float balls short to forehand or middle amd try to attack the next ball deep and low spin.

 

[Colestt]

I have a different take as I just saw this play out exactly with two 1900s players.

For some people opening is the risky shot. This guy was missing his openings or getting out rallied from a neutral position.

He stopped opening and invited the other guy to open. His openings were consistent but not strong enough to keep the formerly losing player from now attacking strongly.

For him this was the less risky way to play.

I also got a a game from the same player, then he backed up, let me open, then ripped me from 10 feet. This was his natural game and he reverted to it successfully

Now I wish I had tried just making him open no matter what look he gave me