Most optimal playstyle/strategy to master

[Lungfish]

What is the playing style that makes you able to beat people the fastest and reach the highest level? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Lungfish]

The more detailed the description, the better. Side note, I don't mean at pro level.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

What is the playing style that makes you able to beat people the fastest and reach the highest level? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

1. Stand on one spot. Don't move, no footwork. Just stand still.
2. Stand very close to the table.
3. No need FH, just 100% BH will do.
4. Slap a OX long pips on BH.
5. Now, go win the fastest.
6. Highest level? Maybe you can be the first... who knows?

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Bruce Lee style with Nunchaku

 

[lightspin]

1) Develop a good serve and forehand
2) Loop anything long with your forehand
3) Keep any short serve short when returning
4) Block with the backhand

The pros to this style are that you can beat up to 2200 level quickly this way.

The cons however are the following:

1) It is exhausting and if you aren't "on" you will play horribly.
2) It is mentally exhausting because every match is like a battle to the death as you have to move way too much. You might even dread going to practice because it is so much work.
3) Once you play someone 2300+, they will see through your tactics and kill you to the point where you wonder why you bothered taking up the sport.
4) It will take forever and a day to get your backhand up to a decent level. When you practice with good players, they won't even want to let you practice backhand because you never miss with your forehand and all you can do is block with your backhand. When you try to loop, you will miss too much for the level of player you practice with because you never developed the shot.
5) It is very easy to get injured this way. I had a bad back injury early on to the point it was black in color. I also tore my meniscus within 3.5 years playing this way when I was younger. Maybe that is why I couldn't move as fast as I did when I was an absolute beginner.

So if all you want are short term gains (play for 2-5 years) adopt that style. If you want long term improvement with more potential, develop both a backhand and a forehand and be patient.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

撕 / rip the ball with BH, pin your opponent to his BH. If he ever so slightly make a mistake such as send a weak ball or a higher than usual ball or a less spinny ball or a ball that lands 2/3 on the fh side of the table, pivot then fh bomba.

Fastest way? Definitely not!
Highest level? Could be.

But it certainly feels so darn f**king good.

 

[mihalichtheone]

Bruce Lee style with Nunchaku

When I was little I thought this is real.
These days I'm still impressed on how they managed to make this video.

 

[z0uLess]

1) Develop a good serve and forehand
2) Loop anything long with your forehand
3) Keep any short serve short when returning
4) Block with the backhand

The pros to this style are that you can beat up to 2200 level quickly this way.

The cons however are the following:

1) It is exhausting and if you aren't "on" you will play horribly.
2) It is mentally exhausting because every match is like a battle to the death as you have to move way too much. You might even dread going to practice because it is so much work.
3) Once you play someone 2300+, they will see through your tactics and kill you to the point where you wonder why you bothered taking up the sport.
4) It will take forever and a day to get your backhand up to a decent level. When you practice with good players, they won't even want to let you practice backhand because you never miss with your forehand and all you can do is block with your backhand. When you try to loop, you will miss too much for the level of player you practice with because you never developed the shot.
5) It is very easy to get injured this way. I had a bad back injury early on to the point it was black in color. I also tore my meniscus within 3.5 years playing this way when I was younger. Maybe that is why I couldn't move as fast as I did when I was an absolute beginner.

So if all you want are short term gains (play for 2-5 years) adopt that style. If you want long term improvement with more potential, develop both a backhand and a forehand and be patient.

Also, the pendulum serve seems to be the most efficient and fits into this system, right?

 

[Matteones]

I feel like it's actually an interesting question!

There is a general part, that literally everyone should focus on first and foremost if they want to win matches: serve and third ball attack. If you can develop deceptive serves, these will be good forever and give you enormous advantage. Sidespin with a topspin and backspin variation, and even better for higher level backspin - no spin variation (with the same motion of course). Remember to experiment with speed and placement too.

Then figure out what your inclinations are, especially for receiving.

If you have a good feeling for short game, receive short and try to attack first.
If you can often figure out where the other players attack, push long and block everything.
If you suck at defense and have no feeling for short game, but good legs and open game, receive long and counter directly.

There is no playing style that will help everyone the same, because every player has different characteristics, strength, weaknesses and inclinations.

 

[merlin el mago]

Coach & training no mistery.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Coach & training no mistery.

+ ask chatgpt.

 

[Lungfish]

+ ask chatgpt.

Chat says close-to-the table aggressive play

 

[Lungfish]

Maybe like harimoto or smth

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Chat says close-to-the table aggressive play

Spoiler: F**king pipster! 🤬

 

[Matteones]

Spoiler: F**king pipster! 🤬

I bet he's wearing flip flops

 

[Lungfish]

1) Develop a good serve and forehand
2) Loop anything long with your forehand
3) Keep any short serve short when returning
4) Block with the backhand

The pros to this style are that you can beat up to 2200 level quickly this way.

The cons however are the following:

1) It is exhausting and if you aren't "on" you will play horribly.
2) It is mentally exhausting because every match is like a battle to the death as you have to move way too much. You might even dread going to practice because it is so much work.
3) Once you play someone 2300+, they will see through your tactics and kill you to the point where you wonder why you bothered taking up the sport.
4) It will take forever and a day to get your backhand up to a decent level. When you practice with good players, they won't even want to let you practice backhand because you never miss with your forehand and all you can do is block with your backhand. When you try to loop, you will miss too much for the level of player you practice with because you never developed the shot.
5) It is very easy to get injured this way. I had a bad back injury early on to the point it was black in color. I also tore my meniscus within 3.5 years playing this way when I was younger. Maybe that is why I couldn't move as fast as I did when I was an absolute beginner.

So if all you want are short term gains (play for 2-5 years) adopt that style. If you want long term improvement with more potential, develop both a backhand and a forehand and be patient.

so basically 3rd ball loop and then just block. Also push serves rlly short.

 

[blahness]

The meta now in amateur table tennis in order of importance...

1. Good serves - this is the no.1 point winner. Plus points if you can serve very heavy short sidetopspin, low short no spin, fast long sideunderspin and aim them as you please to the nastiest locations.

2.Good spinny deep pushes - learn how to use fingers and the body to push any ball (including no spin and sidetopspin) to convert it into serious sideunderspin - this is crucial to induce mistakes from opponents attacking. Plus points if you figure out how to produce light spin with a similar movement.

3. Solid consistent spinny opening loops from BH and FH - learn how to do spinny opening loops off every spin archetype.

4. FH continuous looping or smashing - to follow up from 3.

5. BH block, this is crucial to neutralize opponent's opening loops - if you have a good BH block it makes you much less vulnerable.

 

[PenHoldSandro]

@blahness stated a lot of things you can work on to quickly win games and improve fast.

But as for style, there isn't one definitive answer. Some people are better as defenders, some are better as attackers. Some blockers, and some slappers. The goal here is that you should try to find the style that fits you the best, ie the one you enjoy playing with the most (as this is usually the one youre most comfortable with)

So, to answer your question, there is none. Keep pinging, ponger!

 

[lightspin]

Also, the pendulum serve seems to be the most efficient and fits into this system, right?

Since this style is forehand dominant, it is better to do a pendulum serve from your backhand corner. If you serve from the backhand side with a backhand serve or from the middle or forehand with a forehand/pendulum serve, you are going to have to run way way way too much to loop the return with your forehand.

After the pendulum serve, you are in a nice position to cover the entire table with the forehand.

 

[NakiMaki]

Maybe like harimoto or smth

If you want my take as a player winning very many upsets. I think you need to have at least a tiny bit of talent for ball feel. Then looking at the opponent is the most important. Being able to force them to make a lower quality shot, then finishing with a big shot depending on what they returned. Then consistency is the second part, don't give up points for free by doing something high risk. Big shots are most often never returned even by good players. Decent serve is nice, but serve receive is more important. Being able to spot what the opponent is going to do will make you so much faster than reacting, many people say you have to react in tabletennis which usually isn't the case. Most players will go for the highest shot hit % and that is easily readably by their position and body language. If you have good footwork, forehand attacks can work just fine. If you would rather not move a lot then also develop strong backhand.

- You have to make pressure somehow to get he opponent out of his comfort zone, either by placement or by speed.
- Finish easy balls with big attacks
- Practice consistency
- Must have good serve recieve
- Decent serve is "Nice"
- Always look at the opponent and expect the most likely shot
- Good forehand (if footwork good)
- Good on both wings (if rather not move as much)