How to train with bad players

[Matej T]

So i go to 2 clubs in the better club there is players that can block and have good form and i can practise there but only 2 times a week so i go to diffrend club also hbut the players are bad and cant block almost anything so how do i train with them until i find better second club to play in? Ive tried to play some combinations with them but its hopeless, in matches i win but its wierd because they have such a wierd playstyle.

 

[ajtatosmano2]

Honestly? If they can't block even basic exercises, just play matches with them, with goals in your mind. Like: "I will slow loop every ball, not rush and won't make unforced errors". Or "I will stay close to the table and play aggressive".
One thing I do is that I serve only one serve the whole set and practice the follow up.

 

[Archosaurus]

Teach them how to block, or if they're not interested, then play matches with specific goals and limitations.

 

[ToH]

Do they want to learn and put in the effort or do they just play for fun. If the last, then i would not go there. If someone put in the effort its easier to teach them to become better. and in the future become a training partner.

 

[lightspin]

There are a few things you can do:

1) Serve underspin, have them push long then you try to annihilate the ball. If they return it, you loop cross court.
2) Serve underspin, have them push long then you vary your loop. Vary when you contact the ball (when its rising, dropping, etc) and vary your arc and spin.
3) Have then serve short anywhere and you try to flip the ball with as much pace as possible.
4) They attack you anywhere and you block back to their forehand.

You have to make things as easy as possible for them and as hard for yourself as possible. Just playing games is an utter and complete waste of time. Although I am not quite 2700, a friend of mine is and to prepare him for a major event we did drill #4 nonstop. I would loop anywhere with my forehand and he would have to block it back to me. This drill is a nightmare for the blocker. The drill seemed to work for him as he beat a 2800+ player as well as a few other decent players during the event.

 

[Matej T]

Teach them how to block, or if they're not interested, then play matches with specific goals and limitations.

well they cant block topspins for some reason i dont undrestands how can they be so bad, its mostly kids around 16 who train like 2 times a week i play there bacause i played there as a little kid like 7 years ago and i started playing again like 8 months ago so i joined this club and in these 8 month i improved so mych by training in the other club and getting 1:1 coaching practise sesions with a pro player. In the other club where ppl have good form its such a diffrance in the whole training i think i will just have to find a diffrend club idk but yeah i will try to play matches with the intentions to just play as much FH as possible because im used to play a lot of passive BH for no reason...

 

[Matej T]

Do they want to learn and put in the effort or do they just play for fun. If the last, then i would not go there. If someone put in the effort its easier to teach them to become better. and in the future become a training partner.

something in the middle i would say. I have lost the hope on them already and i have good training partners in the diffrend club so rn im looking for better club but im trying to maximise the time when i go there untill summer (i have paid until summer)

 

[Archosaurus]

well they cant block topspins for some reason i dont undrestands how can they be so bad, its mostly kids around 16 who train like 2 times a week i play there bacause i played there as a little kid like 7 years ago and i started playing again like 8 months ago so i joined this club and in these 8 month i improved so mych by training in the other club and getting 1:1 coaching practise sesions with a pro player. In the other club where ppl have good form its such a diffrance in the whole training i think i will just have to find a diffrend club idk but yeah i will try to play matches with the intentions to just play as much FH as possible because im used to play a lot of passive BH for no reason...

They don't know how to block topspin because nobody has taught them.

 

[Tyce]

You can always train your footwork and play simple FH to FH or BH to BH, with you stepping around every other ball. That's what I did for half an hour or so tonight and I was beat lol. The other guy was just happy to be able to play some consistent balls. He doesn't read much spin, but he can return a drive with a drive.

 

[Matej T]

There are a few things you can do:

1) Serve underspin, have them push long then you try to annihilate the ball. If they return it, you loop cross court.
2) Serve underspin, have them push long then you vary your loop. Vary when you contact the ball (when its rising, dropping, etc) and vary your arc and spin.
3) Have then serve short anywhere and you try to flip the ball with as much pace as possible.
4) They attack you anywhere and you block back to their forehand.

You have to make things as easy as possible for them and as hard for yourself as possible. Just playing games is an utter and complete waste of time. Although I am not quite 2700, a friend of mine is and to prepare him for a major event we did drill #4 nonstop. I would loop anywhere with my forehand and he would have to block it back to me. This drill is a nightmare for the blocker. The drill seemed to work for him as he beat a 2800+ player as well as a few other decent players during the event.

thank you so much i will try that, just make it hard for me and easy for them... this is smart

 

[Matej T]

They don't know how to block topspin because nobody has taught them.

well i tried but they are terrible, they dont rly have the standard techique and they stay up like your average low rated club player. The coach there is 60 year old ukranian who once played 1st league on czechia and he used to be a good coach but he does not even try now, when you ask him about your form he does not correct you in any way and just tells you to spin the ball more or some bullshit haha im not blaming him its mostly teens (14-16) who go there and all the good players are in other clubs.

 

[Archosaurus]

well i tried but they are terrible, they dont rly have the standard techique and they stay up like your average low rated club player. The coach there is 60 year old ukranian who once played 1st league on czechia and he used to be a good coach but he does not even try now, when you ask him about your form he does not correct you in any way and just tells you to spin the ball more or some bullshit haha im not blaming him its mostly teens (14-16) who go there and all the good players are in other clubs.

Ultimately it's up to the person receiving the instruction, but it may be that you don't know how to coach people.

 

[Matej T]

Ultimately it's up to the person receiving the instruction, but it may be that you don't know how to coach people.

Yeah probably im still not on a level that i could be coaching anyone, i just improved rly fast by polaying a lot in short time.

 

[Archosaurus]

Yeah probably im still not on a level that i could be coaching anyone, i just improved rly fast by polaying a lot in short time.

It's not super easy. If you haven't played a lot, you're probably not as consistent as you think you are, so it'll be harder for the blocker too. Beginners aren't capable of being consistent against even a little inconsistency, just a few cm in width is enough to throw them off.

You may need to change to another, slower drill as suggested before, for now at least. Then teach them blocking from the ground up.

 

[Matej T]

It's not super easy. If you haven't played a lot, you're probably not as consistent as you think you are, so it'll be harder for the blocker too. Beginners aren't capable of being consistent against even a little inconsistency, just a few cm in width is enough to throw them off.

You may need to change to another, slower drill as suggested before, for now at least. Then teach them blocking from the ground up.

Well yeah they can block slow spins or drives for exapmle BH BH FH FH but once i use my legs more and give it more power they cant adapt and even if they do get one on the table the second one is off the table

 

[Archosaurus]

Well yeah they can block slow spins or drives for exapmle BH BH FH FH but once i use my legs more and give it more power they cant adapt and even if they do get one on the table the second one is off the table

You need to have perfect consistency if you expect it from the opponent.

 

[Matej T]

You need to have perfect consistency if you expect it from the opponent.

Yes youre right

 

[MOJOJOJO-74]

Sometimes it's just a lost cause lol I had one older gentleman say that it's not worth doing normal warmups because you won't "do that" during an actual game, but you there's time where you will block people's topspins with your backhand or forehand so even though he was a decent player, it still annoyed a lot of the better players that he didn't understand why warming up is important (for a lot of reasons than the one I listed).

 

[andymagata]

These kids…

They won’t listen to you unless you are a certified coach

They won’t listen to you because they are not improving

They won’t listen to you unless someone they trust told them to listen to you

They won’t listen to you if you tell them to focus

They will become angry with you if you suggest there is a better way to do it

 

[Dr Evil]

Target practice. No matter where they hit the ball, give it back to them exactly where and how they can hit it again. Make them play better than they've ever played and they might even listen to some coaching. Match their speed. Give them predictable light topspin. Work on your footwork. Try to be in perfect position for every shot.