Hi!
How to play against those who stay close to the table and have good blocks and good control and they tend to hit the corners all the time and you can't attack them because their block is so good that you don't manage to do two attacks in a row?
Also, how to play against those who tend to do pushes all the time? I know someone who plays with a fast equipment(Primorac carbon and D80) but does only pushes(a paradox for me) and fast serves and basically can't attack? It's hard to attack against him because his pushes are pretty good.
What tactics to consider or what to consider in such cases?
So its two questions
(1) close to the table blockers and
(2) pushers.
Very different propositions.
Answering question 2 first, v pushers who don't look to loop your pushes, you must get really good at pushing (proper, fast, low and well placed pushes, aggressive pushes!) And also you must be able to loop V backspin.
When you can dictate in the pushing rally then you can choose a weak push from this opponent to loop.
Also, serve topspin (short and long) but always topspin. It's hard for them to change the rally to backspin once you've started this way. I have encountered players who can float/chop my long topspin serves back low and deep so it's not impossible for them to change the rally but the short topspin serve is harder to change to backspin. So serving short topspin to one side and then attack the return, placing it deep to the other side is one good tactic on your service.
Once you can do these things you will win every time.
Unless they are a master blocker of course which brings us to the other question.
Generally speaking, if a player can stay close to the table, block to where they want and dictate points by moving you around at will, then they are most likely just a better player than you so don't feel too bad.
And if you can't do two attacks in a row then you know exactly what to practice, its recovery for the next shot, and shot placement.
Get good at hitting their middle to make things awkward for them.
And also practice attacking down the lines.
A drill to practice is BH down the line, partner blocks cross-court to you FH, you hit a FH down the line partner blocks cross-court to your BH and repeat.
Start this drill slowly and only speed up when you are both comfortable to do so.
This is effective because down the line is often unexpected given that about 80-90% of attack at beginner/intermediate level tend to go cross-court.
So when you start mixing it you take time away from the opponent as it screws up their anticipated next shot.
Also because most of their blocks will go cross court, then
YOU can anticipate and be ready to play a FH after the initial BH down the line, and ready to play a BH after your FH down the line.
You are ready,
you have the extra half second to play your shot and
you are dictating things.
The aim here isn't huge power it's getting the ball on the table and moving them to where they don't usually expect the ball.
Making them move takes away the time they usually have (so their game won't be so effective) and it also likely reduces the quality of their shots. You're putting them under pressure and (when not hitting the lines) hit their middle.
Absolutely stop giving them predictable cross court balls until it
suits you to do so, because they are out of position.
They are useful tactics and useful drills to practice but again, if the player is levels better, you still won't win but against players around your own level it should be enough to make the difference once you get good at it.
That's the basics I've practiced in my coaching to tackle the same issues and I've had good success with it.
Best of luck 👍
