Playing against pips or anti spin

UpSideDownCarl said:

The important info has been said. Part of the reason why the best advice is that you just need experience against pips is, you sort of need to learn what you do well against them and what works for you. There is no silver bullet that just works for everyone.

Another part of the picture is the problem solving and strategy that helps you sort out what works against the specific pips player you are facing. Because that is really part of it. Figuring out in the match what is working and shifting to the next thing before they figure out what you have been using that is effective.

This next piece really goes for playing any player. Some players are strong at the body and at the switching point and weak when you go wide. Other players are weak at the body and strong when you try and keep the ball away from them. Some players are strong over the table and weak if you force them back. Some players are not as good over the table and better if you back them up. Some players, if you can just keep the ball in play, eventually they will just mess up and other players are marathon men and rely on you messing up first. But if you can end the points fast on them, you don't let them get into their groove.

So here is a summary of some of the things needed:

1) you need to have actual experience playing pips players to see what you do well against them and problem solve strategies that work FOR YOU.
2) you need to make in game adjustments to keep your strategy a step or two ahead of your opponents so they can't predict what you are about to do so easily.
3) you need to read your opponent because every pips opponent and every non pips opponent is a little different.

Last detail, pips related:

Decent pips players are continually changing up the spin and the level of spin they give you. And you always have to keep reading that: a) is it heavy, b) is it light, c) is it dead, d) is it top or backspin.

That strategy causes mid-level loopers without enough experience at playing pips players these mid-level loopers are driven crazy and want to pull their hair out wondering why they do the same thing and one ball goes into the net, the next and the next one goes long.

And the answer is: you have to read the spin. There is no substitute for reading the incoming spin.

But another mistake these mid-level loopers are making is that they are making things easy for the pips player by keeping the spin on their loops consistent.

If instead you keep switching the spin--heavy, light, dead, and making them look as similar as possible--the pips player will drop some into the net and float some long or at least high for crushing.

So just like how you need mix your serve spin and placement, you need to mix your loop spin and placement.

You may as well make the pips player work to read the ball too.


Sent from The Subterranean Workshop by Telepathy

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