If you take a vid of some TTT player in a match, and look at the points the player LOSES when that player declined to attack, you can see some things that were happening (or not) that contributed to the loss of the point.
You would be SURPRISED at how many points you lose when you didn't attack and WHY. Knowing why is a first step to improving quality of pushing to give you better chances. Often, a quality push can win a point or set you up to attack or at least keep you in the point.
Especially in doubles, but frequently in singles, the player declining the attack made a POOR QUALITY push. There are several things that can make a poor quality push.
- Standing behind table, alllow ball to bounce, then travel .5 meters or more then push, then ball goes back .5 meters to original spot of first bounce. At these slow speeds, giving the opponent a full meter of space and time is making it WAY TOO EASY to be attacked, usually you lose the point.
(NOT striking ball near the bounce)
- Indecisive... when opponent strikes the ball, often before, you ought to know if you are getting a ball you can attack. MANY players do not receognize what is going to happen... so they do not commit and somehow look surprised the ball is a weak ball and do not take the ball early... also do not control the ball well, so ball is too slow, too high, too long - one or more. Often, the ball lands in hte middle depth, bounces high, weak spin... easy finish for opponent who can see it coming.
- Poor depth... a quick push going fast and landing near endline is trouble for many players and often gets bummped back declined like maxed-out credit card at the store.
- Poor placement... often, a player just pushes it whever it comes from... easy to do, but often bad idea. NOT finding the middle, or not making player move is a huge lost opportunity and invitation to get attacked. So many attacking players are just waiting for that weak ball where they do not have to move a lot
- Poor height and spin... again, weaker, slower, and higher pushes are easy targets. Even at 2000 level, you will be surprised at how many players struggle to attack a heavy underspin, especially if it is fast or placed to middle... or even placed in the fat part of the BH or FH zone... many never learned how to attack any underspin that is medium or heavier. You get heavier spin from your impact control... how you can make bat accellerate within only a few cm and controlling grip at impact.
These are a huge chunk of what players are doing than makes their push NOT an asset, but a huge liability. Especially in doubles, if I have a partner who does not push very well, the team loses 4-5 points per game minimum just from that. You look at my doubles matches and see what happens on serve receive if I do not attack the serve, but push long... my opponents do not attack it much if at all... the times they do, often they hit it into the net. It is because I impact the ball very early off the bounce very unpredictably with my placement. Opponents go macho and lose points, or get to wary and too safe.
That creates opportunities to attack decisively if you are ready. A good push is a good setup.