Attacking float balls

[NetProphet]

Hello all
As I'm working on my game I'm finding lots of great info on technique for BH and FH in relation (specifically) to attacking backspin balls and also attacking topspin balls.
Everything is available, technical tips galore for all including movement, when to attack the ball, where to hit the ball, attacking over table or long balls, different bat angles etc etc.
Would someone be able to give some info on what exactly should be done for float balls over the table and float balls coming long.
They are still a major source of weakness for me and it's not just the disruptive rhythm aspect. I just always manage to screw them up!
Happy if anyone can direct me to anything that's already written also!
Cheers all

 

[vvk1]

https://www.pingskills.com/table-tennis-forum/how-to-attack-a-slow-and-floating-ball
https://www.pingskills.com/table-tennis-forum/float-balls
https://www.tabletenniscoaching.com/node/45
https://tabletennisdailyacademy.com/videos/cut-out-mistakes-on-float-no-spin-balls/

IMO, the key thing is to be positive and play a confident loop or drive (or if it's high enough - smash). Obvs, float balls cannot be blocked effectively and also one should take care when pushing them over the table (if you end up completely out of position to attack them) - never go under the ball, always firmly cut down at the back or side of the ball.

 

[omelet]

Mastering the drive (and understanding how its different from block/smash/loop) was a big help for me. Its surprising how rare it is that people know how to drive a ball (I only learned it recently after having played for 3 years and being ~1200 usatt 2 years ago...not sure about my rating now).

 

[igorponger]

FLOATING ВALLS WITHOUT MUCH CURVATURE. RUSSIANS HAVE THE ANSWER.

In the sport of table tennis the definition of "floating" is oftentimes applied to the balls travelling without much curvature in parallel to the table's plane.

It comes directly from the law of aero-ballistics that the ball would float in air if it has zero or just a slight rotation. We used to call it "deaden balls void of spin."

Yes, you need some specific rubber materials to produce floating balls in play.

NOTE: Floating does not mean slow, We have a prodigy youngster famous for playing attacking floats.

_______
Be happy all.

 

[omelet]

FLOATING ВALLS WITHOUT MUCH CURVATURE. RUSSIANS HAVE THE ANSWER.

In the sport of table tennis the definition of "floating" is oftentimes applied to the balls travelling without much curvature in parallel to the table's plane.

It comes directly from the law of aero-ballistics that the ball would float in air if it has zero or just a slight rotation. We used to call it "deaden balls void of spin."

Yes, you need some specific rubber materials to produce floating balls in play.

NOTE: Floating does not mean slow, We have a prodigy youngster famous for playing attacking floats.

_______
Be happy all.

I would say once you really learn how to drive a ball, whether its long pips/antispin kind of float ball or no-spin or very light back spin or very light top spin ball, you dont need to overthink it and can just use the same drive stroke to return the ball...

but again, im talking abt really knowing the difference between driving the ball vs hitting the ball (as the video explains)

 

[K.K]

would say the same. keep it simple. what helped me was to do my stroke more compact. kind of like you do in a warm up. if you don't drive the ball and wanna loop it then try to really feel the ball on your rubber and override the spin, like you do with a quick loop on the backhand. if the ball is high and you can smash it then still think about less is more and just try to be stable and make a compact stroke. this is what helped me against short pips blocker

 

[blahness]

It depends whether or not it (the dead ball) is fast or slow. If it's slow then you can treat it like an opening loop except you go more forward in your stroke and dont start so low. If it is fast it is a lot more difficult because you're also pressed for time. In this case easiest is to counter back with open angle racket, or you can also brush it more (the incoming speed will provide much of the impact force, you need to provide the brush for the most part).

Tbh fast dead balls are a menace almost at every level. You can see Ito Mima or Truls Moregardh using these to maximum effect in their games. If you can punch dead balls fast consistently to the opponents FH or middle a lot of ppl will hate playing against you lol.

 

[blahness]

For short dead balls, regardless of whatever you do it your blade has to be about perpendicular to the ball during contact. You can do almost anything from short to long push to sideswipes to chiquita to flicks.

 

[NetProphet]

For short dead balls, regardless of whatever you do it your blade has to be about perpendicular to the ball during contact. You can do almost anything from short to long push to sideswipes to chiquita to flicks.

Hey thanks for the replies. Can you explain what you mean by 'perpendicular to the ball'?
I'm training tonight, gonna work on this a bit

 

[NetProphet]

Mastering the drive (and understanding how its different from block/smash/loop) was a big help for me. Its surprising how rare it is that people know how to drive a ball (I only learned it recently after having played for 3 years and being ~1200 usatt 2 years ago...not sure about my rating now).

Wow, that's great! I really like this coach and have watched some of his vids before. I must have skipped this one as too 'beginner' As I was watching more loop and service videos but there's a lot in that so I'll have to watch it again before training tonight.
Will bring that drive concept into play for floating and see how it goes 👍