Does anybody else mentally fall apart against pure pushers or weird styles?

[TensorBackhand]

Today I played a 1600 rated guy who only pushes nonstop. They just push to my backhand all the time. Normally my bh loop against underspin is my strength...but for some reason I totally fell apart mentally against a guy who only pushes to my bh. What is going on?

I think maybe because he's pushing so much, my body gets too used to pushing and when I want to loop my body is stiff and doesn't flow.

I think also because psychologically I know he will never do anything, it seems to put me in a zombie state where I can't do anything. Not just my bh loop, but every part of my game starts falling apart.

What is the best way to handle this type of situation? I heard from other players as well that this individual often takes down much higher rated "traditional" players. But his own rating never goes up because he doesn't have the other techniques to beat the lower ranked players.

 

[blahness]

If they dont attack and hug the table, I almost never serve underspin (only as a occasional variation to keep them honest) to these guys lol. It is all heavy sidetopspin or nospin and all their pushes are gonna be juicy opportunity balls for me or just go out of the table. You can also serve wide angle and long if they dont loop it, this reduces their options drastically. When I receive their serve it is just gonna be chiquita/flicks or just very wide angle sideswipes, or if they serve long it would be looped straightaway. Let's see them attempt to push those!

 

[codebop]

I know the experience. I think it's mainly a psychological thing. They play with such low energy and effort that it sort of lulls you to complacency and you find yourself either pushing back or executing your loops sort of half heartedly.

 

[greenbeanmachine]

If someone plays that game with me I will just push the ball back. If there's no danger of them attacking, you can just wait for a lower-quality push and then attack.

Another thing you can do is make them push to your forehand. Return their push with a push down the line, and then step around to hit a forehand. Pushing down the line means that they can't really return the ball to your deep backhand, so you are well set to kill their next ball with your forehand.

 

[Sims]

Today I played a 1600 rated guy who only pushes nonstop. They just push to my backhand all the time. Normally my bh loop against underspin is my strength...but for some reason I totally fell apart mentally against a guy who only pushes to my bh. What is going on?

I think maybe because he's pushing so much, my body gets too used to pushing and when I want to loop my body is stiff and doesn't flow.

I think also because psychologically I know he will never do anything, it seems to put me in a zombie state where I can't do anything. Not just my bh loop, but every part of my game starts falling apart.

What is the best way to handle this type of situation? I heard from other players as well that this individual often takes down much higher rated "traditional" players. But his own rating never goes up because he doesn't have the other techniques to beat the lower ranked players.

Struggling V pushers is a beginners problem. If your BH loop V backspin is really a good shot I cannot fathom why you have to write this post....seems you need to practice your backhand loop and BH flicks.
Practice patience, it will allow you to choose the right ball to attack.
Also practice your pushing, you should be able to engage him in pushing rallys with good placement and variation until he misses, hits a poor shot or pushes something you can easily pivot around for FH loop.
Serve topspin.
How did he get to 1600 if he only ever pushes? Does he really never attack?

 

[Gozo Aruna]

If someone plays that game with me I will just push the ball back. If there's no danger of them attacking, you can just wait for a lower-quality push and then attack.

Another thing you can do is make them push to your forehand. Return their push with a push down the line, and then step around to hit a forehand. Pushing down the line means that they can't really return the ball to your deep backhand, so you are well set to kill their next ball with your forehand.

That's what I do usually.

Step around / Pivot is your BFF! Your push need not even be exactly done the line ( too risky ), a slight aim to the middle or aimed at the cross-over point will usually force a push to the center of the table and then you can pivot for a FH open up.

 

[pingpongpaddy]

Today I played a 1600 rated guy who only pushes nonstop. They just push to my backhand all the time. Normally my bh loop against underspin is my strength...but for some reason I totally fell apart mentally against a guy who only pushes to my bh. What is going on?

I think maybe because he's pushing so much, my body gets too used to pushing and when I want to loop my body is stiff and doesn't flow.

I think also because psychologically I know he will never do anything, it seems to put me in a zombie state where I can't do anything. Not just my bh loop, but every part of my game starts falling apart.

What is the best way to handle this type of situation? I heard from other players as well that this individual often takes down much higher rated "traditional" players. But his own rating never goes up because he doesn't have the other techniques to beat the lower ranked players.

I think maybe you could give yourself the task of improving your push so as to set up your loop better. The pushes you do make should be varied in placement and spin so that you can get the right opportunity, Also if you can get some higher returns try driving or killing instead of looping.

 

[Gozo Aruna]

Another possible reason:

Maybe those clone Viscaria / HL5 are not working for OP. Time to get the real thing, no?

 

[joshmak10]

Weird styles are my nightmare. I play better against high level “normal” players than low level “not normal” players

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

i think there is just way too much underspin and your top spin shot is inconsistent when comes to heavy underspin.

very easy,
just push a no spin shot to him to float up.

 

[turbozed]

Your last thread was about how playing sparring matches was good for improving.

So why are you frustrated here and not happy to have an opportunity to improve your pushing and open up game with this opponent?

When a lower ranked player exposes a hole in your game and then gives you an opportunity to practice fixing it, consider it free coaching.

 

[dingyibvs]

Weird styles are my nightmare. I play better against high level “normal” players than low level “not normal” players

Me too, but I think that just means I'm not fundamentally solid.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Your last thread was about how playing sparring matches was good for improving.

So why are you frustrated here and not happy to have an opportunity to improve your pushing and open up game with this opponent?

When a lower ranked player exposes a hole in your game and then gives you an opportunity to practice fixing it, consider it free coaching.

I guess you can only improve against higher level players and need to talk about how good is that on TTD

while lower level players leads to some huge concerns or flaws in the game play that required talking about on TTD and preferably forum members will lead the talk about equipment update or changes to compensate for the issue on hand.
I mean, if he had a rubber that can just lift that ball with ease, problem solved right?

 

[Gozo Aruna]

I mean, if he had a rubber that can just lift that ball with ease, problem solved right?

Tenergy! The One rubber that rule them all!

 

[mcfly]

Another possible reason:

Maybe those clone Viscaria / HL5 are not working for OP. Time to get the real thing, no?

View attachment 31703

time to get rid of baby oil and start using “adult oil”

wait that sounds wrong

 

[TensorBackhand]

Your last thread was about how playing sparring matches was good for improving.

So why are you frustrated here and not happy to have an opportunity to improve your pushing and open up game with this opponent?

When a lower ranked player exposes a hole in your game and then gives you an opportunity to practice fixing it, consider it free coaching.

I've done that actually. I got that guy's number and we plan to do a lot more sparring together. I agree with you that he is the perfect kind of sparring partner.

It's frustrating because he himself struggles to beat much lower ranked players in our league system and loses to lower ranked players.

I play in a higher ranked group and win against players ranked 400 points higher. But when I play him, all my normal movements just shut down.

So I just checked his recent results, and 2 weeks ago he was rated 1600 in our system. But he lost to some 1600's and 1500's and he's slightly below 1600 now.

I recently beat one of my partners who is rated 2010 in our system. Today I beat a player who is 1960 in our system. Today I also lost 2-3 to a player 2030 in our system.

These 2 levels of performance are not from the same player. I can't explain why, but I just totally shutdown against him.

 

[TensorBackhand]

i think there is just way too much underspin and your top spin shot is inconsistent when comes to heavy underspin.

very easy,
just push a no spin shot to him to float up.

I understand the thought of this advice, but its not that simple. He's not totally stupid, he can see the no-spin shot and he closes his racket to push it back. So in the end, whether I do heavy spin or no spin, 100% it is just a hard push that comes back.

 

[Sherpa]

Most pushers I've played have pretty limited games in terms of attacking and serving. Have a look at their bat/rubber and determine what style of play best suits you. I mix up my serve more so than 'good' players. I use every serve I have so they don't get into a rhythm. As has been suggested fast topspin serves usually produce a weak reply also side topspin is good after some straight topspin. The idea for me is to get on top early with my forehand and I pretty much topspin all service returns to get the rally started. Once you get in front by a couple of points I just basically go for everything and if you happen to get a net or edge that cheeses them off even more.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I understand the thought of this advice, but its not that simple. He's not totally stupid, he can see the no-spin shot

then don't let him see it.
if you let him see it, then train to not let him see it

and he closes his racket to push it back. So in the end, whether I do heavy spin or no spin, 100% it is just a hard push that comes back.

and even if it is a very strong underspin, what is stopping you from topspinning it back?

 

[TensorBackhand]

then don't let him see it.
if you let him see it, then train to not let him see it

and even if it is a very strong underspin, what is stopping you from topspinning it back?

As i said, my normal movements just shutdown.

I think against the 2000 players i know i have to attack to have a chance, so i play fluid and loose.

Against this guy, i know he will push me forever. So psychologically i feel different. When i loop, its like im reaching out of a trap. So im stiff and anxious and all my normal movements shutdown.