Fear of rallying solution

[ML fan ph]

I have observe that because of fear of rally or that my opponents attack on me first, I am rattling mid rallies. I tend to pick up the ball early, usually off the bounce,(thinking to outbalance opponent asap), in results, I commit errors. On practice, I am trying to wait. But on games with points, my muscle memory goes back to picking up early. Help me.

 

[greenbeanmachine]

Take a deep breath, chill out, and take a step back. I think nerves play a big part in your problem. Try to improve your 80% quality shot -- not all out, but good quality. Focus on technique instead of power.

In training sessions, just practice rallying topspin-topspin from mid/long distance. See how many you can do in a row. This should help you feel more comfortable with rallying.

Once you get comfortable hitting the ball back and forth at mid distance, you can start working on your rally strategy. Put the ball into your opponent's elbow. Put it to the wide forehand or backhand if they leave that side open. The objective with any single shot is never to win outright -- just to get a low-quality return which you can use to your advantage.

 

[Tyce]

Exposure is one. The more you train and encounter this issue the more your mind can get used to it and filter out the stuff that makes you panic.

As mentioned above, intensity is important, too. It's not wrong to be quick on the ball, but being quick on the bounce and putting a lot of intensity in the shot is high risk. When you're taking a ball really quickly, you actually have more time to make a slower, well placed shot (and usually more angle to do so, too). Digging in early, especially when this feels natural to you, is a very good play, highly disturbing especially when you put 4-5 balls back on the table quickly.

If your problem is in trying to outbalance your opponent, yet getting surprised by their spin, well you need to improve your spin reading.
If your problem is in trying to outbalance your opponent and then missing your big finisher, the answer might be to stop trying to hit big finishers. Just outplace them in an impossible corner when they're off balance. Sure, it's physically less satisfying in the short term, but getting the upper hand even against big attackers will feel very nice in the long term I promise.

 

[latej]

I have observe that because of fear of rally or that my opponents attack on me first, I am rattling mid rallies. I tend to pick up the ball early, usually off the bounce,(thinking to outbalance opponent asap), in results, I commit errors. On practice, I am trying to wait. But on games with points, my muscle memory goes back to picking up early. Help me.

The simple way to make it impossible to take it too early is to step back a bit after serve, or after hit. You need that anyway... Then maintain the movement after each hit, you need to move slightly, even if you don't change position... That would be the "physicalist" solution.

Regarding fear, I suppose, even though it may take a while, you just need to find joy and keep it, focus on it. That's why we do this, no? Breathing helps a lot, as others mentioned... That would be the "mentalist" solution ;-) Cheers.

 

[Gozo Aruna]

I have observe that because of fear of rally or that my opponents attack on me first, I am rattling mid rallies. I tend to pick up the ball early, usually off the bounce,(thinking to outbalance opponent asap), in results, I commit errors. On practice, I am trying to wait. But on games with points, my muscle memory goes back to picking up early. Help me.

just use long / short / anti. Stand like a tree in the middle of the table and close to it. Just block everything. No rally, I promise, rally will never go past 3rd ball. Problem solved!

 

[latej]

just use long / short / anti. Stand like a tree in the middle of the table and close to it. Just block everything. No rally, I promise, rally will never go past 3rd ball. Problem solved!

You can't betray your own ideals!!! Where's the hulk smashing? What about your own NAME???

 

[Gozo Aruna]

Hulk Smash evolved to Prof. Hulk now. It whoopy loopy doodle doo; two wings these days.

 

[Brozi]

Im actually having a similar problem - I got used to winning a lot of points on the 1st loop, and thus never developed good rallyplay. Ive tried getting better at powerful 3rd balls, but it never helped, so I just focused on making it easier for myself to play rallies.

First thing I did was getting a rubber that encourages it. I know that rubbers dont play by themselves, and I dont claim that the rubber made any actual difference, but to me having trust in my equipment means a lot. I mean, the feeling that whatever I do, the ball will end up on the table takes off some of the pressure, and helps me focus on the correct contact. Before, using chinese rubbers there was this pressure (actual or subconcious) that I needed to play a really good shot each time. Now with quicker ESN rubbers I feel less pressure, which translates into being more relaxed, and less afraid of being too gentle on the ball. At the end of the day, the one, who makes less mistakes wins

 

[Yurifi]

I have observe that because of fear of rally or that my opponents attack on me first, I am rattling mid rallies. I tend to pick up the ball early, usually off the bounce,(thinking to outbalance opponent asap), in results, I commit errors. On practice, I am trying to wait. But on games with points, my muscle memory goes back to picking up early. Help me.

I have a nice exercise for you - with your practice partner, during warm up stages, go for nice and easy mid distance loop to loop exchanges. start with forehand diagonal. when you feel comfortable (next session or next week, when it suits you), add backhand diagonal. when you feel comfortable on both wings, practice some eights - FH to FH > FH to BH > BH to BH > BH to FH if you understand. in a rally you play one forehand and one backhand, one has diagonals and one has parallels, switch a couple of times between parallels and diagonals - we usually have agreement, that server has diagonals and receiver has parallels. when you are totally comfortable with this exercise - go for whole table. everything from mid distance, 50% power, 100% control. the point is to keep the ball on the table, keeping composure, performing strokes as perfect as possible. don't forget about body and legs engagement. as you progress, add power (and spin with it). after a month of these drills, I am sure you will be comfortable from distance as you are taking the ball of the table.

 

[ML fan ph]

Take a deep breath, chill out, and take a step back. I think nerves play a big part in your problem. Try to improve your 80% quality shot -- not all out, but good quality. Focus on technique instead of power.

In training sessions, just practice rallying topspin-topspin from mid/long distance. See how many you can do in a row. This should help you feel more comfortable with rallying.

Once you get comfortable hitting the ball back and forth at mid distance, you can start working on your rally strategy. Put the ball into your opponent's elbow. Put it to the wide forehand or backhand if they leave that side open. The objective with any single shot is never to win outright -- just to get a low-quality return which you can use to your advantage.

Thank you. I am wondering too that in practice, I can wait for proper timing.
But on games, sometimes I hit advance, on the rise. That's why I commit error.

I have also a problem mirroring my opponent. If my opponent is fast, I am returning it fast and advance to correct timing.

When my opponents are having slow balls, i just returning it slowballs to and keeping it safe. I was controlled by my opponents..

 

[ML fan ph]

Exposure is one. The more you train and encounter this issue the more your mind can get used to it and filter out the stuff that makes you panic.

As mentioned above, intensity is important, too. It's not wrong to be quick on the ball, but being quick on the bounce and putting a lot of intensity in the shot is high risk. When you're taking a ball really quickly, you actually have more time to make a slower, well placed shot (and usually more angle to do so, too). Digging in early, especially when this feels natural to you, is a very good play, highly disturbing especially when you put 4-5 balls back on the table quickly.

If your problem is in trying to outbalance your opponent, yet getting surprised by their spin, well you need to improve your spin reading.
If your problem is in trying to outbalance your opponent and then missing your big finisher, the answer might be to stop trying to hit big finishers. Just outplace them in an impossible corner when they're off balance. Sure, it's physically less satisfying in the short term, but getting the upper hand even against big attackers will feel very nice in the long term I promise.

Thank you so much..will always keep this in mind. Hopefully I can adjust asap

 

[ML fan ph]

The simple way to make it impossible to take it too early is to step back a bit after serve, or after hit. You need that anyway... Then maintain the movement after each hit, you need to move slightly, even if you don't change position... That would be the "physicalist" solution.

Regarding fear, I suppose, even though it may take a while, you just need to find joy and keep it, focus on it. That's why we do this, no? Breathing helps a lot, as others mentioned... That would be the "mentalist" solution ;-) Cheers.

Thank you for this.
Yes,.i really want it to enjoy the rally especially if many balls keep on the table. But I really urge to finish the point most of the time on 2nd ball or 3rd ball, that causes me to commit mistakes.
I will really try to instil this in my mind that I need to enjoy the rallies and not urge to finish point on a wrong timing of strokes.

 

[ML fan ph]

Im actually having a similar problem - I got used to winning a lot of points on the 1st loop, and thus never developed good rallyplay. Ive tried getting better at powerful 3rd balls, but it never helped, so I just focused on making it easier for myself to play rallies.

First thing I did was getting a rubber that encourages it. I know that rubbers dont play by themselves, and I dont claim that the rubber made any actual difference, but to me having trust in my equipment means a lot. I mean, the feeling that whatever I do, the ball will end up on the table takes off some of the pressure, and helps me focus on the correct contact. Before, using chinese rubbers there was this pressure (actual or subconcious) that I needed to play a really good shot each time. Now with quicker ESN rubbers I feel less pressure, which translates into being more relaxed, and less afraid of being too gentle on the ball. At the end of the day, the one, who makes less mistakes wins

Yes, I think we have similar problem of getting use to powerful 3rd ball or 2nd ball and rally ends. And here comes the blocker and counter spinner or hitter, it's difficult or fearful to have lots of rallies.

 

[ML fan ph]

Thank you so much. Will try this training

I have a nice exercise for you - with your practice partner, during warm up stages, go for nice and easy mid distance loop to loop exchanges. start with forehand diagonal. when you feel comfortable (next session or next week, when it suits you), add backhand diagonal. when you feel comfortable on both wings, practice some eights - FH to FH > FH to BH > BH to BH > BH to FH if you understand. in a rally you play one forehand and one backhand, one has diagonals and one has parallels, switch a couple of times between parallels and diagonals - we usually have agreement, that server has diagonals and receiver has parallels. when you are totally comfortable with this exercise - go for whole table. everything from mid distance, 50% power, 100% control. the point is to keep the ball on the table, keeping composure, performing strokes as perfect as possible. don't forget about body and legs engagement. as you progress, add power (and spin with it). after a month of these drills, I am sure you will be comfortable from distance as you are taking the ball of the table.