How do I play defensive players?

[Gtsnake]

So I'm an attacker and usually can beat 18-1900 players. However I have such a hard time against defenders. A few guys at my club are defensive guys that are not choppers and don't play pips but they give you back floaters and soft backspin balls. The play defensively and far back. The never hit to my forehand to stay away from power drives. I find it very difficult to counter against soft floaters.

It's very exhausting because each rally lasts a long time and I'm always trying to pivot to get my FH in. Do I need to play back and wait longer or stay close and hit early?

 

[Matteones]

I would move them vertically as much as possible. When they are 3m behind the table, drop them short; when they are back at the table, hit strongly 50% to their elbow and 25-25% wide forehand and wide backhand.

Also work your short services, they are used to the long ones, somehow fishers make you want to serve long and bomb away, which is not sensible if they are ready for it and you see it's not working.

Lastly you can also just play backspin on the table moving them here and there and closing out the balls they pop up.

 

[Lazer]

So I'm an attacker and usually can beat 18-1900 players. However I have such a hard time against defenders. A few guys at my club are defensive guys that are not choppers and don't play pips but they give you back floaters and soft backspin balls. The play defensively and far back. The never hit to my forehand to stay away from power drives. I find it very difficult to counter against soft floaters.

It's very exhausting because each rally lasts a long time and I'm always trying to pivot to get my FH in. Do I need to play back and wait longer or stay close and hit early?

If they play from far back you should have plenty of time to go around än play FH…

Open up as quick as possible and try to kill them on the shot after the open up.

Avoid engaging in push duels. They are probably better than you in that game.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Gtsnake]

If they play from far back you should have plenty of time to go around än play FH…

Open up as quick as possible and try to kill them on the shot after the open up.

Avoid engaging in push duels. They are probably better than you in that game.

Cheers
L-zr

So that means i have to back up too. Because if I stay close I won't have time to pivot. I did win a few points by pushing them back and drop shot but assuming I can play a FH to push them back.

 

[songdavid98]

if they play far back:

• strong forehand with a little fade sidespin
• strong forehand with hook sidespin
• dropshot

you need two out of three.
dropshot is the riskiest one so most players do the top two.

you want to make your default shot to be your forehand fade sidespin.
and then surprisingly use your wrist to hook sidespin.

So that means i have to back up too. Because if I stay close I won't have time to pivot. I did win a few points by pushing them back and drop shot but assuming I can play a FH to push them back.

Yeah, back up to pivot and attack safely.

EDIT: if lefty vs righty, do hook forehands by default and then fade forehand

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

some ideas i think of:

more forehands you can play in the rally the better probably but if they are playing balls to your backhand side from a little further away, a soft control backhand block to smother ball a bit and make them play next shot more up is good (might take more than one block). makes them move back in or be forced to reach from back. blocking down the line should get a ball you can use forehand on (be mindful if they are good at sidespin to make ball jump further away though)

and then for the forehands, think which side they give you weird balls back more often from and avoid going there except to vary, and see which side they struggle to deal with your attacks and go there a lot more often even if they are there. similarly, if you find yourself missing the crosscourt attack but nailing the straight shot (or the other way around), just stick with whats working more and finish stronger.

dont use as much energy on the in between shots since they arent going to counter that often but make sure you are consistent and purposeful with those shots to set up the finishes. ive accepted i have to respect the weirdness of the ball more and figure out the right way to approach the rally vs these types of players, but then when u lock in you can blast it. a lot of times it comes down to the ball being a little closer/farther than expected causing errors, or playing too hard and the spin causing errors.

try serving mostly low double bounce dead balls to attack returns right away while they are close. dont give them so much spin on longer serves to use against u if you arent winning points or setting up your shots that way. then once they are staying closer for shorter serves, you have more freedom to use other tactics (prob still more flat and fast long serves then spin though). and can mix in some short underspin or spinnier serves so they make mistakes on those too

i think its nice to kinda narrow down your serve and rally tactics vs this type of player so you arent overwhelmed with options/scenarios, as they are going to try to use variety and randomness to their advantage. similarly, i think these types of players all have their own things they are good and not so good at, so its about figuring out the particular allround/defender's game out a bit more and what you can exploit with your attacks

 

[Gtsnake]

Ok, thanks for all the suggestions. Definitely a lot to remember. I'll try those things. If I can remember... lol