How important is the fh flip/flick?

[Fruitlover]

Hello,

yesterday I faced an opponent who consistently played short backspin balls to my fh side. He played with NI rubbers, but rather slow stuff for good control I guess. If I played to his bh side, he returned the ball short and down the line, actually very close to the white line. In any case, he always tried hard to keep the ball short (more than one bounce on my table).
I always considered the fh flip against backspin a difficult shot, especially if it was a heavy backspin or if the opponent varied the amount of backspin. Thats why I did not risk a fh flip.
Against this opponent I decided to play backhand only (my old playing style) and it worked well because my opponent did not change his strategy and did not play any long balls to my bh side.
So my question is: Is it important to master the forhand flip/flick at the intermediate level?

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Hello,

yesterday I faced an opponent who consistantly played short backspin balls to my fh side. He played with NI rubbers, but rather slow stuff for good control I guess. If I played to his bh side, he returned the ball short and down the line, actually very close to the white line. In any case, he always tried hard to keep the ball short (more than one bounce on my table).
I always considered the fh flip against backspin a difficult shot, especially if it was a heavy backspin or if the opponent varied the amount of backspin. Thats why I did not risk a fh flip.
Against this opponent I decided to play backhand only (my old playing style) and it worked well because my opponent did not change his strategy and did not play any long balls to my bh side.
So my question is: Is it important to master the forhand flip/flick at the intermediate level?

yes or else you will be bullied non-stop by these short fh ball; sometimes with downspin, sometimes with no spin.

 

[vossi39]

Let's put it in another way. You need to have an aggressive answer to short underspin ball on your VH. Flip is just one possible answer. If you have an aggressive push, or sidespin ball this is fine too. Just getting it back long, won't help. And receiving only with BH needs quick feet.

 

[Fruitlover]

If you have an aggressive push, or sidespin ball this is fine too.

Which option (including fh flip) is safest or best against "medium heavy" short backspin to the fh?

 

[vossi39]

Which option (including fh flip) is safest or best against "medium heavy" short backspin to the fh?

Safest and best are to different things.

Safest is a sense of ease to learn and execute, it is the aggressive push. It uses the spin which is already in the ball and adds spin + tempo. Pushed into the elbow, it is difficult to attack.

Best - very much depends on how you personally like to continue. If you want open ball rally as soon as possible, then Flip is the best option. If you want avoid it and like your opponent to open with spin, then the push is better option.

The sidespin ball is somewhere in between. Not aggressive like the push or flip, but awkward enough to put many opponents off with they response. But also not an easy to execute shot.

 

[victormanriquey]

Agreed to all of the above. One more argument to learn a good FH flick is if you play doubles a lot and are a FH dominant player, otherwise you are forced to receive all with BH or push it, too few variation/surprise in that so the opponents can guess and adjust easily

 

[NetProphet]

Hello,

yesterday I faced an opponent who consistently played short backspin balls to my fh side. He played with NI rubbers, but rather slow stuff for good control I guess. If I played to his bh side, he returned the ball short and down the line, actually very close to the white line. In any case, he always tried hard to keep the ball short (more than one bounce on my table).
I always considered the fh flip against backspin a difficult shot, especially if it was a heavy backspin or if the opponent varied the amount of backspin. Thats why I did not risk a fh flip.
Against this opponent I decided to play backhand only (my old playing style) and it worked well because my opponent did not change his strategy and did not play any long balls to my bh side.
So my question is: Is it important to master the forhand flip/flick at the intermediate level?

The reason he played those short backspin serves to your FH is because you couldn't attack them, you were totally handcuffed by it.
So I think you know the answer to your question already.
I would fgo further and say that at the intermediate level, if you wish to succeed (win more than you lose) it's important to practice hard at almost every shot. Because if you don't your opponents will eventually find out what you struggle to do and hammer at it for the rest of the match.
We all have weakness. Well planned and structured training really seeks to improve all those weakness. My 2c

 

[blahness]

I got a better option, use the FH sideswipe or 撇. It converts the ball into a ugly sidespin ball which is hard to repush and also is not easy to attack.

I dont recommend the flick against med-heavy underspin, too much risk for little reward. Usually it is just done as a surprise.

Fast long wide angle and jamming pushes are another excellent choice.

 

[SwingRobo]

I got a better option, use the FH sideswipe or 撇. It converts the ball into a ugly sidespin ball which is hard to repush and also is not easy to attack.

I dont recommend the flick against med-heavy underspin, too much risk for little reward. Usually it is just done as a surprise.

Fast long wide angle and jamming pushes are another excellent choice.

I agree with you：）Schlager and Ryu seung min once said they hardly flick backspin serve because it is hard to control.Push long to the opponents‘ midway and get ready for block or counter is much more useful

 

[blahness]

One of my fav combinations - FH sidespin long fast push on the right side of the ball, and i place it on the opponents wide FH such that it exits the side of the table. Opponents without good footwork this already is a winner. Opponents with better footwork, they will be forced to loop at a lower point ie lower quality. Then you simply counter that back to their wide BH (regardless of where they place their loop), or if they move too fast back to defend their BH then jam the block on their middle and they are pretty much toast.

 

[NetProphet]

One of my fav combinations - FH sidespin long fast push on the right side of the ball, and i place it on the opponents wide FH such that it exits the side of the table. Opponents without good footwork this already is a winner. Opponents with better footwork, they will be forced to loop at a lower point ie lower quality. Then you simply counter that back to their wide BH (regardless of where they place their loop), or if they move too fast back to defend their BH then jam the block on their middle and they are pretty much toast.

I like how you describe tactics like this.
Can I ask what is your level?
Are there any vids of your play in here, or on YouTube?