I mentioned that I like watch people who are good but not necessarily pros for inspiration and ideas and here's an example of this.
If I'm critiquing my own game, I would say I play too aggressive. Going for too many shots that are low % and not being patient enough. Consequently, a lot of matches I lose I feel like I simply give points away with errors.
If all I did was watch Xu Xin or Xue Fei, you'd say "Yep. That's how to do it Suds. That's how to play. Loop everything off the table and keep all pushes on the table super short & spiny."
While that might be something good to strive for in improving your play, I find it doesn't necessarily always work out that way on the intermediate level.
So today with my hit session with my co-worker who is relatively close to my level I practiced with these goal in mind.
- #1 play more controlled.
- #2 Play more off the table (which for me seems to play into #1 easier)
Inspired by Decoy's match vs his training partner (who was also very good), I couldn't help but notice the % of times they played a steady, solid shot vs all out crushing it. So that's what I tried.
Holy moly could just be today but I put it on my buddy today. Some nice shots, more control and admittedly, him with some errors.
Playing off the table:
I think I'm really really going to like this on service receive. I've noticed that I've been struggling with long fast serves. Typically heavy sidespin. Mostly going to my backhand. Normally I'd take these either with a TPB push or RPB attack shortly off the bounce and just wasn't hitting a good enough %. But now, I feel I have more time. I let the ball bounce and even drop a bit. In my head it seems like the spin cools off some and i have more time to read it. I was working on RPB soft looping (something I can do well with my FH and have been doing for years) vs a RPB power loop. I also did a lot of RPB chops & pushes and in either case what I go with, take a few jumps back to be well off the table ready for the next ball. Shoot I even fished a few times.
If the serve was super short, I simply stepped in and pushed if it's low.
The result was more steady play. Not giving away so many points. I couldn't have been happier how it turned out.
Furthermore, I'm still young enough to where I welcome the game of "lets both play off the table and get into a loop battle" as I feel my odds are solid in coming out ahead there.
Will try to get some video at club this Sunday vs some tougher (for me at least) compet