Tips for Recovering a fast loop down the line?

[imbadatlooping]

Just like the title suggest. Every time i think there going to give me a cross court loop and i start to set up for a counter loop, they tend to shoot the ball down the line since they see that im either out of position or already setting up for cross court shots (im in the middle of the table and they see the backhand corner thats very exploitable). Any tips on how to predict/know when my opponent will go down the line? Should i wait a little longer until they make contact with the ball before setting up a shot? If so, how would you deal with it if its fast and spinny?

 

[blahness]

Usually, the problem lies in the quality of your previous shot, if it was high then they will be taking an awful lot of risk trying to land the straight line shot. For eg if your prev shot was a long push, maybe consider placing it better? For eg half long push or super wide angle to the FH with sidespin, or a push curving into their elbow. Or change up the spin of your push (sometimes light sometimes heavy) to force your opponent to be a lot more fearful and cannot put so much quality in their straight line shot.

 

[Ghostzen]

I would suggest that that maybe you aren't recovering from your previous stroke so well or deciding/moving even before you have reset to see the next line of attack.

Training some irregular crosscourt /line drills would be beneficial.

Also what type of level are you playing if you don't mind me asking.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Usually, the problem lies in the quality of your previous shot, if it was high then they will be taking an awful lot of risk trying to land the straight line shot. For eg if your prev shot was a long push, maybe consider placing it better? For eg half long push or super wide angle to the FH with sidespin, or a push curving into their elbow. Or change up the spin of your push (sometimes light sometimes heavy) to force your opponent to be a lot more fearful and cannot put so much quality in their straight line shot.

exactly. If you make a good quality shot, the opponent is taking a risk to make this down-the-line shot. If he still does make it with a high % then it means he is a good player and you can only applaud and try to be aware to cover this side more than usual. if you must block this shot, always try to block it cross court as it gives you more room for error and the opponent will need to move to the opposite side. Even if the block is slow and passive its often better than trying a risky down the line block with the sidespin, and where the opponent can make a 2nd FH to finish the point.

If he is too good.... then don't give him that same ball. give him on the other side, or if you play to FH, give him spin and placement variation in your pushes else the result will be always the same.

 

[merlin el mago]

Listen the sound when the ball hits the blade for both: spin & speed.

 

[NetProphet]

Listen the sound when the ball hits the blade for both: spin & speed.

Cos hearing it better helps prepare for it?
Sorry for laughing but I honestly do not understand the advice being given here...

 

[ajtatosmano2]

Try to anticipate with your mind, not your body.
Often I expect a ball coming crosscourt to the FH and I move my hand to there for a counter. Even if it's just a tiny bit early, the opponent sees it and switches to down the line to the BH and it's to late to move back there, I can only lob back. I should wait with my body until the moment contacts the ball, that's when you can 100% see where the ball will go. If you expect a placement in your mind, your body will be fast enough to reach it, no need to move early.

 

[merlin el mago]

Cos hearing it better helps prepare for it?
Sorry for laughing but I honestly do not understand the advice being given here...

I see how it the ball to check where goes looking where finish the bat directo. Also where is positioned and oriented the player. Isn't only one thing.

 

[imbadatlooping]

I would suggest that that maybe you aren't recovering from your previous stroke so well or deciding/moving even before you have reset to see the next line of attack.

Training some irregular crosscourt /line drills would be beneficial.

Also what type of level are you playing if you don't mind me asking.

Okay got it! I think i have a habit of watching the ball rather than preparing for the next ball, so when the ball does fly fast, I'm late to react because i keep watching it as its going past me lol. I also did notice last practice session that my recovery time is poor. Like for example when i do a fast forehand loop, my rackets still at my eye or coming down from the eye to recover as the ball is pretty much back on my side of the table, so that's definitely something i need to work on.

Wdym what type of level am i playing? Like USATT level or the players i play against?
I currently am 1049 USATT. I often play with 1000-1300 level players in my club since its a small club and once in a blue moon i practice with one 1500 player, but 1500 is the highest level player we have in our club.

 

[imbadatlooping]

Try to anticipate with your mind, not your body.
Often I expect a ball coming crosscourt to the FH and I move my hand to there for a counter. Even if it's just a tiny bit early, the opponent sees it and switches to down the line to the BH and it's to late to move back there, I can only lob back. I should wait with my body until the moment contacts the ball, that's when you can 100% see where the ball will go. If you expect a placement in your mind, your body will be fast enough to reach it, no need to move early.

Got it! Ill try to be more patient and wait for my opponent to make contact before automatically assuming what my opponent will hit. I know some shots are easy to predict because of where the placement is, so thats when i can plan my shot ahead of time.

 

[canonFH]

There are three things you can do:

1. If you're far from the table, just wait until the opponent hits the ball. You'll have enough time.
2. Close to the table: keep your racket high and prepare for defense or very short action topspin if you can manage that.
3. Mid distance: prepare FH counterloop but don't rotate your waist sideways so that you can still defend on BH. If the opponent hits hard and the ball is fast, you'll have to just prepare for defense on both sides.

You can watch Harimoto and see how he defends close to the table.

Prediction is usually only reserved for opponents you know well, or when you are on the attack and your shots are such quality the opponent has no choice but to defend diagonally.