What's the next step after fundamentals?

[pedro.dantas]

Hi, I started playing table tennis 10 months ago, and I believe I have finally managed to achieve a certain consistency in my strokes. I can consistently hit balls with underspin on my forehand and backhand. It's not perfect yet, but I consider it good based on the amount of time I've been training. I can put a lot of spin on the ball, but not a lot of speed on my backhand.
Anyway, now that I've achieved a certain consistency in my basic strokes, what's the next step to focus on in my training? I feel like I don't really know what to do in my game. I just hope that a ball appears on my forehand that I can hit with as much power as possible. I have no idea what I need to do to win the point. I just try to hit every ball I see, and obviously, I make a lot of unforced errors, or my opponents put the ball in weird places and it's just sad.
Any ideas for strategies that I can start using in my game as a beginner? My forehand is much more threatening than my backhand, but I use both sides to attack, and I believe that at some point my backhand will also be a threat.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Hi, I started playing table tennis 10 months ago, and I believe I have finally managed to achieve a certain consistency in my strokes. I can consistently hit balls with underspin on my forehand and backhand. It's not perfect yet, but I consider it good based on the amount of time I've been training. I can put a lot of spin on the ball, but not a lot of speed on my backhand.
Anyway, now that I've achieved a certain consistency in my basic strokes, what's the next step to focus on in my training? I feel like I don't really know what to do in my game. I just hope that a ball appears on my forehand that I can hit with as much power as possible. I have no idea what I need to do to win the point. I just try to hit every ball I see, and obviously, I make a lot of unforced errors, or my opponents put the ball in weird places and it's just sad.
Any ideas for strategies that I can start using in my game as a beginner? My forehand is much more threatening than my backhand, but I use both sides to attack, and I believe that at some point my backhand will also be a threat.

My guess is you can push underspin back and forth? And you can drive topspin back and forth a bit?

The next most used shot would be to loop opponent's underspin shot with your fh. If you can do this consistently with strong spin and decent speed, you can beat most amateur players.

 

[pedro.dantas]

My guess is you can push underspin back and forth? And you can drive topspin back and forth a bit?

The next most used shot would be to loop opponent's underspin shot with your fh. If you can do this consistently with strong spin and decent speed, you can beat most amateur players.

Is there anyway to make my opponents push to my fh?

 

[TensorBackhand]

Is there anyway to make my opponents push to my fh?

Not always, but sometimes.

1)if you do a good side-underspin, its hard to control and often gets returned to middle table for your fh

2) if you do a hard push, they just push it back in the middle

3) if you have good footwork, you can step around and use fh

 

[pedro.dantas]

Not always, but sometimes.

1)if you do a good side-underspin, its hard to control and often gets returned to middle table for your fh

2) if you do a hard push, they just push it back in the middle

3) if you have good footwork, you can step around and use fh

Thank you, will try to put this in practice tomorrow. I'll become like bojji once i mastered this, save my words.

 

[Lazer]

Hi, I started playing table tennis 10 months ago, and I believe I have finally managed to achieve a certain consistency in my strokes. I can consistently hit balls with underspin on my forehand and backhand. It's not perfect yet, but I consider it good based on the amount of time I've been training. I can put a lot of spin on the ball, but not a lot of speed on my backhand.
Anyway, now that I've achieved a certain consistency in my basic strokes, what's the next step to focus on in my training? I feel like I don't really know what to do in my game. I just hope that a ball appears on my forehand that I can hit with as much power as possible. I have no idea what I need to do to win the point. I just try to hit every ball I see, and obviously, I make a lot of unforced errors, or my opponents put the ball in weird places and it's just sad.
Any ideas for strategies that I can start using in my game as a beginner? My forehand is much more threatening than my backhand, but I use both sides to attack, and I believe that at some point my backhand will also be a threat.

Flick short balls. Start with balls that have light underspin to your BH.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[pedro.dantas]

Flick short balls. Start with balls that have light underspin to your BH.

Cheers
L-zr

i still have issues with flicking, can't generate power and placement is weird. Maybe cause i'm short, and can't quite reach short balls

 

[Lazer]

i still have issues with flicking, can't generate power and placement is weird. Maybe cause i'm short, and can't quite reach short balls

Keep practicing, remember you for BH will need a snappy wrist action. For your FH flick start with your underarm parallel with the table surface and pivot with your elbow.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Wakkibatty]

All the above is excellent advice. I encourage you to follow it.

I would also encourage you to work intensively on your footwork, your anticipation, and the quality of your serve and service return

In my own experience, nothing really lifts your potential as player quite as much, as learning how to move quickly and efficiently into the right position for each stroke. You would be amazed at how much better your game gets once you start to be better able to read your opponent's intensions, and move into position in time to make effective high quality strokes... The number of tactical options this opens up to you (when you manage it successfully 😂) is just insane.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

All the above is excellent advice. I encourage you to follow it.

I would also encourage you to work intensively on your footwork, your anticipation, and the quality of your serve and service return

In my own experience, nothing really lifts your potential as player quite as much, as learning how to move quickly and efficiently into the right position for each stroke. You would be amazed at how much better your game gets once you start to be better able to read your opponent's intensions, and move into position in time to make effective high quality strokes... The number of tactical options this opens up to you (when you manage it successfully 😂) is just insane.

When you are in position; all you need is just push, drive or block - Gozo, helping EJ's since 2013

 

[Wakkibatty]

When you are in position; all you need i just push, drive or block - Gozo, helping EJ's since 2013

I think there's a fair few defenders and hybrid players out there who would probably disagree with you, but I get what you're saying. 😂😂

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

I think there's a fair few defenders and hybrid players out there who would probably disagree with you, but I get what you're saying. 😂😂

Friend, you mentioned hybrid user who will disagree with my above statement. Pray tell how? Genuine question, I have never use hybrid before so pls pray tell. Tq.

 

[Wakkibatty]

Friend, you mentioned hybrid user who will disagree with my above statement. Pray tell how? Genuine question, I have never use hybrid before so pls pray tell. Tq.

To clarify: when I say hybrid, I mean basically anyone who:

1. ... isn't a pure defender, attacker or all round player, and...

2. ...who also has a quirky, odd or unorthodox playing style.

Here in Australia TT is very popular at casual / backyard level, but the number of people who then go on to play competitively and/or get some proper training in modern technique is far smaller.

As a result of this, you can get a lot of odd-ball players down here with pretty unusual or unconventional playing styles, that don't really fit into any traditional defending / attacking / all-round categories, but they are still quite handy with a blade nonetheless. (Eg: people who do lots of offensive and defensive fan shots on both wings, people who specialize just in serving, people who play every stroke sideways across their body on both wings, people who FH loop with a dead-straight arm, people who can't loop or drive on either wing to save their lives but can also block like Waldner so long as they don't need to move their feet etc, etc... ). You would be amazed at some of the crazy stuff I've seen over the years that can actually work quite well at amateur / regional / semi-pro level. 🤣🤣

Another example: One of my relatives and best mates has an entirely self-taught game, built largely around FH blocking, ball control & placement, and his own unique, weird-arse, 'backspin-fan-blocking' style.

When playing over the table, he typically blocks most returns on his FH side with the blade tip facing upwards... but he also fans the blade-tip downwards and forwards towards the table with his wrist, as he's making the return. This puts constantly varying levels of back and/or side spin on the ball. It's a very unusual style to watch, as it can almost look like he is constantly swatting at flies with each FH stroke.

That said, In his hands at least this is a killer style, as its a surprisingly effective way to disrupt your opponent's playing rhythm, as well as constantly disrupt the spin and flight on the ball.

Nobody in their right mind would try to re-create his playing strokes, as it's such an odd, unique and unusual playing style on the whole... but he's also played this way for decades, and it's made him both a damaging and highly respected player around town for most of his life (his considerable trophy collection is testimony to this!)

He's in his late 60's now so his game is not quite as sharp or damaging as it used to be 20 years ago (but hey, none of us are immune to the effects of time in that regard!).

My point with all this is merely to point out that at the end of the day, there's room for all different sorts of playing styles out there. Even if your swing and playing style is genuinely odd and truly unorthodox, it's still quite possible to be a pretty good and successful player at local or state level, (if not nationally or internationally).

 

[jk1980]

in terms of tactics for beginners i found one that does work for me quite nicely.
i am a right handed player and i do this regardless of if i play against a rightie or a leftie. Lets assume i am playing a right handed player as well.
I serve from my backhand corner to the wide short backhand of the opponent, so that the ball leaves the table to the side on the opponents side.
The returns i most often get are either pushes that end up long to the middle, so i loop "down the line" to the forehand/wide forehand of the opponent" or if i am not confident of looping it because it is not high or long enough you can still place the ball in the forehand and most likely at least make the opponent move quite a bit so their quality should be lacking.

You can alternate that serve placement with a long to the backhand serve, so that it is not instantly clear where you serve, while maintaining a similar serve movement (pendulum)

 

[jk1980]

The fine thing with this tactic is, that you get a slight positional advantage because at a low level nobody will be able to place the ball to your wide forehand from that position, so you now you only need to worry about the middle of the table (not even really backhand) and everything that you are comfortable to attack with the forehand. Don't let the video fool you. Of course this is not a strong opponent (germany ttr 1100) and dont think that everybody will return the balls the same, but the positioning will be similar.

Don't expect to be able to totally outplay the opponent by serving like this and then going down the line with mediocre speed. I had even 80 year olds (1250 TTR) pips grandpas return the ball from their forehand after i send them to the deep backhand with the serve before. Also do vary your serves and spread in a few to the backhand instead of wide off the table, so that the opponent does not get too comfortable with the placement.

a bonus for the beginners is that if i can use this tactic, you will be able to, too (if you are playing against a similar low level opponent). Additional bonus is that you do not even need to impart much spin on the ball at all, because this tactic is all placement on basically 0 (ok, lets say 10%) spin.

 

[pingpongpaddy]

HI Pedro
You should google a site called Pingskills. They are an Aussie pair of experienced coaches Alois and Geoff who publish TT lessons which advertise their TT courses. Even if you don't go for their lessons (which are excellent) just viewing their free stuff will let you know what you should be thinking about:-
Pingskills Basics

most important

FH counter

the above links are good samples

give them a go!
good luck

 

[pedro.dantas]

The fine thing with this tactic is, that you get a slight positional advantage because at a low level nobody will be able to place the ball to your wide forehand from that position, so you now you only need to worry about the middle of the table (not even really backhand) and everything that you are comfortable to attack with the forehand. Don't let the video fool you. Of course this is not a strong opponent (germany ttr 1100) and dont think that everybody will return the balls the same, but the positioning will be similar.

Don't expect to be able to totally outplay the opponent by serving like this and then going down the line with mediocre speed. I had even 80 year olds (1250 TTR) pips grandpas return the ball from their forehand after i send them to the deep backhand with the serve before. Also do vary your serves and spread in a few to the backhand instead of wide off the table, so that the opponent does not get too comfortable with the placement.

a bonus for the beginners is that if i can use this tactic, you will be able to, too (if you are playing against a similar low level opponent). Additional bonus is that you do not even need to impart much spin on the ball at all, because this tactic is all placement on basically 0 (ok, lets say 10%) spin.

If i may ask you, if the opponent serves wide to my FH or BH, how should i receive it?

 

[pingpongpaddy]

If i may ask you, if the opponent serves wide to my FH or BH, how should i receive it?

An example:-
if you are righty:
If righty opponent plays wide to yr fh corner your best option is to return to break his fh side line. this puts him under movement pressure and makes it more likely that he will return within your reach. If you go down the line to his bh, you might surprise him, but if he is ready for it he may punish you by going wide of your backhand because his initial shot dragged you wide.
apart from going wide to either wing, a common tactic is to play at opponents playing elbow so that he moves to one side to play either fh or bh, this results in a space which you can target. If you play directly to opponents wing you may find that you are putting the ball in his "wheelhouse" - comfortable strike zone

Tactics is about applying movement pressure with each succeeding shot of the rally. It's not realistic to go for winners straight away. Win rallies by accumulating small advantages.
If you control the ball, use it to control your opponent

 

[Persistence TT]

Hi, I started playing table tennis 10 months ago, and I believe I have finally managed to achieve a certain consistency in my strokes. I can consistently hit balls with underspin on my forehand and backhand. It's not perfect yet, but I consider it good based on the amount of time I've been training. I can put a lot of spin on the ball, but not a lot of speed on my backhand.
Anyway, now that I've achieved a certain consistency in my basic strokes, what's the next step to focus on in my training? I feel like I don't really know what to do in my game. I just hope that a ball appears on my forehand that I can hit with as much power as possible. I have no idea what I need to do to win the point. I just try to hit every ball I see, and obviously, I make a lot of unforced errors, or my opponents put the ball in weird places and it's just sad.
Any ideas for strategies that I can start using in my game as a beginner? My forehand is much more threatening than my backhand, but I use both sides to attack, and I believe that at some point my backhand will also be a threat.

serve and receice plus tons of footwork exercises. The training in those aspects of the game is never enough

 

[Wakkibatty]

HI Pedro
You should google a site called Pingskills. They are an Aussie pair of experienced coaches Alois and Geoff who publish TT lessons which advertise their TT courses. Even if you don't go for their lessons (which are excellent) just viewing their free stuff will let you know what you should be thinking about:-
Pingskills Basics

most important

FH counter

the above links are good samples

give them a go!
good luck

Gotta add a plus one on the Pingskills online materials! These guys are former (? and current ?? 🤔) Australian national level coaches. All the advice & technique videos of theirs I've personally seen thus far (at beginner to Intermediate level at least) have been absolutely bang on.

The PingSkills vids are not a substitute for hands-on regular training sessions with a decent, experienced qualified coach (no video series ever is really). That said, in terms of finding decent online reference material for players at your current level, they really are a quality resource in that IMO, their advice is *reliable*.

While I freely admit I'm not currently a qualified TT coach at ANY level here in Australia (...not yet anyway 🤣🤣 ...still got a bit of supervised coaching to do before I'm fully level 0 certified) the technique and theory they go through in these vids is all well presented, technically sound and therefore uncontroversial. For some quality text-book instruction on all the basics and more, it's pretty hard to go wrong with these guys frankly.