thanks, great video! can you please create a video on "how to react faster"? along w/ drills? one issue a lot of us have is not only how to block fast topspin, but getting to it in the first place. what are some tricks, practices, tips, drills to help us learn to react faster to these fast balls.
Great video once again dear Tom... You have answers to all my questions, almost all the time and appreciate your thought process.. how you choose the difficult and pragmatic situations and decide making a tutorial on it. I generally go back to handle the top spin.. but then become weaker to handle from far .. if I get my hands well on blocking then.. can handle the topspin on the table itself and prepare myself for a stronger attack. God bless you and you're doing an amazing job.
How do you get ready/react faster for these loops? A lot of the time an opponent will hit a powerful and spinny loop and I can't react quickly enough to make a good return/keep it in play or even get a paddle on it. This is especially the case if the opponent hits it to the corners.
JUST GET YOUR YOUR BAT IN THE WAY!......FANTASTIC & ORIGINAL Advice!!! As good as, when I once asked a top player, what you have to do to win a game? he replied: GET IT BACK!
No need for sarcasm - he only said that regarding blocking against very fast attacks where you literally dont have time to do much other than get your bat in the way!
Great video - thanks lots - helped my game immediately! Also, I love your book, Spin. It has made a big improvement in my game, as well as this and your many other excellent videos!!!
Many thanks for the video. I will use the advice to coach other players. My top spins are spinny and I have had this question so many times, how do you return spinny top spins? I think people fear the spin and tends to move backwards and it is the worst idea. Taking the ball early and reduce the time of contact is crucial as the bat angle. The ball that is played before the block is also very important as it allows to anticipate the top spin. I think it is important to know how to block because one cannot attack all the balls. Also good blocking helps to win the mental battle and can make the opponent question his strategy. Blocking becomes hard if the opponent changes his top spin over time.
Thanks for your very valuable videos. It does help a lot to understand the real concepts behind the different moves and the philosophy behind every definition. I play a little with my workmates once every week. It seems they are disliking me a lot because my defense is bothering and annoying to them. My block is coming out of my subconscious natural reflex I mean. I am not actually a table tennis expert or anything. Long time ago I used to be a champion in fencing sport (foil and sabre) long time ago. But I used to love swimming and running long distances. but due to be grown up. I hocked up with back to love ping-pong. Every one plays with me, smashes the ball with all his power, and it seems my insanity block it in a very strange way to bring back the ball to the table as if its mirrored strangely. Just you explained exactly in this good video you published. I applied that many times. Then they are saying that I am crazy insane to block back the smashes. Even my self sometimes I am shocked, because its really impossible to block smashes with really very powerful spinning ball as you know. I can hardly believe it myself. But it happened with me and still happening. Am I doing something wrong?
Thank you Tom for all your videos which are always useful and awesome. Please can you show us in a next video some basic exercises to do outside the table before the beginning of the competition (warm up, stretching). It is very important to avoid injuries and also to be efficient during the match. Thank you very much for your help. David
How do you even react to someone's hard attack? A lot of times an opponent will hit a hard attack and I can't even get the bat in position to block it. I'm lunging for the ball and can't even reach it.
It definitely is hard. I have to be really focused on my opponent. After I play a shot, I watch his/her bat. This maximises the time I have to process the incoming shot. If it's a fast, hard shot, I have to move quickly in position and then try to make the block shot. I don't always return the ball (or even see it!), but by watching my opponent carefully, I increase the chance of getting the ball back.
Thanks. This is really a important topic. I really block toooo much. It makes my game very ineffective. I just fall in this blocking mode so I block even when I have much time to actually attack.. Sometimes even trying to block higher balls which stupid .. I even block after my own attack when the return is actually week.. This so stupid and frustrating.. I am actually a attacking player and love to do Topspins. When I train I have quite impressive Topspins.. Some how can't apply in games.. May be you have some tips for me. Thanks a lot
Recently, I have been forcing myself NOT to block and use counter-topspin instead. I'm making plenty of errors by doing this, but it is helping me develop my attacking game. And the more I do this, the more consistent I'll become (I hope!). So next few times you play, keep telling yourself not to block and to counter-topspin instead. See what happens.
Hi mate , how do i anticipate my partner angle of attack, with see his bat angle or hand angle? In game am often do wrong anticipated my partner smash or fast topspin...
You need to look at the bat angle, the swing trajectory and listen to the sound of contact. All of these clues will help you work out how much spin is on the ball. At first it is hard, but over a long period of time, you will just 'see' the shot and know roughly how much spin there will be.
Great video. Any tips on returning top and side spin shots that players play from far away from the table. The ball comes as a curve and continues as a curve after bounce. If I block it just as it bounces it works. However if the ball falls on my left and curves all the way to the right, it’s very difficult to return.
If you want to block it, then taking the ball early is the best approach - soon after the ball has bounced. Alternatively, you can take a step back from the table, let the ball drop and try to counter-topspin. By the time the ball has dropped, the level of spin will have decreased and you can then add your own topspin to the ball.
I could do with some advice about dealing with high looping top and side spin. There are a couple of defensive guys in my league who use this tactic against me effectively. They take the ball very late and send in the loops. Gets me every time. I am a natural blocker and it’s really hard to control the return this way I find.
It's usually the sidespin which causes the problems here. The temptation is to reach for the ball, but then you lose control of the bat angle. So you need to move very wide yourself (to avoid reaching) and then contact the ball as it is rising. I try to contact these very early, then the topspin and sidespin has less effect. If you block early, the ball will often go back at a wide angle to your opponent.
Yes, short pimples can be effective when blocking heavy topspin. Some find it easier with short pimples and can send the ball back quite flat which is difficult to attack again.
Hi Tom, please can you advise me on a query? I saw a ticktock of a shot from a player who returned from under the table on a lob, then when the ball was above the table mid arc he fanned the ball with his bat to change its direction, the posing player didn't have a clue what happened!! Please can you advise if this is a legal shot...? Thanks ,. Nick
I guess this is allowed within the rules, as the player isn't actually touching the ball. I can't find anything in the rules which would make this illegal. But happy to be corrected by someone with a more thorough understanding of the laws of table tennis.
I'm not a coach, but I don't entirely agree with your advice about blocking slow (spinny, higher-arc) loops. Yes, you do need a slightly more closed bat angle, but that's only part of it. In contrast to blocking a fast loop, where you need soft hands, for a slow loop I think you're better off applying some punch to the ball to shorten the dwell time and send the ball back faster. Put it this way -- as someone who loves to slow loop, I like it when my opponent tries to soft-touch it using bat angle alone, because unless well placed, the return (if it lands at all) will be attackable. What I don't want them to do is punch-block it. And if someone slow-loops at me, I'm going to try to punch-block or even smash it, if I can get into position. It's actually easier than it sounds.
You make a fair point. Hitting through a slow, higher arc loop can be very effective and may well be the best shot to play in the long term. From a coaching perspective I always start with a simpler block, focusing on bat angle. When a player has got used to the timing and bat angle, using a simple blocking technique, it is then much easier for the player to develop a more aggressive blocking / counter-hit shot. But this usually takes time and plenty of practice. I suspect you find it easy because you have been doing it for a long time? For players who are new to blocking, it's quite a challenging shot to play initially.
I pretty much only (try to) block when I can't react quickly enough to counterattack. I do think that type situation is a big problem on lower level of play. I had a match last week against an old man. I was completely surprised by the balls he chose to attack on. It was mostly on his backhand side, but he did it on the forehand side too. I was just standing there watching the balls fly past me and it angers me so much that I couldn't do anything. We were both standing very close to the table. Don't remember if you had a video about that, but it would be very helpful if you could make one in the future. It's basically how to not stand still getting yourself shot at but react and defend.
This is a tough one. I can visualise the sort of player you describe. In these situations, I would try to make it hard for my opponent to attack in the first place. I would try to keep the ball short, deep or wide and avoid the hitting zones in the middle of the table. I would also try and get the first attack in where possible. All of these tactics should reduce the attacking opportunities for your opponent.
I am sorry, but there is no point where you have time to think about things like this. You block when you dont have time to drive/loop/counterloop/smash/fish/snake. This will develop naturally when you play a lot. The bat angle adjustment is something you learn by doing it over and over and over. Because so much of table tennis is about understanding spin, this will go automatically.
I think blocking is a specific skill which you actually need to practice. Sometimes it is instinctive, when the ball is hit at you very fast. But other times it is very deliberate - you chose to block rather than counter attack to change the timing or speed of a rally.
@@TomLodziak Yea, maybe I have been thinking about what blocking is from the mental standpoint of someone being under attack and not being able to deliberately think offensively from it. I see some videos talk about blocking as what I would describe as punching. I think this point is interesting to think about, as offensive players generally think about blocking as a skill to overcome your oppenent, which is an active choice of putting pressure, which is not what I consider being defensive and blocking. In my mind, being a blocker is using your opponents violence against himself/herself, like a boxer making someone tire themselves out.
This is just an overview of blocking which doesn't demonstrate blocking I will expect you to demonstrate blocking upto 10 or more shorts backhand and forehand. In your video you were only demonstrating how to win a point off a block which is not blocking
thanks, great video! can you please create a video on "how to react faster"? along w/ drills?
one issue a lot of us have is not only how to block fast topspin, but getting to it in the first place.
what are some tricks, practices, tips, drills to help us learn to react faster to these fast balls.
Great video once again dear Tom... You have answers to all my questions, almost all the time and appreciate your thought process.. how you choose the difficult and pragmatic situations and decide making a tutorial on it. I generally go back to handle the top spin.. but then become weaker to handle from far .. if I get my hands well on blocking then.. can handle the topspin on the table itself and prepare myself for a stronger attack. God bless you and you're doing an amazing job.
Thank you very much for your kind comments.
How do you get ready/react faster for these loops? A lot of the time an opponent will hit a powerful and spinny loop and I can't react quickly enough to make a good return/keep it in play or even get a paddle on it. This is especially the case if the opponent hits it to the corners.
JUST GET YOUR YOUR BAT IN THE WAY!......FANTASTIC & ORIGINAL Advice!!! As good as, when I once asked a top player, what you have to do to win a game? he replied: GET IT BACK!
No need for sarcasm - he only said that regarding blocking against very fast attacks where you literally dont have time to do much other than get your bat in the way!
Thank you coach. You simply the best. I notice you love blocks and it is a major part of your winning condition.
Great video - thanks lots - helped my game immediately! Also, I love your book, Spin. It has made a big improvement in my game, as well as this and your many other excellent videos!!!
Hi Tom. Thank you for all your videos. I learned so much from you.
Many thanks for the video. I will use the advice to coach other players. My top spins are spinny and I have had this question so many times, how do you return spinny top spins?
I think people fear the spin and tends to move backwards and it is the worst idea. Taking the ball early and reduce the time of contact is crucial as the bat angle.
The ball that is played before the block is also very important as it allows to anticipate the top spin. I think it is important to know how to block because one cannot attack all the balls. Also good blocking helps to win the mental battle and can make the opponent question his strategy. Blocking becomes hard if the opponent changes his top spin over time.
😊
Great video - very timely. I prefer to block and block too much but this is a great video on how to use a block.
Great tips again Tom, thanks for the info and fantastic video as usual.
Just the video I needed to see
Thanks Tom, very helpful!
Thanks for your very valuable videos. It does help a lot to understand the real concepts behind the different moves and the philosophy behind every definition. I play a little with my workmates once every week. It seems they are disliking me a lot because my defense is bothering and annoying to them. My block is coming out of my subconscious natural reflex I mean. I am not actually a table tennis expert or anything. Long time ago I used to be a champion in fencing sport (foil and sabre) long time ago. But I used to love swimming and running long distances. but due to be grown up. I hocked up with back to love ping-pong. Every one plays with me, smashes the ball with all his power, and it seems my insanity block it in a very strange way to bring back the ball to the table as if its mirrored strangely. Just you explained exactly in this good video you published. I applied that many times. Then they are saying that I am crazy insane to block back the smashes. Even my self sometimes I am shocked, because its really impossible to block smashes with really very powerful spinning ball as you know. I can hardly believe it myself. But it happened with me and still happening. Am I doing something wrong?
Maybe your fencing skills helped you develop very quick reactions and this is something you have transferred to table tennis?
You are great tom ❤️
Thank you Tom for all your videos which are always useful and awesome.
Please can you show us in a next video some basic exercises to do outside the table before the beginning of the competition (warm up, stretching).
It is very important to avoid injuries and also to be efficient during the match.
Thank you very much for your help.
David
Good idea. I'll add to my list.
How do you even react to someone's hard attack? A lot of times an opponent will hit a hard attack and I can't even get the bat in position to block it. I'm lunging for the ball and can't even reach it.
It definitely is hard. I have to be really focused on my opponent. After I play a shot, I watch his/her bat. This maximises the time I have to process the incoming shot. If it's a fast, hard shot, I have to move quickly in position and then try to make the block shot. I don't always return the ball (or even see it!), but by watching my opponent carefully, I increase the chance of getting the ball back.
Thank youuu
Thanks. This is really a important topic. I really block toooo much. It makes my game very ineffective. I just fall in this blocking mode so I block even when I have much time to actually attack.. Sometimes even trying to block higher balls which stupid .. I even block after my own attack when the return is actually week.. This so stupid and frustrating.. I am actually a attacking player and love to do Topspins. When I train I have quite impressive Topspins.. Some how can't apply in games.. May be you have some tips for me. Thanks a lot
Recently, I have been forcing myself NOT to block and use counter-topspin instead. I'm making plenty of errors by doing this, but it is helping me develop my attacking game. And the more I do this, the more consistent I'll become (I hope!). So next few times you play, keep telling yourself not to block and to counter-topspin instead. See what happens.
can long pips also block the higher arc topspin with same principle?
Hi mate , how do i anticipate my partner angle of attack, with see his bat angle or hand angle? In game am often do wrong anticipated my partner smash or fast topspin...
You need to look at the bat angle, the swing trajectory and listen to the sound of contact. All of these clues will help you work out how much spin is on the ball. At first it is hard, but over a long period of time, you will just 'see' the shot and know roughly how much spin there will be.
@@TomLodziak i'll try it mate, btw thanks for your advice...
Great video. Any tips on returning top and side spin shots that players play from far away from the table. The ball comes as a curve and continues as a curve after bounce. If I block it just as it bounces it works. However if the ball falls on my left and curves all the way to the right, it’s very difficult to return.
If you want to block it, then taking the ball early is the best approach - soon after the ball has bounced. Alternatively, you can take a step back from the table, let the ball drop and try to counter-topspin. By the time the ball has dropped, the level of spin will have decreased and you can then add your own topspin to the ball.
How to you do this type of service please sir give me some tips
I could do with some advice about dealing with high looping top and side spin. There are a couple of defensive guys in my league who use this tactic against me effectively. They take the ball very late and send in the loops. Gets me every time. I am a natural blocker and it’s really hard to control the return this way I find.
It's usually the sidespin which causes the problems here. The temptation is to reach for the ball, but then you lose control of the bat angle. So you need to move very wide yourself (to avoid reaching) and then contact the ball as it is rising. I try to contact these very early, then the topspin and sidespin has less effect. If you block early, the ball will often go back at a wide angle to your opponent.
@@TomLodziak Big thanks for this. I’ll try!
Super
What about using short pimple to block these loops? Especially the heavy spin loop... It's awkward to return.
Yes, short pimples can be effective when blocking heavy topspin. Some find it easier with short pimples and can send the ball back quite flat which is difficult to attack again.
@@TomLodziak the angle for short pips will be more open right?
@@jasper8368 You probably don't need to close the bat angle as much, but it all depends which short pimples you are using.
Hi Tom, please can you advise me on a query? I saw a ticktock of a shot from a player who returned from under the table on a lob, then when the ball was above the table mid arc he fanned the ball with his bat to change its direction, the posing player didn't have a clue what happened!! Please can you advise if this is a legal shot...? Thanks ,. Nick
I guess this is allowed within the rules, as the player isn't actually touching the ball. I can't find anything in the rules which would make this illegal. But happy to be corrected by someone with a more thorough understanding of the laws of table tennis.
@@TomLodziak Thanks! This is the clip for your reference...... ruclips.net/user/shortswU7NfYfB08A?feature=share
I'm not a coach, but I don't entirely agree with your advice about blocking slow (spinny, higher-arc) loops. Yes, you do need a slightly more closed bat angle, but that's only part of it. In contrast to blocking a fast loop, where you need soft hands, for a slow loop I think you're better off applying some punch to the ball to shorten the dwell time and send the ball back faster. Put it this way -- as someone who loves to slow loop, I like it when my opponent tries to soft-touch it using bat angle alone, because unless well placed, the return (if it lands at all) will be attackable. What I don't want them to do is punch-block it. And if someone slow-loops at me, I'm going to try to punch-block or even smash it, if I can get into position. It's actually easier than it sounds.
You make a fair point. Hitting through a slow, higher arc loop can be very effective and may well be the best shot to play in the long term. From a coaching perspective I always start with a simpler block, focusing on bat angle. When a player has got used to the timing and bat angle, using a simple blocking technique, it is then much easier for the player to develop a more aggressive blocking / counter-hit shot. But this usually takes time and plenty of practice. I suspect you find it easy because you have been doing it for a long time? For players who are new to blocking, it's quite a challenging shot to play initially.
I pretty much only (try to) block when I can't react quickly enough to counterattack. I do think that type situation is a big problem on lower level of play. I had a match last week against an old man. I was completely surprised by the balls he chose to attack on. It was mostly on his backhand side, but he did it on the forehand side too. I was just standing there watching the balls fly past me and it angers me so much that I couldn't do anything. We were both standing very close to the table. Don't remember if you had a video about that, but it would be very helpful if you could make one in the future. It's basically how to not stand still getting yourself shot at but react and defend.
This is a tough one. I can visualise the sort of player you describe. In these situations, I would try to make it hard for my opponent to attack in the first place. I would try to keep the ball short, deep or wide and avoid the hitting zones in the middle of the table. I would also try and get the first attack in where possible. All of these tactics should reduce the attacking opportunities for your opponent.
@@TomLodziak Thank you very much for your advice.
NO BLOCKING, STRONG TOP SPIN BACK
🏓👍
Dear Tom , Craig
Are you hiring practice partner ?!
🙏🏼🏓💖📖
I play with a lot of blocks hahaha
I: Learning block
Chineses: Counter atack!
I am sorry, but there is no point where you have time to think about things like this. You block when you dont have time to drive/loop/counterloop/smash/fish/snake. This will develop naturally when you play a lot. The bat angle adjustment is something you learn by doing it over and over and over. Because so much of table tennis is about understanding spin, this will go automatically.
I think blocking is a specific skill which you actually need to practice. Sometimes it is instinctive, when the ball is hit at you very fast. But other times it is very deliberate - you chose to block rather than counter attack to change the timing or speed of a rally.
@@TomLodziak Yea, maybe I have been thinking about what blocking is from the mental standpoint of someone being under attack and not being able to deliberately think offensively from it. I see some videos talk about blocking as what I would describe as punching. I think this point is interesting to think about, as offensive players generally think about blocking as a skill to overcome your oppenent, which is an active choice of putting pressure, which is not what I consider being defensive and blocking. In my mind, being a blocker is using your opponents violence against himself/herself, like a boxer making someone tire themselves out.
📖📝🏓💖🎥🎬🎨🌈🎧
This is just an overview of blocking which doesn't demonstrate blocking I will expect you to demonstrate blocking upto 10 or more shorts backhand and forehand. In your video you were only demonstrating how to win a point off a block which is not blocking
First