In this particular article I'm going to be explaining some actual match tactics for attackers to use against traditional defenders who use long pimples on one side of their table tennis bat. Since most of the people reading this are probably better forehand attackers with a weaker backhand loop, I'm going to focus on this scenario:
Attacker (You)
- Strong forehand loop.
- Weaker/inconsistent backhand loop.
- Standard services, with one or two especially good services.
- Average return of serve - can attack long balls, but not usually hit winners from them. Short serves can be pushed or flipped, but not for winners.
- Average footwork - can hit forehands from the backhand corner but finds it difficult to get to the next ball if the opponent blocks down the line. Still finds it difficult to attack consistently if the ball is played to the crossover point of forehand/backhand.
- Reading of spin is average - has trouble playing defenders who vary spin well.
- Is average against long pimples - knows the basic theory but still has problems playing the correct shot in a match.
- Uses thin, smooth rubber on the forehand, long pimples with thin sponge on the backhand.
- Twiddles occasionally when chopping.
- Typical footwork - better at going side to side than in and out.
- Plays traditional defense with average spin variation and only attacking the easy setup ball with his forehand.
- Is stronger defending with the long pimples than the normal rubber - he finds it hard to really spin the ball with the smooth rubber without popping the ball up - so he floats more often with the forehand chop. His crossover point is further to his right hand side due to his strength with the backhand chop, probably a foot to a foot and a half outside his right hip.
- Does not try to hit with the long pimples.
- Uses serves to put the ball in play rather than to set up attack.
- Return of serve is usually a long push return near the end line of the table. Prefers to use the long pimples to return serve, even wide to the forehand.
Match Tactics
Your first tactic is to find out this information about your opponent - preferably before you start playing! Some good scouting should set you up so that you can plan your tactics before the game begins.If you were to discuss with me the match you were about to play against this defender, this is the type of advice I would give you.
Service
Since you have still have difficulties playing against long pimples in matches, I would recommend to keep your services relatively simple to start with - not too much sidespin that is going to come back at you from your opponent's long pimples. Hopefully, as your touch improves during the match, you should be able to increase the amount of sidespin that you use to make things harder for your opponent.
Also, since your opponent does not tend to attack serves very much, you should be able to use more long services without fear of counterattacks.
Since your opponent uses his long pimples to return serve most of the time, take advantage of this by changing your serve depending on what type of 3rd ball attack you wish to play. For heavy loops, use long topspin serves, that will come back as chop from the long pimples, and you can then use the spin to load up your loop. If you want to hit fast loops, serve long backspin serves that will come back as topspin, which can then be looped with power. Long no spin serves can also be used to get float returns from the long pimples, which can then be attacked with spin or speed as you desire.
Shorter serves can still be used to keep your opponent on his toes, and to try to get the occasional pop-up ball to attack with power. Focus more on making the spin hard to read than trying to put a lot of spin on the ball - you should be trying to make him think the ball is chop when it is really topspin and vice versa, rather than trying to fool him with the amount of spin (i.e. heavy vs light topspin). You don't want too much spin coming back from the long pimples due to your own problems in playing against them.
Serving to the forehand can also be a good way to set up attacks to your opponent's backhand, since he is trying to return most serves with the long pimples. A short serve to the forehand will bring him in and across the table, and then a follow up attack deep to the backhand will be difficult to handle, especially if you occasionally switch the attack to his wide forehand as he is trying to get back to cover his backhand side.
