Going to Plan B
The best of both worlds is attempting to third ball, but having a backup plan in case the third ball fails. This is not always easy to do, but is possible. This is where the use of patterns when training can help you react faster to the situation.For example, in training you serve a forehand double-bounce serve, which can be flicked, drop-shotted or pushed fast and deep by your partner. The flick return, and any poor drop shots or fast pushes should be third balled. Good drop shots should be flicked or pushed by you to set up a fifth ball, while good fast pushes should be relooped with heavy spin to force a block return that is high and can be fifth balled.
Intensive practice of this pattern should help you develop the ability to plan a third ball attack, execute it well if all goes smoothly, or change plans to go for a fifth ball attack if necessary. Difficult? Well, yes it is, but these are the sorts of things that the best players are capable of doing. If you want to keep up with the best, you had better be able to do it too.
Some Thoughts on Positioning
As asked originally, will being left handed have any effect on positioning during the rally? Well, as I often like to answer, the answer is both yes and no.- Yes - because being left handed means that you will stand at the other side of the table to where a right hander would stand;
- No - because regardless of whether you are a left hander or right hander, you should always try to be central to the line of play, allowing for the fact that your reach is better on the forehand than the backhand.
