This can be very frustrating if you are a new player - you can play each individual shot quite well, but you just don't know how to put them together properly so that you can play your best. So in this article I'm going to give you some guidance on solving that jigsaw puzzle that is your table tennis game. Your strokes are the pieces - put them together in the right order and suddenly your whole game will come together.
Due to the improvements in technology over recent years, the amount of spin and speed that can be put on the ball has increased markedly. The overwhelmingly dominant style in modern table tennis is one that uses this technology for aggression, where the player takes controlled risks and is constantly looking to force mistakes from his opponent with his attacks. It is very rare for players to reach a high level by playing 'safe' - looking to avoid mistakes and hoping that the opponent will miss. Better players don't make enough mistakes for this to be a winning strategy.
At lower levels though, the story is different. Beginners and lower intermediate players do make a lot of mistakes when attacking, and it is perfectly possible for a 'safe' player to do very well at this level, since the odds are in his favor. Once a 'safe' player reaches the high intermediate level of competition, he will begin to struggle, since his opponents are more consistent in their attacking. Unless the player begins to develop other facets of his game, he is not likely to rise above mid-intermediate level, since the odds are now stacked against him.
The decision for a beginner about whether to play a safe style to begin with, or start out by being aggressive, is not an easy one to make, and can affect the rest of a player's career. I've got some advice for new players to consider before deciding on their style.
I've already talked about serving and returning serve separately, so I'll just mention some important points relating to how these strokes fit together with the rest of the rally.
Once the serve and serve return are completed, the rally begins and the battle for control of the point starts, with both players looking to neutralize their opponents chances of attacking, and make the attacks themselves. Your tactics should change depending on whether you or your opponent is in control, or the battle is even.
Finally, I have included a few general tips on rallying that apply no matter who is controlling the point.
As a beginner, it can be frustrating at times when you are training hard and trying to be aggressive and play a positive game, but you are losing to opponents who are playing a safe, unaggressive style. If you are in this position, don't give up - keep at it and sooner than you think the separate pieces of your game will come together and make a sum that is bigger than its parts - and you will find yourself moving up the playing ranks quicker than you thought possible.