But What If He Says No?
Against a weaker player who wants to play you but doesn't want to help you train, there are still things you can do to get some benefit, without offending your opponent.- Change your tactics - try using an advanced tactic that you have seen better players use (or have had used against you!). You will have more chance to practice it against a weaker player, where a better player would stop you from using it. An example of this would be serving long on purpose to get a weak loop return, then attempting to counterloop the ball. A better player would smoke it past you, but against a weaker player you have a bit more time and margin for error.
- Use some of the techniques mentioned above, just don't make it as obvious or as often. For example, serving mainly long to give your opponent a chance to attack, but mixed in with enough short balls so that he doesn't realize that you are doing it on purpose. A little bit of diplomacy goes a long way.
- Take the edge off your game and focus more on technique and placement. By throttling back on your power, you can use the match as a training exercise for your technique in a match play situation. Try to hit every ball in perfect form rather than just blasting through your opponent.
- Cut out your best serves and serve returns - quite often just doing this alone will be enough to allow a weaker player to give you a good game. Most weaker players will have better rallying strokes than their serve and receive game.
- Use matches against weaker players to concentrate on how to play a winning game. Players that only play stronger opposition sometimes forget how to win - they are always trying not to lose. A few games against a weaker opponent can help you focus on winning points rather than just trying not to be embarrassed by your stronger opponents.
- Relax and enjoy it! Playing some games without the constant pressure applied by a better opponent allows you to try some new things and have some fun without being constantly punished for every little error you make.
Change Your Attitude
It might also help if you change your attitude to playing weaker players. Remember, at any typical club, if you are the strongest player you will have to play all weaker players, and vice versa. If you are in the top 25% of players at your club, then 75% of your possible opponents will be worse than you. You can't expect to only be playing the ones better than you - otherwise why can't they expect the same and not want to play you?Some players also hate to play weaker players because they see them as possible competition in the future. Try to think of these players as future practice partners instead - the quicker you help them improve the more good practice partners you will have!
Conclusion
Unless you are the worst table tennis player in the world, sooner or later you'll have to hit or play games with someone who is worse than you are. Using some of the techniques above can make playing against weaker players an enjoyable experience for both you and your opponent, rather than something that must be endured.Happy hitting!
