September 27, 2007
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Courtesy of USATT |
When you execute a topspin stroke against another topspin stroke, you are actually stopping your opponents spin and imparting your own. This requires only a moderate amount of racket acceleration to accomplish. However, when you execute a topspin stroke against your opponent’s underspin, you have to add to the existing spin on the ball which requires much more racket acceleration to accomplish. As you continue to loop and you opponent continues to chop, the spin also continues to build. This forces you to accelerate your racket faster on each successive stroke. This takes great strength from the legs, arm-snap, and perfect timing. In another word: POWER.
Unfortunately, good choppers are hard to find and many players spend almost all their practice time in topspin to topspin practice. When this happens, the body never really learns how to generate maximum racket acceleration. The other downside of not practicing against a strong underspin ball, is that when faced with this return during a match, you will not be able to play your normal topspin game. You will be forced out of your style of play and right into the long pip player’s tactics.
If you can’t find a chopper to practice with, the next best this is working with a long pips blocker who uses frictionless long pips. The type of rubber will produce a very heavy underspin return against topspin. At first when you are looping against this type of rubber, you will find the returns very intimidating. The thing to remember is that any underspin return, no matter how heavy the spin or how low the return, can be forcibly attacked. It is all a matter of technique and acceleration.
When practicing against long pips, you will get the most benefit out of the practice if you focus on developing consistent power against their returns. While this may not be the best way to try and defeat these players in a match, it is the best way to get the most out of your practice sessions.
Here are some suggested practice drills that will allow you to learn to both generate more power and become very good against long pip blockers.
Forehand build-up drill: Serve a long fast topspin ball to your partner’s long pips. Have him block all returns to your backhand side. Pivot and use your forehand from your backhand side and try to make four loops in a row. The first loop should be safe with spin. Now try to add more speed to each successive loop. The forth loop should have maximum power and be directed anywhere on the table and the point played out. It may take quite a bit of practice before you can make all four loops. However with practice your acceleration and timing will improve and you will be surprised at how much power you can generate. You can also do this drill using only backhand topspins.
Alternating one backhand plus one forehand loop: Have your long pip partner give steady blocks to your backhand and alternate backhand and forehand loop returns. As in the first drill, try to build up power on each shot.
One topspin plus one push drill: While this drill is not really to develop power it will help you greatly in learning to play against the long pips. Simply topspin one ball and push the next. Have your long pips partner block your topspin and attack your push. Try to be steady and control the ball for a number of repetitions.
Regular practice against the heavy underspin returns of the long pips player has several benefits for you. You will definitely become a strong attacker against all styles of play and you will get very comfortable against heavy underspin returns. When this happens, you will also lose all fear of playing against long pips. Make a long pip player your regular practice partner and make yourself a better player.
