How to Make Good Use of the "Diagonal Principle" in Play
This is a brand-new, technique-focused column in a question-and-answer format. The mystery figures answering are two former national team members, both now veteran coaches. So the “Reaching the Summit” column was born.
When looping, how do I feel the “ball-grip”?
When the ball is bitten by the rubber and stays a relatively long time, that is ball-grip. How to grip the ball? The key is to use “acceleration” in the swing. Feel more the forearm’s accelerating recovery. Acceleration means the swing goes from slow to fast, a variable-speed process, not constant speed — through the forearm muscles linked with finger and wrist force.
For a lefty serve like Lin Yun-Ju’s, spin/no-spin, to Ma Long’s forehand — the ball looks a bit floaty. How to handle it best?
Personally, I think you should not always chop to the middle. You can also flick a few. If you only short-touch and chop long, the opponent prepares only for your “underspin incoming.” A flick may not score, but it disrupts the opponent’s preparation and rhythm. When short-touch and long chop do not work, you can also mix in topspin (like flicks) and no-spin — the topspin pushes forward, the no-spin does not travel; combine them. Then Lin Yun-Ju has much more to prepare for, and the single-ball quality will not be so high. Your variation rises, the opponent’s quality drops.
The master mentioned last time using the “diagonal principle” well in play — what does that mean?
For example, you kill the opponent’s backhand, then move him to the forehand. When the opponent comes from the backhand to the forehand, he surely reaches with body angled and arm extended. Then the return quality is low. Likewise, kill-forehand-move-backhand, move-forehand-rip-backhand, move-backhand-rip-forehand — all aim to displace the opponent’s center of gravity so the return lacks quality. For example, if your serves have no effect on the opponent, you can use the diagonal principle and play patterns. First observe the opponent’s stance. If he stands on the backhand, slightly far from the table, serve a forehand short, soft underspin — he cannot borrow pace, cannot flick, only short-touch. After his short touch, you can wobble or chop one to his wide backhand. So he must move three times to get in place. You create chances. After a few such short serves, he will surely stand more toward the middle. Then his focus is mainly on forehand-side short balls, and you can serve a fast long ball to his backhand, curving out. So he must move three steps again. And because your fast long ball curves out, he will most likely return to your backhand; then you can quick-push down the line on the rising phase, or directly pivot and rip on the high point.