In a Match, How to Relax?
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.
Any method to effectively relax in a match? In my videos, when not firing, my strokes are stiff, affecting recovery and quick-exchange. Also, the second ball after lifting underspin often goes off the table — is that from backing off too much?
Match tension has many sources — the venue, environment, space size, table elasticity, an unfamiliar opponent, the opponent’s tactics, serve, style and rhythm not suiting you. What we can do: one, warm up the body before the match — loosen and stretch the waist-abdomen, legs, arms, wrist, fingers, letting the body slowly warm and muscles relax, not stiff. Two, find a sparring partner; do not fire at first — practise forehand and backhand drives, experiencing the table’s bounce, the spatial feel, and the feel transmitted after striking. Three, fixed-point loops, experiencing the ball’s topspin, the arc’s height and length, to adjust the forearm and body for the arc. Four, push-loop practice — short control, long chop, linking the drive-loop, so the body and arm are online at once, no break. Five, defense practice — defending drive-loops and high hangs, to quickly adapt to the venue space’s effect on the incoming ball’s power, speed, spin. That is, first open the body fully before the match, warm up each technique, and feel the various sensations. These you can do yourself; then study the opponent’s traits. In a match, do not rush, do not always want one-shot kills. If the body is still stiff, that is a mindset problem.
On slow recovery — too many factors; the biggest likely: no small step to recover the center of gravity for smoothly linking the next ball, hurting quick-exchange and continuity. For lifting underspin then linking topspin going off the table — definitely not from backing off too much; likely, after looping underspin, the body’s center and footwork did not recover, and after the opponent defends back, you are pinned. One point may be: assuming you can rip the opponent dead in one, so the next-ball linking is under-prepared.
Can you explain the essentials of smashing a high ball?
Smashing a high ball, use the body’s center coordinated with the forearm. First the body leads; the arm must not tighten early. When 20-30 centimeters from the ball, the body’s center and forearm accelerate and fire down together, the forearm with a “slap” feel. While smashing, the body’s center presses down fast, pressing until the ball leaves the blade, then recovers the center. Smashing a high ball needs grasping space and distance. Because a high ball is an active-power process, if you smash on the rising phase, the arm easily stiffens, easily missing from haste. Generally wait until the ball drops from the highest point, to a high point suiting your height, to smash.
How to become an expert?
Know that only relaxation produces power, else the power stays in the body. The hand loose but not slack, not wobbling. The belly tight but not stiff; only at the instant of receiving does power concentrate — feet, knees, hips, belly, arm, wrist, fingers go out along the body’s inertia, and it surely explodes. To become the so-called expert: one, the toes and ball of the foot powerful, the heel light, so the body can move fast. Two, the thighs and calves tight but not stiff, to keep knee elasticity. Three, the waist-abdomen relaxed in measure — loose when moving and preparing, tight when receiving — to ensure power transfer and stability. Four, the arm loose but not wobbling, to keep acceleration and power on the receive, plus a stable elbow, power transfer and good feel.