What Method Improves Your Game Fastest?
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.
I feel I cannot loop with power — what do I do?
To loop a drive-loop with quality, first the center of gravity must go forward, bracing the ball. Feel the weight transfer. The body draws a circle, the arm draws a circle, the wrist fires and recovers. At the instant of receiving the ball, the fingers fire, the abdomen tightens, concentrating the whole body’s power into one point. Press the center of gravity, and keep the arm striking in front of the body, not on the right side, or you cannot fire.
What method improves your game fastest?
Multi-ball training is the fastest method, bar none. But serving multi-ball needs a certain level, especially when serving patterns — rhythm, speed, height and angle all test a coach’s level a lot. For example patterns like push-loop-drive, push-loop-attack, push-loop-rip, push-loop-continuous. The speed between balls, and the rhythm simulation, must be as close to real play as possible.
A penhold opponent pivots and loops to my forehand down the line — sometimes spinny, sometimes side-curved, sometimes a drive. I keep failing to find the point to block the forehand. What do I do?
Keep the bat a bit upright, about 65 degrees to the table. With the forearm at 45 degrees to the body, lead the ball in front of the body. Relax the hand, lead the ball through the body’s rotation; for shakehand, the index finger leads the bat, slowly recovering the forearm. Practice this in normal play. If the opponent’s down-the-line loop comes too fast, first back off to leave more space, then brace with the body (do not sit back), relax the hand — this gives better control of the incoming spin. At the same time, most importantly: the contact point is best around net height. Because then you can borrow the incoming ball’s power, and can actively change the incoming spin. With the right contact point, the landing rate is high. Whatever the spin or pace, mind keeping the arm relaxed.