The thumb is a key part of the backhand. It gives the shot the backing and stability to drive the racket into the ball. However, the perfect placement of the thumb on the backhand often handicaps the forehand. I’ve written about this before, but it’s one of those things that might need reminders. It’s also one of those things where the paradigm has changed – coaches when I started out used to say that players didn’t have time to change their grip between forehand and backhand. But if you have time to move side to side to cover the wide forehand and backhand, you have time to make a small, subtle change in your grip.

The key thing is that you should generally have a slightly different grip on the backhand then on the forehand, which allows your thumb to more naturally drive the racket into the ball. How do you do this? It’s rather simple.

First, find the perfect grip for your forehand. Experiment, and see how top players do it. (Ask them or a coach.) In general, if you hold the racket out in front of you, you might want to rotate the top of the racket a little to the left (for right-handers), which slightly closes it on the forehand side.

For the backhand, put more pressure on the racket with the thumb, which moves the top of the racket slightly to the right, which slightly closes it on the backhand side. This gives a perfect backhand grip, with the thumb in perfect position to drive the racket through the ball. The actual grip change is small, but the result can be major in improving your backhand. (Or your forehand if you were playing it with a backhand grip.)

Here’s the even bigger key – you must practice this. That means first away from the table (shadow-practice), and then at the table. It has to become reflexive, so that you switch to the proper grip as you move to the ball and start your backswing. When that happens, you’ll find yourself smacking shots from both sides with far greater ease than before - and with the thumb behind the backhand, it'll have more thump.

Don’t be that guy who spends years smacking shots but also missing over and over, putting balls all over the table, or off or into the net, and never putting it together consistently. If you are swinging wildly in practice, even if you are making most shots, you are just practicing being erratic. To hone your shots, you need to be able to do the same shot over and Over and OVER, and against all sorts of incoming balls. If you are even a bit erratic in practice, in the uncertainty and pressure of a match that means missing a LOT. (In practice, you often get the same balls over and over. Not so in a match.) That means practicing at a speed where you are consistent, and then building it up. Eventually, with practice and good form, you’ll be able to essentially relax into any shot, even power shots, and make them with ease.

Watch the top players and notice how little they strain on each shot. That’s good form. Try to do the same thing. Just remember, if you are doing a drill and are hitting shots all over the place, you are practicing being a poor player. If you are inconsistent with your shots, then you are practicing inconsistency in your shots. Be that guy who IS consistent, even if it means at a slower pace, and watch your game improve. Added bonus – if you are a consistent player, stronger players will want to practice with you. Who wants to practice with someone who smacks balls all over the place?

1. Establish your game. For example, if you have a strong third-ball attack, such as short backspin serves followed by a loop, then do that early on. That way you’ll get used to your opponent’s returns. For example, against that backspin serve, does he predictably push long and let you loop? Or does he flip it or push short? If necessary, change your serving pattern to get better balls to attack, perhaps by serving lower, with more spin, more variation, different placement, and/or different depth. Do the same with the rest of your game. For example, if you do a lot of backhand counter-hitting, then establish that early so you’re comfortable against this opponent.
2. Adjust to opponent's game. There are two players at the table, and so you also have to adjust to the opponent. If you want your opponent to push your serve back long so you can attack, but he stubbornly attacks your serve or pushes it short, then you have to make adjustments. For example, you might fake backspin and serve no-spin, and watch him pop the ball up slightly. Be willing to change your serving game. The same is true of the rest of your opponent’s game – everyone has something you have to adjust to. The more you play, the more you learn about how to make those adjustments. 
3. Find a way to win. That means finding the best tactical matchup of your game versus the opponent's. This means taking best of 1 and 2 above and finding a few simple tactics that win, and then thump your opponent with them.

1. Tie your shoes tight so there’s less give when you move.
2. Grippy shoes on non-grippy floors.
3. Great ready stances give great starts. This means you and your racket’s tip are facing where the opponent will contact the ball, knees slightly bent, leaning forward slightly from the waist, weight mostly on the front inside part of the foot, feet pointed slightly outward, ready to move in either direction.
4. Have as wide a stance as you are comfortable with. Top players, who train constantly and are in peak condition, have very wide stances. The better shape your legs are in, the wider you can and should make your stance, which gives more stability, a lower center of gravity, a quicker start, and more power.
5. Fitness means faster feet. Lose those extra pounds!
6. Balance. If you are even slightly off balance, it dramatically slows your start.
7. If you focus on positioning so that you’re are always in position, you don’t need to move as much, and so you can get to each ball.
8. Mentally alert, ready to reflexively react to your opponent’s shot.
9. Mind clear so you don’t try to consciously guide your movement. Let your trained subconscious take over for both footwork and strokes.
10. If you have the will to move, you’ll move at will.

Let’s face it; they’re probably faster than you. They might have a coach working with them regularly and in their corner in a match. They often have near perfect strokes, thanks to that coach. They strive in super-fast rallies, the type where your game starts to crumble.

So . . . what to do?

The real problem most players have with playing kids is that they don’t play them regularly and aren’t used to playing them. It’s like any other style that you don’t play regularly. If you don’t play long pips somewhat regularly, you will likely struggle against them in a match. If you don’t player strong loopers somewhat regularly, you will likely struggle against them in a match. If you don’t play kids somewhat regularly, you will struggle against them.

If you play them regularly, then you will soon learn and become comfortable playing them. You have many advantages, number one being experience. But guess what? If you don’t play kids regularly, then you aren’t experienced against them, and you lose that advantage. Ironically, they may have more experience playing adults then you have playing against kids!

So, what are your advantages over kids? They do not all play the same and there’s no one thing that will work for certain, but in general:

1. They have shorter reach, and so cannot cover the corners as well.
2. They have trouble against shorter balls, especially short to the forehand.
3. They do not react to changes in spin very well.
4. They have trouble attacking heavy backspin.
5. They are not good in slower rallies, such as against backspin or soft, deep topspins.
6. They do not have as much power to end the point against high balls, especially lobs.
7. They do not vary their serves very well.
8. They have trouble if you vary your serve a lot.  
9. They are not experienced in adjusting their tactics to you.
10. They play predictably.
11. They are more emotional and often play poorly under pressure, or when they can’t play their normal bang-bang games.

That’s eleven things to get you started, enough to win the first game, 11-0! But the key is to be aware of these potential weaknesses, and then play kids until you get used to them. Then you will lose your fear of those little tykes!