February 25, 2016

Rarely Used Shots
After losing a backspin counter-lobbing point to a student (you heard that right), it got me to thinking about such rarely used shots. So here is a listing of a few of the lesser-used shots that are central to exactly nobody's game - but are fun to try!

  • Backspin Lobs. They are great fun, and a break from the usual topspin and sidespin lobs, but of course the backspin means the ball stays over the table, giving the opponent an easy angled smash. But it's so fun to watch the shock in a an advanced beginner as he prepares to smash the ball, only to have to make a last second lunge for it that rarely works! Extra bonus - a backspin lob that bounces back to your own side of the table! (See "Mistaken Comeback Backspin Lob" segment below – but normally you do this on purpose with a chop contact.) This is especially effective if you do it short to the forehand, where it's harder for the opponent to reach over the table or run to the side. I do this shot at least every 30 minutes when I'm coaching. 
  • Backspin Counter-Lobs. Now we're taking backspin lobs to the ultimate, just as counterlooping is the ultimate in looping. So your opponent does a backspin lob? Backspin lob right back, and let the backspin counter-lobbing begin! I had a few vicious backspin counter-lobbing points with a student yesterday; I'm sure the Chinese are researching this highly advanced shot. 
  • Running Forehand Push. Okay, this might be a somewhat normal shot for a chopper, but for the rest of us, it's not something you do every day, or every year. I took on a student recently in a pushing battle, and we both quickly realized there were two strategies: either push over and over to the other player's forehand (since neither of us normally forehand push much against deep backspin), or quick push side to side, forcing running forehand pushes. I have to say my running forehand push needs work. 
  • Forehand Pendulum Drive. I learned this shot in the late 1970s from Charles Butler, a 2300 player who was at least 6'4". He was a two-winged looper back when most top players weren't (yes, there was a time...). He was not only tall, but his arms seemed extra long as well, leading to a huge middle. And so what did he do? Every now and then on a shot to his middle he'd return it with the same motion as a forehand pendulum serve, basically a sidespin drive from the middle! I too have learned this shot (key is to learn to close your racket), and about once a day when someone blocks to my middle I'll throw this at them. Alas, I haven't yet mastered the intricacies of a reverse forehand pendulum drive - have you?
  • Backhand Strawberry Flip. At the higher levels most top players use backhand banana flips to attack short serves, creating topspin and sidespin with the shot. For a righty, the racket contacts the ball on the left side, so the ball spins clockwise when seen from above, and curves to the right. But what about the lesser-used strawberry flip, pioneered by Stefan Feth, where you contact the ball on the right side and spin it the other way? Not with just a blocking motion - that'd be a sidespin block, with this type often called a squeegie block - but an actual drive so that the ball spins to the left? I've fooled around with the shot and perhaps I'll unleash it on the world at the upcoming Worlds - oops, forgot to try out. 
  • Emergency Seemiller Backhand. Ever get caught by surprise by a shot to your middle where you were already preparing for a forehand? And reacted by simply blocking with your forehand side from the middle, windshield-wiper fashion, i.e. a Seemiller backhand? Heck, I've seen seemingly normal shakehand players use this contrived shot to smash against short, high balls when caught off guard. (Confession: I've done it.)
  • Hand Serve. The rules consider the hand below the wrist to be part of the racket. So it is legal to serve by hitting the ball with your hand, as long as you are holding the racket with that hand! The easiest way to do this is with a backhand serve, where you hit the ball with the back of your hand. Yes, it hurts, but imagine the look of shock on your opponent's face when he catches the ball, thinking you've mishit it, and you claim the point? I've done this twice in tournaments (in 40 years), and both times the opponent caught the ball. Being the nice person I am, I gave them lets both times even though it was legally my point. (Both were weaker players; I decided not to test it against my peers and face their wrath.)

Ask the Expert: 10 Questions about Table Tennis Rules
Here's the new article from Samson Dubina.

Ask the Coach Show
Episode #229 (23:34) - 3rd Ball Against Fast Push (and other segments).

Jun Mizutani: Japan Hopes Are High
Here's the article on Japan's Men's Team at the Worlds, with Jun Mizutani, Koki Niwa, Yuya Oshima, Maharu Yoshimura, and Kenta Matsudaira, with world rankings respectively of 7, 14, 20, 24, and 28.

Science in Olympic Games/Table Tennis: The Science of Spin
Here's the video (39:16).

China Warm Up Matches for 2016 World Championships
Here's another nice match! Zhang Jike vs Fan Zhendong (4:54)

Xu Xin the Showman
Here's the highlights video (8min).

Mistaken Comeback Backspin Lob
Here's the video (64 sec, including slo-mo replay)!

Kanak Gets a KANAKKANAK Haircut
Here's the video (39 sec) as he gets the haircut in Malaysia seemingly double-named after him – for 8 Ringgits, which is $1.89. $1.89 for a haircut???! I'm flying to Malaysia for my haircuts from now on. (Video by U.S. Men's Coach Stefan Feth, who is heard talking in the background.) 

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