August 25, 2025 – Eleven Tips For Playing Against a Quicker Opponent
We’ve all had those matches where the opponent was just quicker, and we felt rushed in every rally. So, what can you do in such a match? Here are some tips.
- Observe opponent’s stroke so you can see as early as possible where his shot is going.
- Shorten your strokes.
- Take half a step back. That’s not so far that you’ve given up the table, but it gives you that extra split second needed to react.
- Cover the middle with the backhand.
- Play more backhand if you are at the table, more forehand if you are off the table.
- Put the ball in the middle of the table to cut off extreme angles.
- Keep the ball deep.
- Slow play down with soft, deep topspins (depth is again key).
- Play more backspin.
- Serve and receive long.
- Use opponent’s own speed against him by simply rebounding his shots back with your racket – be a backboard.
