JOOLA USA

Tip Of The Week

Some opponents load up deep pushes with underspin and challenge you to do something about it. They hope you will either push the ball back deep for them to dig into again (or attack), or that you will try to open weakly and either miss the shot or offer up a weak loop that can easily be smashed.

Here is another option. Against a very spinny push, learn to push back without any spin at all. You can do this by opening up your racket and simply letting the ball shoot back at the other side of the table -- propelled by the underspin already on it. If you can deliver this no-spin push short, it is an even better shot.

This play can do several things for you. First, it takes pressure off your game by offering a third option to trying to push it back spinny, or a difficult loop opening. Second, the lack of spin on the ball will complicate your opponent's life because it is not so easy to push this back again with spin, or to loop strongly. Indeed, it you can place this shot short and low over the net, it's difficult to do much of anything offensive with the next ball. Even better, many opponents will try to lift the return and perhaps set you up to drive the next shot with some force.

Tip of the Week

Not withstanding the friendly chatter that fills most clubs, in my experience most players don't speak enough with their frequent opponents about specific weaknesses in their games, and the tactics used to exploit them.  If Mary has played you twenty times in the last year, you know a great deal about each others'; games that should be shared if either of you is to improve.  Overall, club members will get better results against the field if players talk regularly. 

To promote communication, ask your frequent opponents for their opinions about your game, and make a standing offer to listen to any suggestion for improvement.  Besides higher ratings, an enhanced sense of club camaraderie is another likely result.

Tip Of The Week

World class players treat each point with care, starting with their ready position and focus.  They prepare themselves to play this point only, rather than the point before or the match after.  By contrast, many lower-level players let their emotions and focus wander.  But whether it was a bad call by an umpire, a lost opportunity, or a great shot, you need to focus only on the present in preparing for the next shots you will play -- right now.