How important is the push?

Hi all,

Don't underestimate it's importance..
you can't play if you can't push.. experienced (read:older players..lolz) can push you until you dead bored and make mistakes.. It will not do you any good if you can loop like WLQ but don't have a short game.
So, unless you can flick any short balls and loops any long ones.. push is one of the most critical aspect of the game..

I agree with the guys...You can see pro players pushing all the time when they receive an underspin serve.

A consistent, controlled pushing game with varying spin and distance can easily win games up to US 1800 level, especially against non-consistent loopers, even if other parts of your game lack consistency/quality. 

without this shot, u cant possibly unload ur venomous shots

A lot of older Korean ajeossis (married men) I play with have a very simple yet hard to beat game. They play cut-block-hit. No loops. They cut the ball very hard and place it very well. They don't flip they don't loop, they just cut. Hard.

Me? I'm a 3rd-ball attacker so if they cut deep I'm either going to loop it or power drive it over. But they don't counter loop, they block! Short game, if I make a mistake in my push and it goes to high, here comes the flat hit.

Don't underestimate a good push. When I play against better players, I always expect a good flip and will move to crush it with a forehand. However, a good hard cut is actually more effective cause I have to exert a looping drive rather than a power drive.

Swiffers wrote: With a weak push you will be the first to be attacked.  You wanna be first to attack

Very true.  Watch the Wang Hao vs. Timo Boll 2008 Men's Final.  I could be wrong but I think Timo had better reflex, he could play defense better, he won a majority of long rallies, but the problem is he often got whacked first even on his own serves, and thus lost the match.

I believe it is sadder when you lose the point. And when we are talking about players under 1800 US rating, which constitutes the majority of the people here, then an inconsistent and/or weak loop after a nicely placed spinny push has much higher probability to result in a point loss than another push.

Of course, if you are just commenting on the game of top world players, then we can say whatever. But I do not think that was the main objective of the OP's question.

If you can open off backspin easily, then push becomes a surprise attack to get them out of position. Or can push to a spot to get an weak opening loop. Or can push to get a weaker push to loop.

I play this short chubby dude who pushes me to death.  He has beautiful pushing form, and they just come zipping back at impossible angles.  The sad thing is he doesn't have much else to his game, every time he tries to open on my push it goes way long. But, his pushes are that much better than mine that I always lose.  

jkillashark wrote: A lot of older Korean ajeossis (married men) I play with have a very simple yet hard to beat game. They play cut-block-hit. No loops. They cut the ball very hard and place it very well. They don't flip they don't loop, they just cut. Hard.

Just wonder what rubber/blade combo is good for these hard cut shots...

You cant play without a push its indispensibe

FireHorse wrote: Hi all, � I wonder how important is the push (both bh and fh) compared to the rest of the strokes?� FireHorse

Not at all, as long as you don't consider it important to win

jkillashark wrote: Pongology wrote: jkillashark wrote: A lot of older Korean ajeossis (married men) I play with have a very simple yet hard to beat game. They play cut-block-hit. No loops. They cut the ball very hard and place it very well. They don't flip they don't loop, they just cut. Hard. What's the difference between a cut and a push? Same thing. Technically it should be called a push but I prefer to call it a cut.

Actually, it is a little different. Cut could be seen as Chop too. Look at Joo Se Hyuk's Chop, you could see it different from the push.

Without a push you probably will loose to a person who has heavy backspin serves... Imagine returning Ma Lin's heavy backspin with a flip... straight into the net. It's also very good for making your opponent move around like a chicken! Very easy for penholders to do, just change the angle of your bat and you can push just about anywhere! This is very good for older opponents as they have to use up alot more energy.