hookumsnivy wrote:
I assume you were referring to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCUTgMWiykA
It gives me more trouble off a serve than off a loop. If I'm close to the table I usually don't try to counter loop (yet). I'll either block or just drive it which I've gotten pretty good at.So I'm really talking about shots where I actually have some time and it's not something I need to rush to do.
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In my experience, the reason you have time is because the ball is a slow spinny topspin and it's not about where you are standing at the table. Y ou are going to be facing opponents like myself who specialize in slow spinny topspin on the 3rd ball or serve return and blocking will be the kiss of death unless you can consistently block deep as we will be all over the next ball.
IMO, this is probably the hardest shot in table tennis and against an opponent at a similar level, it is common to see people proud of 50%-80% consistency.
I had a few practice sessions when rebuilding my forehand dedicated to this stroke and I can't say that I have mastered it, but on the other hand, I haven't tried the things that will make my life easier yet (like using sidespin) because I haven't had enough reps.
The 2 most important things, IMO, are to have proper looping technique (a swing trajectory that is not shallow - finishes forward and above the eyes if completed) and to practice enough to have a feel for the ball whether you decide to attack it or just place it. The earlier you take the ball, the more spin you can borrow from the ball. The later you take the ball, especially if it is dropping, the more you have to avoid the spin axis to be fairly consistent (in other words, use some sidespin). In fact, I can usually tell during the warmup just by looking at a person's looping motion whether I can pound their forehand to death with slow spinny topspin because it is hard to counterloop slow spinny topspin with a shallow finish.
For practice, you simply need to do either of the following with a slow spinny looping partner:
1. Serve backspin long, partner slow loops, you counter (this is better if your partner has a terrible push or backspin serve)
or
2. Partner serves backspin short and heavy, you push long and heavy, partner opens with slow topspin to forehand, you counterloop.
An inferior but possible option is to have someone generate topspin out of their hand for you to counterloop. Has to be someone with good timing and wrist speed though as there is no spin buildup from the rally.
Again, it's a difficult shot in table tennis, so don't get upset if you spend the first 2 days of practice or even more just looping the ball into the sky - it gets better if you try to use a proper loop stroke ( a proper loop stroke will allow you to close your paddle more and still finish properly, while a shallow one will likely hook the ball long if it makes proper contact at all) and if you learn to feel the ball. The higher the level of the practice partner, the better because if you miss a heavy opener, you might still be able to counter lighter openers with good racket head speed.
If you can't practice with a good partner, just practicing a good very closed/topspin sidespin loop as your counterlooping shot. Then try it out in matches and see how it works.
I need help with this as well, but this is what has worked so far for me.
------------- https://youtu.be/jhO4K_yFhh8?t=115" rel="nofollow - I like putting heavy topspin on the ball... Cybershape Carbon FH/BH: H3P 41D. Lumberjack TT, not for lovers of beautiful strokes. No time to train...
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