Short pips basics

I'm trying to understand the correct short pips technique for each of the basic strokes. As a short pips player, what would be the best way to receive/handle each of the following against an inverted rubber player:

topspin drive
no-spin drive
short loop
deep loop
short push
long push
short heavy backspin
long heavy backspin
side spin

Also, is there an instructional video out there for SP players? Thanks for your tips!

1389 (USATT). Inverted that is. I just started playing short pips yesterday.

ok
that is similar to my setup:
hinoki 1 ply
bh tyranno 1.5 High Tension
fh flarestorm max high tension

you might try thicker rubber on the fh eventually. Unlike
ph sp players shakehand sp players can have one rubber to administer the 'hammer blow' while have one side where most of the blocking and control shots are done.
Ph sp player tend to compromise on their rubber to ensure they maintain control, even though they would like more power for fh

I am in UK, so I am assuming that 1389 means that you are an experienced player who can
top spin
push
block
serve
Kill
both sides competently
(if not please clarify)

The essence of sp is speed, trying to deny the opponent
the time to play big topspin shots in comfort.

The production of the shots is pretty similar to inverted, but the results are different such that you will find that you may discard certain shots from yr inverted style.

The main thing is how to make power?
This means brushing the ball less and using the sponge more.
sponge is speed component
rubber is friction component
s sp player hit flatter, maybe similar to a lawn tennis shot.
however inverted rubber adds additional speed through the loop drive stroke because of the catapult effect of the rubber.

With SP one gets power by Killing FLAT
If you try to loop against block with sp you will find yourself getting little power from your brushing effort.

So instead you must counterdrive and block with early contact point denying yr opponent time until you get in with yr KILL

When you loop in a counterhit rally, do it as a slower ball to gain time for yr kill prep or to recover position
When you loop against chop, you will find your loop is
'smaller' and doesnt send defender very far back. Realize this can be an advantage as he will have less time to deal with yr kill.
Remember that topspin balls are easier to hit and drive against than well directed sp power drives where the emphasis is on speed not spin, so that in developing an sp game you have a weapon which the average inverted player will find difficulty in playing against.
SP LOOP can be effective 3rd ball or 2nd ball (rec)against backspin pushes. Its not as powerful but that gives you prep time for 5th or 4th ball power drive off peak or earlier. If you can vary spin and height thats good too.
Its essential to develop to a high level:
BLOCK
take every opportunity to give practice to strong topspinners by blocking both fh and bh, soft and aggressive
KILL
get people to lob for you and also practice killing loop off bounce if you can. Also practice killing from a pushing situation as well. This is very useful, because many amateurs fall back on trying to play tight when they are being hit off the table in the counterdriving rallies. If your opp is close to the table and does a weak short push, you have an excellent chance to end the point just there. Obviously you need a very good kill technique, so that you can really bury when the chance arises.
From my own experience, I practice with some very strong chinese sp players, and they encouraged me to kill at every opportunity especially anything short of good length over the table, same height as net or higher can be killed with practice. Once I got the idea, I realy began to enjoy the benefits of sp.
PUSHING
practice pushing short AND long. As a blocker you want players to loop. If they loop off your bad short push they will have advantage so you need to be able to send fast long pushes to force loopers to loop at a disadvantage giving You a chance to hit/kill their loop off the bounce.
Your short pushes must be VERY short and yr long pushes VERY long
TACTICS
Study third ball tactics

NEVER GIVE GROUND!!

Enough
hope this is what you were looking for.

I put in a few edits above

wow... great post pingpongpaddy ...you sure makes it all sound easy......now im inspired to play sp full time...

Great advice, there's a nice detailed article about the differences between playing with short pips and inverted here: http://tabletennis.about.com/od/basicconcepts/a/play_short_pips.htm

Yeah, that's what took me the longest, not looping topspin and not overclosing my blade on blocks. Took a few months but it paid off. You could always just do short pips on one side if that worked out better for you.

-- Andrew

thats good but how do you face chops or strong pushes with sps, you cant loop and trying to smash tem goes in the net

ffx-me wrote: thats good but how do you face chops or strong pushes with sps, you cant loop and trying to smash tem goes in the net

looping is easy w/ 802-40....

Here are some links to a 3 part video made by the English player Carl Prean on using short and long pips. 

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=I26R8IVN
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KC6M6ZOG
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=H18YZ2UR

I think timing is the most important adjustment for new short pip players to maximize their short pip effect. Short pips are meant for fast attack, driving strokes. If you hit the ball too early or too late you have to give a looping stroke. This should not be your goal.

Drive as much as possible at the TOP of the bounce.

liXiao wrote: If you can get a Japanese region dvd player, get TOSHIO TASAKI'S ULTRA OFFENSIVE TABLE TENNIS. He is one of the best sp penholders ever. He beat Ma Lin in '02.

saif wrote: How game style vary with SP with different thickness?

The thicker you go, the faster the balls fly. Also, you can do more spin manipulation with thicker rubbers. Spin variation is essential if you'll encounter higher level inverted players.

 

saif wrote: How game style vary with SP with different thickness?

SP rubbers have different grips on the ball.  You have to get used to what you are using.  With one SP I cannot topspin at all but with another I can.  I use no sponge which requires more muscle power but gives me more control.