Style, Strategy, and Tactics

The second factor in identifying a player's style is their preferred playing distance.

The scale descriptions are

1. Close distance

2. Mid distance

3. Far distance

Often times these are described as distances from the table edge to a players feet or body.  Sometimes it is described as steps back from the table. I think a more meaningful way to describe it is in terms of where on the average balls trajectory you are making contact .  On this basis the scale would be

1. Close distance - Hitting ball on the rise

2. Mid distance - Hitting ball near top of bounce

3. Far distance - Hitting ball as it falls

In this descriptive system there is not a fixed numerical distance that determines style.  The trajectory of your opponents shots determine the distance where close becomes mid and where mid becomes far.  Of course not every one of your opponents shots has the same trajectory so you need to consider an average one.  Additionally serve, return, and third ball are often played close to the table even by lobbers and choppers who later move quite far back.  So in determining your preferred distance consider where you are for 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th balls.  Disregard points where you are forced off the table because you popped up a push or block and know a smash is coming.  Also disregard points where you are held very close to the table by an LP or anti player who drop blocks often.  

If you are lobbing or fishing you just about have to be at far distance since the top of bounce of returns of those type balls are almost always above shoulder high.  If you are hitting lots of balls below your waist you are playing at far distance.  This is the case for most choppers.  If you often serve long and retreat for the 3rd ball you most likely are a mid or far distance player depending on how far you end up going back.

Selecting a playing distance is really selecting between 2 good news-bad news scenarios.  Playing close means having to move much smaller distances to cover angled shots, but it means you have less time to react to every shot.  Playing far means you have much longer to react to shots, but you have to move much greater distances to get to angled shots or to move in and out as different speed shots are played at you.

What requirements does each playing distance have?

1. Stamina or endurance - As you play farther  back the points tend to last longer and you have to cover more distance so fatigue becomes a factor.  If you tire easily far distance is probably not for you.

2. Quickness - The closer you are to the table the less time you have to react so quickness of feet and hands is more important.  Especially so if your opponent also plays close.  This can come from very good reaction time or from very good anticipation.  So if you play close and lots of balls just go by without you being able to touch them consider moving back.  Especially if they go by you because you turned to the opposite wing to where the ball was hit.

3. Power generation - When playing at mid distance you are still vulnerable to having balls hit past you (especially if opponent is playing close). Therefore you need the strength and kinetic chain coordination to hit balls hard enough and with enough spin to win points or at least limit your opponents attacks.  If you are not a natural power hitter then maybe you should consider being closer where angles and time pressure can win points or moving farther back where you are less vulnerable against the strong returns that come against your naturally slower shots.

4. Physical stature - This is an extension of items 1 and 2 above.  Shorter individuals seem to be able to play quicker than tall players.  In addtion tall players have longer arcs in their backswings and their "elbow" areas are larger.  These combine to generally make it easier for shorter players to play close to the table.  Conversely, tall players with longer stride lengths cover the larger distances needed at mid and far range easier than shorter players.  So physical build does have affects on the ease of playing at a given distance.

5.  Style limitations - Playing in a way that invites strong attacks such as lobbing or fishing requires enough distance that you have time to react to those shots.  Even for loopers you see the male players moving back later in rallies when the opponents chance to attack becomes equal to their own.  Conversely, if you have an attacking mindset and want to end points quickly it is very difficult to do that from far distance or even from the longer side of mid distance.

So when deciding where to play consider your stamina, quickness, physical stature, ability to generate power, and if a specialized technique you wish to use such as chopping will work at that distance.  Once you know where you are going to play most of the time, train your shots at that distance.

Mark

Style is a name that characterizes the manner in which a player plays the game.  The 3 primary elements of style are

1. Offensive to defensive scale

2. Playing distance scale

3. Preferred spin scale

To choose a style,  first evaluate the way you currently play.  For each scale select the description that describes the majority of your shots. Give extra weight to the kinds of shots you play when you have a choice.  For example consider playing a LP blocker who specializes in blocking short.  Most of the time you have no choice of playing distance since you have to stay close to the table.  So this type match may not be useful in evaluating your preferred distance.  If however, you play an off the bounce punch blocker you have a choice of distances to play each of which has advantages and disadvantages.  So that type match is useful in your evaluation of preferred distance.  Another example would be matches with players with much higher playing levels.  If they choose to do so, they can often force you into very defensive play if their speed and spin is so much greater than you normally experience.  They can also trap you into playing much more offensively (overhitting) by fishing or retrieving since even your "attacking" shots are not fast enough give them problems.  On the other hand if you do something contrarian, like play just as aggressively against much higher quality balls from a better player or fail to attack weaker balls from lower level players it may be a good indicator of your natural style.  You also need to consider if your style is set more by your lack of training of one or more shots.  Choosing to push because you never learned to loop underspin is different from choosing to push since it is more comfortable than trying to loop it.  So the evaluation process is somewhat of an art rather than a science and does require some judgement.  It is best done primarily in the context of matches with players near your level and matches against more standard topspin style opponents where you have more options for how you play.

Once you identify your current  style you have 3 options:

1. Stay with the syle you are playing and train up on any requirements of that style you are currently missing.  See requirements listed in the discussion of each scale.

2. Decide that you lack some of the requirements for the style you are currently playing and adjust your style to one where you meet the requirements or where you think you can very quickly train up to the requirements

3. Pick a style you want to play and committ to training up to reach the requirements.

Mark