Table Tennis Tactics

The aim of the game is to send and return the ball over the net onto the table one more time than the opponent. It is not possible to cover complicated tactics in any detail, and teachers are referred to more comprehensive texts. The first part of this section is concerned with the singles game.

Within this text the following abbreviations/terminology are used:

F - Forehand

B - Backhand

FD - Forehand Drive

BD - Backhand Drive

FP - Forehand Push

BP - Backhand Push

TUS - Technical Unit For Sport (Sports Council)

NVQ - National Vocational Qualification

VQ - Vocational Qualification

ITTF - International Table Tennis Federation

ETTA - English Table Tennis Association

Trajectory - Flight path (e.g. of the ball)

Generally there are 3 stages of Tactical Development:

1. To get the ball on the table.

2. The accuracy to get the ball to certain areas of the table.

3. The ability to apply pressure to areas of the table and the opponent with different types of spin, amounts of spin and different speeds to create openings to hit winners.

NOTE

A favourite tactic would be to apply pressure to the cross-over point which is the area in which there is no obvious choice of a forehand or backhand stroke. For a right handed player this cross-over point is roughly in line with the right hip.

TACTICS TO USE TO PLAY EFFECTIVE TABLE TENNIS

Recovery

Recovery is the process which joins the various strokes together. The point to which the player has struck the ball determines the opponent's options for the return. The two extreme options indicate the player's recovery position. (See Figure 3.2.)

Essentially, the player should recover to a position which is approximately square to a line which divides the angle between the two extreme options (see Figure 3.2 position R). In the case of a right handed player, the right foot should be on or around this dividing line.

Recovery to the position described is fundamental to the player's ability to subsequently cover, with relative ease, the options available to the opponent. It is vital that the player is taught to start and finish all strokes with the bat in the recovery position.

It is vital that players are taught to regard recovery positions at both the start and finish point of all strokes and movement patterns and that these positions are decided by the position of the target selected by the player.

Anticipation

In any situation which involves an irregular pattern, the time available to prepare to play an opponent's return is not long. This is particularly true if the player simply reacts to the movement of the ball after it has been struck by the opponent.

Anticipation of the direction of ball travel and the type of stroke to be played by the opponent will maximise the time available for preparation. In addition to always watching the ball, the player should try to anticipate the opponent's intentions by specifically watching the bat and bat arm.

There are other considerations such as knowledge of the opponent's game, particularly in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

Irregular movement patterns designed to develop anticipation should be introduced into table exercises as soon as stroke play and regular movement combinations are reasonably proficient. The following are examples of how staff might further explain and exemplify the tactics of the game.

Recovery

Example 1

TACTIC - Play on opponent's weakness.

WHAT? - What is his/her major weakness and how may this be exploited?

HOW? - By placing the ball around the table to find the weak spot.

TASK - Work in twos, using various strokes, find opponent's weakness.

- How many points can be won by exploiting these weaknesses?

- How many points do you lose when your weaknesses are exploited?

Remember

The weaknesses may not always be where you expect them. For example, if you decide that it is the backhand which is weak, it may not be the stroke itself but rather poor tactics or weakness caused by a certain style of play.

Recovery

Example 2

TACTIC - Move opponent (wrong-foot opponent).

WHAT? - Where can the ball be placed to move opponent? Change direction, for example, to forehand backhand or mid table. Length of shot, close to net or towards end line of table.

HOW? - By using a variety of ball placements around the table.

TASK - Working in twos, using push or topspin strokes, try a variety of footwork practices both regular or irregular. (See Figure 3.3.)

Example 3

TACTIC - Consistency of strokes.

WHAT? - Play ball one more time than opponent.

HOW? - By becoming consistent on all strokes.

TASK - In pairs, try to keep the ball going across the net to each corner. Aim for highest number of strokes in a rally. (See Figure 3.4.)

Example 4

TACTIC - Use of variety of strokes to beat opponent.

WHAT? - For example, attacking from a pushed ball.

HOW? - By combining strokes.

TASK - In pairs, one acts as feeder and one combines strokes. (See Figure 3.5.)

Example 5

TACTIC - Variation of spin.

WHAT? - By using various spin to make the receiver's task more difficult because it changes the flight path (trajectory) and alters the bounce.
HOW? - By imparting topspin, backspin or sidespin on ball.

TASK - Combine drive and topspin strokes or push and backspin (chop). (See Figure 3.6.)

Example 6

TACTICS - Play on own strengths and specific style of play.

WHAT? - It is vital to play on own strengths whether defensive (away from the table), counter hitter/blocker or top spinner. Experiment to find the style which is most effective for you.

HOW? - Look at strengths and weaknesses of styles.

TASK - See Table