Information supplied by
Joachim Voight, coach
specialized on training disabled players. Sponsored by
DONIC.Some days ago during a competition match: A defensive player plays against an attacker. The attacker plays the umpteenth strong topspin that the defensive player returns with a lot of back spin. The following top spin goes into the net and the comment is: “You have to topspin even stronger.” The final result is 3:0 for the defensive player and the conclusion of the one that lost the game was: “That one is able to return any ball.” In the next match, the defensive player plays against an opponent that starts with a soft and slow ball and afterwards ends the point with a strong topspin. The loser of the first match now realizes: “When playing against me he even was able to return the strong ones any time.”
The story could also be about three attackers or about any other type of players.
However, the decisive point is: Not the strong or the soft, neither the fast nor the slow balls achieve the winning point, but the
change of speed!
But which player deliberately masters and practices a change in speed? But also those have to be of a
certain quality, of course. In the end, however, it is one of the best (or might even be the best) tactics in table tennis.
In a discussion with a very experienced national coach, I remarked: “ With a change in speed you are often able to get into a good position.”
She dryly commented: “Mostly?
Always!”
Original texts thanks to DONIC - Distributed by www.tenismesa.es
