Tactics and Points to Note for Defeating Long Pips Players👍

In this series, I would like to explain basic table tennis techniques, how to perform them, and how to deal with them for beginners. Since frequently used terms will appear, knowing them will help both actual players and those watching on TV understand the fun of table tennis even more. I hope you find this helpful.

(Unless otherwise noted, this assumes a right-handed shakehand player.)

Now, this time we have a long-awaited strategy guide by playing style. I will share techniques for defeating long pips players.

While there are many cases where a chopper has long pips rubber on their backhand, this discussion assumes a long pips player who fights at the front court. Since this is a very minority playing style, I think beginner and intermediate players will have few opportunities to face them.

To ensure you don't end up losing because you couldn't fight well during that rare opportunity, let's study up thoroughly here.

(1) Basic properties of long pips

First, let's cover the basics. Long pips rubber literally has long pips on the surface. Thanks to these pips, it has the characteristic of returning the ball with the spin reversed.

If a topspin drive is returned with long pips, it comes back with backspin. Conversely, if you push with backspin, it comes back with a topspin ball.

(2) Countermeasures against long pips

❶ Focus on placement, not spin, for serves

Basically, long pips rubber is not very affected by the spin of the ball. In other words, no matter how much you try to come up with complex serves, that spin will be completely canceled out.

Furthermore, if you serve with sidespin against long pips, there is a high possibility that the ball will return wobbling or with unpredictable spin remaining.

Therefore, when you have the serve, it is better to avoid complex spin and use as simple a serve as possible, such as a knuckle serve or a long topspin serve.

However, since that alone won't give you much of an advantage, be sure to focus on placement. Aim for the diagonals, such as a short serve to the forehand and a fast long serve to the backhand. Alternatively, the opposite, a short serve to the backhand and a deep serve to the forehand, is also effective.

❷ It is better not to drive against backspin

For example, suppose you serve a long topspin serve. If it is returned with long pips, it will naturally come back with backspin. You then drive it. It is handled with long pips and comes back with backspin again. You then drive that. This is a common scenario, but actually, this is the one thing you should never do.

This is, so to speak, like fighting a front-court chopper. It is already difficult to lift a heavily spun backspin ball, but since it is coming back from the front court, you have absolutely no time to spare. Don't you think that is extremely exhausting?

Moreover, the more you hit a high-quality drive with speed and spin, the more a high-quality ball with heavy backspin will return when handled.

❸ The ironclad tactic

If I were the one playing, I would never drive when backspin is returned. So what do I do? I push. And I make sure to push deep into the backhand.

If you do that, the ball that comes back should definitely be topspin. Wait for it with both hands and smash it into the opponent's forehand side at an early contact point. This is the development where you can proceed with the advantage without taking the most risk.

Of course, even if you cannot finish the rally here, by attacking the forehand side, you can force the opponent away from the table, so you will be able to attack continuously.

As a precaution, be aware that the opponent may be aiming for a push-style speed ball the moment you perform a chop. However, if you keep that in mind and wait with a little distance from the table, you should be able to handle it sufficiently.

❹ Be careful of balls that float during an attack

For example, when your attack is returned, it may sometimes come back floating slightly in an arc.

However, do not let your guard down thinking it is a chance ball even at such times. Even if it is floating, it is often heavily backspun. Furthermore, be careful when it is a deep ball. You should not force yourself to smash it, but rather put it in safely with a connecting ball.

However, for balls that float shallowly, even if the spin is strong, it is a chance ball. You want to step firmly into the table and finish it with a smash.

❺ Avoid loop drives as much as possible

Performing a loop drive with a high arc against long pips is high risk, even if you aim for the backhand side. This is because the opponent is waiting for it. If the opponent is a penholder with long pips, you will be countered with the reverse side, and if it is a shakehand with long pips, you will become prey to a forehand counter by them moving around.

If you think about trying to finish an attack with a drive against the backspin of long pips, you will inevitably end up in a situation where you have to hit a loop drive.

I dislike that, so I try to develop the game from the beginning in a way that avoids driving as much as possible.

❻ Basically aim for the forehand regardless of penholder or shakehand

The battle situation changes significantly depending on whether the opponent is a penholder with long pips or a shakehand with long pips. If it is a penholder, you must basically assume that the ball will be returned with long pips from all over. In the case of a shakehand, the forehand side is often inverted rubber, so it is reasonable to think that a fast ball will come from the forehand and a slow, changing ball will come from the backhand.

However, what can be said in common is that you should aim for the forehand side in both cases.

If it is a penholder, it is difficult to produce changes with long pips on the forehand side, and since the contact point is lower than the backhand, the returned ball tends to be somewhat soft.

In the case of a shakehand, even if an attack comes from the forehand, since they have chosen the style of long pips, it is unlikely that they are a player with high physical ability who is good at attacking continuously many times.

(3) Never forget the desire to attack.

Finally, as a mindset, I want you to keep in mind that you should "never forget the desire to attack."

If you play the match leisurely, thinking things like "fast balls won't come much anyway," you will definitely suffer. Even if you try to attack suddenly after falling into a disadvantageous position, it often does not go well, and you often fall into the opponent's trap.

Defensive players like long pips users and choppers become stronger the longer the match lasts. Even if the opponent is a long pips user, let's fight with the same attitude as when facing an attacker, with confidence and aggressiveness. And pushing through to a 3-0 win is the best.

♣Summary

How was it!?

This time, I considered countermeasures against long pips as a way to deal with different playing styles.

I hope this will be helpful for beginners, intermediate players, and those who feel they struggle against long pips.

Next time, I would like to introduce tactics and precautions for defeating shakehand back-short pips players.