Playing Style and Playing Matches
Playing Table Tennis is a great experience. Each match, every time you play is different. Even if you play the same opponent a number of times each occasion it will be different. Here we cover the experience of playing, what to expect and how it will evolve. This page is longer than most on our site. Now you have orientated on our other pages and know more about why to play TT and what to expect here we really give you detail and introduce some of the complexities that will come your way. There is so much going on in a game of Table Tennis!
At first just focus on the basics, getting foundations in place and gaining experiences of playing. Learn to walk! Enjoy this phase, embrace your newness and this exciting time! Just love it , do not worry so much about winning or losing! As you play more develop your plan and direction, develop your own style and how you counter other styles. Be true to yourself and the style you want.
Players can focus on becoming attacking players, defensive players or a player can do both to various extents. Some players naturally want to play big winning attacking shots and strive for that, others do not like to hand free points by making errors so veer towards a defensive style. Some players get their buzz from the result of the match, others just love the feeling of playing, others love the physical exercise, some love playing certain shots well and remember those moments and others love the tactical approach and thinking about the game.
Within his or her adopted style a player can become forehand dominated, or backhand orientated and therefore use their stance and use footwork and ball placement to use this strength. For the details on the shots see the shots section of this website.
As you play more you should get as many of the following shot types in your toolkit for both forehand and backhand: block / push / chop / hit / lob / drive & topspin. You might find some of these come naturally or you enjoy certain ones more. These can form part of your style and choice of style, A defensive player will want to focus on block, push, chop and lob but it is still good to be able to play them all. Many defensive players play the defensive shots most of the time but should the right moment arrive the ability to play an attacking shot can win the point, and also having those shots will stop the opponent taking the defensive player for granted. Similarly an attacking player himself/herself will be attacked and need to defend. If 2 attacking players are equal in their attacking abilities it can be the one who is the better defender who wins the match. Also a player will need to develop effective spins that are available for many of these shots: sidespin / topspin / bottom (back) spin . Practice your shots and become consistent and have faith in them so you can play them under pressure. Your own choice of bat and rubber will be affected by your playing style as you progress. See equipment section.
Yes bear in mind consistency is important, as well as style. Player A might have more shot types in his/her toolkit than Player B the opponent, who is defensive minded and can play push and block really well. However Player B is able to play those 2 shots extremely well and every time. Player A suffers from choosing the wrong shot in the toolkit at the wrong time and is less consistent executing across these multiple options. Player B has a plan, albeit a simple one, and just keeps getting the ball back and player A just keeps making those mistakes. Player B keeps calm, executes and wins easily over a flustered player A. However against Player C, who is like Player A in that there is a full toolkit available, there is a problem for Player B. Player C has a great level across all these strokes as well as being experienced. Player C knows when to deploy each stroke and will execute well. Player C introduces variety and a consistent high level of play and is tactically aware and knows exactly what to expect from Player B and in turn wins easily when they meet at the table..... But then we have Player D who has just one shot - a rocket forehand topspin that is consistent too and coupled with amazing footwork that means he/she can play that awesome forehand from anywhere. Despite his/her allround high level play Player C just cannot cope with that one massive weapon! Such an approach from Player D takes confidence and practice and some arrogance! When Player B (consistent defence of 2 strokes) and D (1 big attacking shot) meet that would be an interesting match up too! Sometimes your best matches will be when there is a particular atmosphere and chemistry between 2 different styles and personalities! Sometimes certain better players just cannot cope with the unique style of a generally inferior player.
So you can see when you play your opponent's that their style will be a factor. See how they play, what are the good at and bad at. You may need to adapt your plan and adapt your style, based on what you know of your opponent and even during the match as the balance of the match changes.
As you are learning to play variety of people. You will find out about different styles and also where you game is and how it matches up against different styles. If you are learning in a fairly traditional style and have played a few players in the same vein, nothing prepares you for the first time you come up against a long pimples player!
You will probably learn to play shakehands style, most people do. But you might play a penhold grip player. This brings a unique challenge. These players are naturally stronger on the forehand due to their grip. So then people play to their backhand more as it logically would be weaker, but actually over time the penhold player gets used to playing so many balls on the backhand and is barely a weakness anymore, Other players may have unorthodox grips or rubbers. Rubbers could be anti-spin or pimples out (pips). These rubbers either deaden the ball, or cause strange flight of the ball with wobble or sink effect. Quite a few players with normal (inverted) rubbers make comments - especially if they lose! - about pimples players. Remember that these rubbers are authorized rubbers by the ITTF and perfectly legal. These opponents have chosen their own style that compliments their approach, philosophy and desire on how they want to play and enjoy the game, so we suggest respect them. Respect the diversity of styles in the sport. An opponent is just as likely as you to not want to be criticized like this.
There are lots of variations to the shots you can play in Table Tennis to make your shots effective. Such as good placement and speed variations. However an important phrase is SPIN TO WIN! Spin really is key, and makes Table Tennis unique in raquet sports. OK Tennis has some spin but not the extremes of TT.
So every game is a unique combination of occasion, personalities, form, confidence, wills, style, equipment and technique.
Through your playing experience and technique your play does evolve, especially if you have a growth mindset.
Whichever style you go for positioning and footwork is key. If the ball goes to a corner of the table adjust your positioning to cut the angles. Remember the ready position. After each shot, don't just admire your shot, accept the ball has gone and get to the ready position as the ball will be most likely coming back! This is where you are ready crouching with the bat in the middle of forehand and backhand so you prepared for either shot coming your way next. Always be alert and moving and assessing. With footwork you should always move your feet to where you play a well balanced shot. If you do not move those feet then you will lunge to stretch for the ball or get tucked up too close to the ball, either way the quality of your shot will suffer usually dramatically. Move your feet so you able to play repeatable strokes with ease. Most footwork is lateral in Table Tennis but for defensive players especially it can also be forward and back and also diagonal.
As you play more develop your awareness of the match scenarios. What is going on, what is working and not working, what is changing, what needs to change. Take lessons from the match forward into your practices and strategy. Do not forget how important serve and receive are, also covered on this website.
The psychology of a match is important as it unfolds. You may have your style and plan of how you want to play. This may be shaped by the general way you want to play, or be adjusted because you have played an opponent before. If you have not played an opponent before you may need to adjust approach early in the match based on what is happening. There is a scoring system and this dictates the unfolding narrative of the match. Some players ease themselves into a match but we suggest focus from the start and start with momentum. In a best of 5 games of first to 11, winning the first game is great and gives you confidence and also somewhat an insurance policy. Your opponent will need to win 3 of the next 4 to win the match. Not easy especially if you are evenly matched players. Hopefully your opponent sleeps at the start and do not sleep yourself and you will have an important lead. So much less stressful to have that first game in the bank than not. However, if you win the first game, be prepared things may change in the second game. Your opponent will have some time at change of ends to think about things. He or she might try something new in the second game or start to get used to what you do (so you might need to change that). Matches can have a momentum shift. If you win the first game but lose the second, although you are still level (thank goodness you got that important first game) it feels like you are the one who is sinking and the opponent will be on the rise. So now it is your turn to think at the change of ends, what do you need to change or do you stay patient with what you are doing and just need to execute better? It may be your opponent put a lot into that second game and will lull a bit in the 3rd. So keep your level high and you may well stay back in front. The first points of every game can be critical too. Get ahead and exert scoreboard pressure. Anyhow at some point in the 3rd, 4th or 5th games one player will have match point. Like in Tennis they say this is the hardest point to win! Suddenly things happen in slow motion, you breath heavier, you sweat more, your arm goes wobbly! This is a test of nerve and technique. At this point think about using your best serve again, think about playing your best shots. Often exert pressure here with quality shots but do not panic and try a risky shot. The test of nerve and technique gets even higher in a 5th game where both players can get match points quickly and both players suffer highs and lows together. Which of your shots will hold up under this pressure, which fail you? Another factor in a 5th game can be fatigue. If you are a player who does not fatigue this makes winning earlier games important as the 5th can be an insurance policy too. See there is a lot to consider!
For some players the above narrative can be a calming approach to the sections of a match and how to navigate through the stresses of it. Other players prefer just to focus on each point, play their way and get on with it win or lose. The score can look after itself. They prefer and function better enjoying the simplicity of this approach. They risk losing by not looking at the narrative but that is their way! Sometimes such a player can be good in a tight 5th set as they just play on regardless and do not overthink!
