Hi Bave,
Hope all is well and thanks for supplying us with this great information. Firstly, it sounds like you have a strong forehand dominant game, similar to myself. Having a strong backhand block like you have mentioned allows you to get your forehand in well. For your game plan one of the key attributes you want to focus on is being able to block down the line and away from your opponent, this will allow you to pivot and follow up with a forehand loop and get your strength in. Strong forehand loop players need to be able to find the opponents elbow early on in the rally, see video here for more on this: https://tabletennisdailyacademy.com/videos/the-advantages-of-playing-to-the-elbow/ Another element to improve your forehand will be to work on your pivot: https://tabletennisdailyacademy.com/videos/the-pivot-shot/
Another key asset to your game plan is your short touch. This will allow to stop your opponent from attacking first and will allow you to dominate quickly with your forehand loop from the short game. Especially once your opponent has served, you will be able to use your short touch to great effect.
Now Bave, you have mentioned one of your weaknesses is your footwork, to be able to ustilise your strengths as mentioned above you need good footwork. I would recommend doing 30 minutes x 3 days per week of table footwork exercises both regular and irregular: https://tabletennisdailyacademy.com/videos-category/exercises/ Outside of this doing lots of skipping and cone drills will really improve your footwork dramatically. Cone drills here: https://tabletennisdailyacademy.com/videos/3-simple-cone-drills-to-improve-explosive-movement/
In today’s game it is quite hard to be a forehand dominant player as the plastic ball has slowed the game down and its hard to get tons of quality on the ball with only playing forehand. Therefore many players have had to work on there backhand tremendously. I would work on your backhand open up and topspin. Do lots of practice where you are working on your backhand in many different scenarios. I would love to see a video of your backhand to give you some feedback, if you could send us in a video that would be great. Practice, Practice, Practice, turn your weakness into a strength.
One of the reasons why I think you may be struggling against pip players or blockers is because you are not utilising your backhand enough. Against these players you need to be stable in the rally so improving your backhand will help you here. Mix up your shots often, vary spin, speed and placement and stay consistent in the point. The pip player/blocker will soon break down in the rally.
Okay so a few things to work on there Bave, your key game plan is to vary your serve and look to attack first, secondly is to mix up your receive of serve and vary the placement against your opponent. Thirdly, its to look to get your strong forehand in once the rally has divulged.
Hope this helps.
Talk soon,
Dan
