Hi Deep, that’s great to hear you’re back playing now! Yeah so with this shot there is does depend on the ball coming into you on whether to do a punch or a topspin, usually when there is more topspin on the ball coming through to you it’s easier to punch and some people find it hard to topspin against those types of shots. If there isn’t much speed or spin on the ball then a topspin is usually a better option to generate your own speed. So it’s just getting used to picking the right shot at the right time.
In terms of timing yes it’s fine to wait slightly and take it a little later, this can also help avoid rushing and making mistakes. For disguising the shot well this comes down mainly to the wrist, you can really make this shot hard to read if you can use the wrist to help change the direction and guide the shot. But what you’ve said is correct, no need to rush these shots, a little pause is absolutely fine! 🙂
