Floating sidespin push/chop
cauncegrange asked 6 years ago
I have just lost to a player using a medium high floating sidespin push.
They look like they should be attacked strongly but my topspin drive was blocked or counter hit.
They are a little high to push back effectively.
I think looping them might be the best approach as I would get enough topspin on to disrupt the counter hitting.
Looping is trick as they have were little pace on them.
Not sure though so any advice welcome.
Tom Academy Coach answered 6 years ago
Hi Cauncegrange,
You absolutely right the best way to deal with these types of shots is to topspin them, as you said pushing back is difficult as they are too high. So the best way is to wait for the ball and not rush and play a topspin into the body of your opponent to avoid them being blocked back or counter hit quickly as you mentioned.
When the ball doesn’t have much pace its important to either wait for the ball or step in closer to it, this means using the legs and body well to avoid reaching for the ball. As you mentioned if you can brush through these types of shots and get plenty of spin it can avoid a counter attack. To do this you need to be confident to accelerate through the ball well and don’t be to slow and careful with the shot, of course there is a balance to not go too quickly but often on the slower type of balls players tend to be too careful and the ball floats out or is too weak.
Give those few things a try and that will help, if you need anything else feel free to comment back on here 🙂
