ScolPingTab

In this video, the serving player starts the point with a hammer serve wide to the right in order to continue the point with their forehand.

We can see that this serve (hammer out to the right) directs the opponent's return to the forehand zone. This lets the player continue his strategy and keep the initiative.

Advice from the coach:

Important: the return is probable, but not certain. It will depend on:

• The quality of the serve,

• The quality of the return (direction and zone).

Start the point with a plan.

Here, the server wants to play fast from the first balls. His service is rather long and fast, to surprise and outflank the opponent.

As the placement is not always accurate (free space, crossover and extreme sides), the receiver can attack and turn the tables.

In this video, the player varies his serves and the beginning of the point.

We can see sidespin, chopped and fast serves. His chosen serves do not always lead him to take the point because the player has not identified the strategies which will put him in a favourable position.

Advice from the coach:

Here, choose a chopped serve, as the fast game is more advantageous to the opponent. What's more, a short serve will prevent the receiver from attacking.

Let's have a look at the primary attacking sequences from the service ball.

Starting from a lifted serve, following with an attacking strike.

With a chopped serve, what can the opponent do when he wants to attack?

For this same situation, if the receiver pushes the ball back over (because it is difficult to attack), then a heavy topspin shot (high acceleration and upward racket movement) will follow.

Lifted and chopped serves are not the only ones you can use in table tennis.

Let's have a look at sidespin serves.

Starting with a serve out wide to the right.

If the serve has left spin on it, which stroke can I easily use to follow?

To finish, with a wide serve out left (racket below), which can also be directed left or right (return).

Advice from the coach:

Watch and pay attention!

Take your time between each point, especially before service.

Does the fact that they are left-handed change anything?

Have you noticed?

Watch how this left-handed player favours his forehand. For his opponent, this strong point is in the space where a righthander would have his or her backhand.

As such, players can organise themselves as attackers or defenders, either close or far from the table.

Watch here how the attacker varies his openings, with his serve (out wide and placement), but also with the depth of the balls.

We can see that the position of the defender does not prevent this player from coming in to attack from time to time, in order to surprise the opponent and win the point.

Exercise 1

Take stock of your weapons and the possibility to plan and organise them by:

• Listening to the observations of your partners,

• Staying alert to your strong points and accepting your weaknesses,

• Assessing play at the end of these matches,

• Watching recorded matches.

By playing in match conditions, players are able to experience the emotions of their opponent and make decisions in conditions where each point matters.

The pool of three players also gives you the opportunity to alternate the roles of:

• Player,

• Umpire,

• Advisor.

Exercise 2

4 students talk about a video of part of a match (recorded onto the tablet).

They can use calculated or criteria-based observations (faults, zones, time, etc.) to better understand their results and the right choices to make in order to fulfil their intentions (O, F, OW):

• Outflanking: surprising the opponent with a variation of strokes, placement and rhythms,

• Finishing: striking a finishing blow as soon as a favourable situation presents itself,

• Overwhelming: combining speed with placement.

A simpler classification system can be used for less experienced students:

• Playing position

• Playing fast

• Playing hard

• Playing with spin

• Forcing errors

Exercise 3

Recreate the sequences of play (serve, return and first attack) using examples (slow-motion videos, stills, models, etc.) according to the possibilities and qualities afforded by each example.

Discover and accept your weak points.

Catch-up quiz

Watch this 3D animation which will go over the main sequences of play presented, then answer the questions:

How many sequences are presented? Which ones?

You've got 4... you've missed some! Watch it again.

But can you do it?

Watch this last video, which shows that personal adjustment often requires full understanding.

This girl realises that the attack angle of her bat is too open. The ball trajectory is too high, she has to close that angle.

Look how it will positively affect her game !

Now think about your own sequences of play and try to understand what leads to success and what sometimes prevents you from taking the right action.