Use the Whole Table

Rowden June 2021

Most players appreciate that with the plastic ball the science of our sport has changed.

Coaches too, readily understand the most obvious areas where changes need to be made: serve, receive, short play, more change of pace and unpredictability, with less spin power is more important, more symmetrical play and earlier timing, but above all the will to change and to execute this first. However have players and coaches registered the need to use the whole table, to do this more effectively and how to best achieve this?
Examine the following series of exercises and understand the relevance:
• Player executes between 1 to 3 strokes down the FH line then switches to the middle or diagonal, either to the body, corner or wide to the short angle, thus using alternatives.
• Player executes between 1 to 3 strokes down the BH line then switches to the middle or diagonal, either to the body, corner or wide to the short angle, thus using alternatives.
• Player executes between 1 and 3 strokes on the FH diagonal then switches to the middle, straight or to the wide short diagonal, thus using alternatives.
• Player executes between 1 and 3 strokes on the BH diagonal then switches to the middle, straight or to the wide short diagonal, thus using alternatives.
• Player executes between 1 and 3 strokes from the FH corner to the middle, then switches straight down the line, to the diagonal corner or to the wide short angle, thus using alternatives.
• Player executes between 1 and 3 strokes from the BH corner to the middle, then switches straight down the line, to the diagonal corner or to the wide short angle, thus using alternatives.

Consider also that the player can use differing alternatives in the stroke-play within each sequence in the six exercises, for example drive, spin, varied blocks, sidespin loop and in such a way the boundaries of the rally and responses can be increased dramatically.
Bear in mind too that the player as well as varying the stroke-play can vary the speed and the length to further increase the scope of the exercises. It’s all about using the whole table area to gain an advantage; coaches also should devise more exercises, they know their own players best and are in the ideal situation to devise those most suited to their own player’s style.