Anticipate the Shots, Anticipate a Win

When you start playing opponents with a higher skill set, it becomes more difficult to react to all the different shots they can throw at you.

However, every player has tendencies, and you can start to pick up hints and clues in their preparation for shots and their swings.

image source: tabletennis.org.au

First of all, try your best to notice situational trends in your opponent.

For example, if you hit a deep shot to his back hand, does he often return with under-spin?

If you notice trends like this, you can begin to anticipate a shot. This will give that extra little time to prepare.

Also, if you see the player preparing for an under-spin return then you can anticipate and under-spin shot.

A more skilled player will hide their preparation, but it’s very difficult to hide the actual swing that produces the shot. If you see the way the opponent hit the ball, and it looks to be under-spin, then of course prepare accordingly.

Same goes for anticipating location.

You can sometimes tell by the angle of the paddle or even the angle of the opponent’s body where the ball will be going on your side of the table.

With that in mind, be aware of any clues you are giving away.

Work on hiding your clues, or using you clues to your advantage. Think of yourself as a pitcher in baseball who throws two fastballs, then looks like he’s going to throw another but instead it’s an off-speed pitch for strike three.

Hit a few shots the same way in a row, but then try to keep as much about your body, paddle, and swing the same as much as you can, but tweak it just enough to change the shot and throw your opponent off.

Table tennis is as much a chess match as it is about physical technique.