Mitchell asked 2 years ago
I thrive on being a push-blocker at the lower levels of my local league.
However, the recent video of your coaching student, Martin, has made me very anxious that people like Martin will be watching this video and be even more successful against me.
Therefore, what tactics do you recommend for someone with a push-blocker type of game use against a player like Martin, assuming the players are of a similar ability, that is, in the same Division of a local league?
Also, is it possible for you to do another video of a match simulation, where a push-blocker employs his or her own tactics against the tactics that Martin used from you in this video?
Tom Lodziak Staff answered 2 years ago
Over the years I have used a push-block-hit playing style quite a lot – both competitively and also in my coaching sessions. Here’s a few tactics which have worked well for me…
1) Serve with lots of backspin most of the time and force your opponent to start the rally with a push
2) Keep playing pushes to your opponent’s weaker side – specially the side in which he/she struggles to attack backspin
3) Keep your pushes low and with plenty of backspin, so if your opponent does attack, he/she will have to play amore controlled topspin
4) When blocking, contact the ball before the peak of the bounce, so that you take time away from your opponent
5) When blocking, keep switching the direction of play – if your opponent attacks with his/her forehand, block back to his/her backhand (and vice versa)
These tactics will work very well in lower divisions of local league. In the higher divisions it is harder to make this playing style effective. I have found it is not strong enough to challenge the top players. So it is very important to develop your attacking game as well.