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William Henzell's Blog Oct 28

My blocking game has never really been up to the task. The consistency is poor and I feel like the ball could just as easily just into the bottom of the net as off the end of the table. I just can't seem to see the flight of the ball and get my timing right. At times it can be embarrassing when training with the really top players and my blocking is too inconsistent. I know what to do in theory and what it should look like but I can't get it right. It was often said jokingly in training that I had some shots (like the backhand topspin and backhand flick) of a top 10 player and the blocking skills of the top 10,000 player.

I've tried working on it; exercises, changes to technique, changes to timing. But eventually I made the decision to work around the weakness and to try to avoid getting to that situation. It basically means trying to stop the opponent attacking against me. I have to make sure I don't give the opponent simple, straight-forward, predictable returns of serve - like a long medium paced push to the middle of the table. I do have fairly good split-second reactions, like throwing out an arm and just getting to the ball for a unlikely counterspin, however it is not a pattern of play I want to get into.

Timo Boll - photo courtesy of ITTF

So I force myself to be aggressive on my returns of serve and go for fast, backspin pushes and fast attacking flicks in a bid to encourage the opponent to play a more passive attack which let's me counterattack. It works well but obviously increases the chances that I will make mistakes as I am playing higher risk shots. I also have put time and effort into increasing the difficulty of my first attack of the rally. I'll try to keep my attack low over the net and out of harms way or play the ball to uncomfortable positions for the opponent like out wide, or into the pocket (crossover point between backhand and forehand). Much of my game is about playing shots that the opponent will find difficult to face.

Olympic Champ Zhang Jike - photo courtesy of ITTF

It's a band-aid and of course the best solution would be to have a better block. The big difference between the the top guys and players like me (ranked 90 in the world) is the lack of weaknesses. Timo Boll and Zhang Jike are doing the same things as a lot of players however they are doing them slightly better and have a wider range of 'solutions' to take out if they are losing. You can rest assured that good players will find your weaknesses and exploit them ruthlessly. If they are caught in a pattern of play that they feel is not working then they will try other tactics until they find success. You have to have the consistency, confidence and skills to pull it off.

Published date: 
Sun, 10/28/2012 - 17:30