The Full Information • Racket Perception

Lengthy pips are very particular, potent desk tennis rubbers.

They don’t work like typical, inverse rubbers like most gamers use. As an alternative, they work to reverse spin imparted on the ball, so the techniques and strategies we have to use when enjoying with lengthy pips are not like any others.

The purpose of this information is to show you how one can make the most of lengthy pips to their full potential, relying on the way you need to play. We’ll clarify the 4 most typical enjoying kinds for anybody utilizing lengthy pips, together with some strategies to help you win more matches.

When you’ve discovered your self right here since you need hold dropping to lengthy pimples gamers, try our guide to beating long pips.

Lengthy Pips Enjoying Kinds

There are 4 dominant playstyles amongst lengthy pips gamers. These are:

Traditional defenders.
Fashionable defenders.
Push blockers.
Offensive lengthy pips gamers.

All of those gamers attempt to win factors their very own method, so their techniques and pictures will likely be radically completely different.

Additionally, there are many kinds of lengthy pips. Choppers desire grippy pips that may add spin to their chops, whereas blockers desire pips which have as little friction as potential to maximise spin reversal.

Traditional defender

First, we are going to begin explaining how traditional defenders ought to make the most of lengthy pips. The traditional defender might be the oldest type on this record, therefore the identify.

This type of play is predicated on returning the ball to the opponent as many occasions as potential.

They aren’t trying to assault the opponent, they only need to hold the purpose alive till their opponent makes a mistake.

To power errors off of their opponents, these lengthy pips gamers will play spinny chops and pushes.

Desk tennis guidelines stipulate {that a} participant wins a degree if their opponent fails to return the ball appropriately.

Traditional defenders hit the ball over and over with backspin till their opponent misses the desk, and that’s how they win matches.

To make it more durable for his or her opponent to assault them, they play backspin pictures the overwhelming majority of the time.

In the event that they returned a topspin ball, it could be very simple to assault, so this type developed into utilizing chops and pushes.

They virtually by no means assault until the ball is less complicated to assault than to defend.

Within the following video, you may see the type of Evgueni Chtchetinine, a traditional defender in motion.

Once we see Evgueni play, we see the true potential of the type.

He virtually doesn’t assault, and but he’s able to competing with a participant of the caliber of Álvaro Robles, a world-class participant.

Traditional defenders typically use lengthy pips on their backhand aspect and inverted rubbers on their forehand aspect.

This enables them to chop with their lengthy pips, which provides them much more management on account of their spin insensitivity.

They’ll then twiddle their racket to their inverted rubber when they should push in order that they at all times return the ball with heavy backspin.

The most effective lengthy pips for traditional defenders

Most choppers use rubbers such because the Butterfly Feint Lengthy III and the TSP Curl P-1R, typically with sponges between 0.7 and 1.5mm thick.

These lengthy pips have spin reversal however not that a lot. Grippy lengthy pips equivalent to those we simply talked about assist defenders add spin to their chops.

Prime suggestions for traditional defenders

Chop the ball on its method down – It’s essential that defenders chop the ball between waist and knee peak in order that their chops don’t pop up.
Follow coming out and in of the desk – One other factor defenders should be superb at is to return out and in of the desk. Usually, offensive gamers are going to play an extended ball after which push, so defenders must come out and in of the desk in a short time in order that they don’t get caught whereas shifting.
Follow twiddling your racket till it’s second nature – Traditional defenders should return the ball with backspin. If the offensive participant pushes the ball to their backhand and so they push it again with their pips, that return goes to be very simple to assault. In these conditions, you must twiddle your racket to push together with your inverted rubber and put backspin on the ball.

Fashionable defender

The fashionable defender is, for my part, the most full playstyle in all of desk tennis.

These gamers, like traditional defenders, use lengthy pips to power errors from their opponent, however additionally they use them to arrange alternatives to assault.

I say that they’re very full gamers as a result of they should know how one can assault and defend on each wings.

Many trendy defenders even twiddle their rackets to loop on their backhand aspect. Their versatility is unparalleled.

Their arsenal of sources makes them the most dominant defensive playstyle. They’ll remodel from defensive to offensive gamers relying on how the match is growing.

In the event that they see that their opponent is fighting their chops, they’ll play a extra defensive recreation.

If their opponent isn’t having bother looping their chops, they’ll begin attacking from each side, or use their chops as a method of making possibilities to assault.

Here’s a video of Joo Se Hyuk, the perfect trendy defender in historical past.

These gamers additionally typically use lengthy pips for chops, pushes, and serve obtain.

One dilemma trendy defenders have is whether or not to chop or open up lengthy backspin balls.

A traditional defender will at all times push or chop that ball, whereas a contemporary defender will resolve what they need to do relying on what’s giving them higher outcomes.

Fashionable defenders are protected gamers however they take many extra dangers than traditional defenders. Traditional defenders by no means take dangers. They play the most secure shot each single time.

The most effective lengthy pips for contemporary defenders

Fashionable defenders use grippy pips just like the Butterfly Feint Lengthy III, and the TSP Curl P-1R so as to add extra spin to their chops, often with 0.7-1.5mm thick sponges.

Ruwen Filus makes use of the Feint Lengthy III and Joo Se Hyuk used the TSP Curl P-1R.

Prime suggestions for contemporary defenders

Learn to chop and counter loop on the forehand aspect – Having each pictures of their arsenal is important for a contemporary defender. In case your opponent performs a topspin shot to their forehand and so they don’t know in the event that they’re going to get a chop or a counter loop again, it turns into exponentially more durable to play towards the fashionable defender.
Actively assess the state of the match – Desk tennis is a sport with a lot of momentum shifts. It is vital that you simply at all times analyze what you are able to do to enhance your possibilities of successful. For instance, generally you’ll have to chop together with your forehand and generally counter loop. It is dependent upon what’s working.
Assault your opponent’s pushes – When you play an excellent high quality chop and see your opponent goes to push that ball, come into the desk and open up. You’ll catch your opponent off guard and it is possible for you to to win the purpose by attacking.

Push blocker

Lengthy pips push blockers are most likely the most irritating type to play towards.

These gamers will stand near the desk, typically in the midst of the desk pushing and blocking each ball with their lengthy pips.

Push blockers depend on timing and feeling to dam each hard-hit ball efficiently.

These gamers use the reversal of their lengthy pips in such a method that their opponent receives heavy backspin pictures, even once they’re simply blocking the ball.

Additionally they transfer their opponents round. This, mixed with the spin reversal of their pips makes them very treacherous gamers to play towards.

It is rather, very troublesome to beat an excellent push blocker, and they’re the worst nightmare of hundreds of offensive gamers.

These gamers are very profitable, particularly on the newbie and intermediate ranges.

In these divisions, lengthy pips are very efficient since it’s troublesome for his or her opponents to know how the ball is coming to them.

Gamers of those ranges already make many unforced errors, and when the ball involves them in another way than they’re used to, they have an inclination to battle.

Nonetheless, at greater ranges of play, lengthy pips develop into a legal responsibility. It is rather troublesome to discover a push blocker at superior ranges, as opponents know how one can play towards this type.

Blocks have to be performed because the ball is rising in order that the ball stays low. Push blockers additionally should loosen their wrist to soak up and management the incoming pace and spin.

The most effective lengthy pips for push blockers

The tools utilized by push blockers is completely different from that utilized by choppers.

Choppers use grippy lengthy pips to play actively and add spin to the ball with their chops.

Push blockers use lengthy pips with low friction to get the utmost spin reversal potential, often with out sponge (OX).

The optimum blocking lengthy pips are the Tibhar Grass D.TecS, the Dr. Neubauer Hassle Maker, the DHS C8, the Butterfly Feint Lengthy II, and the Spinlord Dornenglanz, all with out sponge.

Most of those gamers agree that Grass D.TecS is probably the most suitable choice for blocking near the desk.

This type may also be performed with antispin rubbers equivalent to Dr. Neubauer ABS, which achieves the same and even larger disruptive impact than lengthy pips.

Prime suggestions for push blockers

Attempt to assault your opponent’s pushes – Your opponent will almost certainly use the one topspin, one push technique. If you’ll be able to assault pushes together with your lengthy pips, your opponent isn’t going to have the ability to play their recreation comfortably.
Transfer your opponent round – This goes with out saying however it’s important that you don’t play two balls in the identical place. At all times transfer your opponent and attempt to depart some balls brief in order that they have to maneuver out and in of the desk.
Develop a forehand kill shot – When enjoying towards you, your opponents will typically pop up some balls. If you will discover a method to capitalize on these alternatives, you can be much more troublesome to beat. This shot can both be a loop or a flat hit.

Offensive lengthy pips type

These gamers, together with traditional defenders, are fairly troublesome to return throughout.

Offensive lengthy pips gamers are the one gamers on this record which can be purely offensive in nature.

These gamers typically have very sturdy forehands and use their lengthy pips to create alternatives to assault with their sturdy aspect.

They often use the identical pictures as push blockers.

They use the lengthy pips to obtain serves, block, and bump the ball. They often stand in order that their forehand covers the overwhelming majority of the desk.

With their forehand, they loop and counter loop. With their backhand, they block.

They block with their lengthy pips in order that their opponent receives a heavy backspin ball that they may most likely push again. This allows them to assault the next ball.

With their serve, they may attempt to execute third ball assaults, and whereas receiving, they may attempt to arrange possibilities to assault with their forehand.

Lengthy pips are nice for this type of play as a result of they break the opponent’s tempo and power them to push the ball, so pips gamers can pivot and assault with their forehand.

A widely known participant who performed like that is my compatriot Liu Tune, who reached a career-high ITTF rating of 49.

The most effective lengthy pips for offensive gamers

The most effective tools to make use of is identical because the one push blockers use, as they are going to be enjoying very comparable pictures.

I extremely suggest the Tibhar Grass D.TecS. Different good choices embody Dr. Neubauer Hassle Maker, DHS C8, Butterfly Feint Lengthy II, Tibhar Grass D.TecS, and Spinlord Dornenglanz, all with out sponge.

The most effective blades for lengthy pimples

When you’re searching for a brand new blade, we extremely suggest the Victas Koji Matsushita for those who can afford to splash out on a fantastic defensive blade.

For different choices, try our high really useful blades for taking part in with lengthy pimples.

Prime suggestions for offensive lengthy pips gamers

Learn to hit together with your lengthy pips – It is rather vital that offensive lengthy pips gamers know how one can hit the ball with the lengthy pips to arrange alternatives to complete the purpose with their forehand.
Attempt to block as brief as potential together with your lengthy pips – When you can block brief or half lengthy together with your pips, your opponents gained’t be capable to assault these balls simply, which provides you with the initiative within the level.
Follow a lot of forehand mobility drills – To be a profitable participant with this type, you will have to transfer across the desk shortly with the intention to hit forehands from all positions.

Alvaro’s been enjoying Desk Tennis since he was 15 and is now ranked throughout the high 100 in his native Argentina. He likes to compete in provincial tournaments and is at all times searching for methods to enhance. Alvaro made his favorite recollections with a racket in hand, and he joined the RacketInsight crew to share his ardour with different gamers!

Blade: Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC | Forehand: Butterfly Dignics 05 | Backhand: Butterfly Rozena
Playstyle: The Controller