Hidding weakness?

[speedplay]

We all have weaknesses in our games, otherwise we would all be pro, and even they have some. So, what do you do to hide your weakness from your opponent?

Please, refrain yourself from the simple answer: I put pips/anti on it.

I use the scare tactic. I know that I'm vulnerable against certain serves, so when my opponent makes those serves, I attack them with all of my might, like a warning: You don't want to go there! With some luck, my first shot is a success, but even if it isn't, the fact that I blast at the ball often works and keeps them away from that serve.

I used to do the opposite, play it very cautious, which helped me understand a bit about spin and how I should deal with the serve, but it also worked like a big sign around my neck. screaming out: I do not know how to deal with this!!!

So, how do you try to keep your opponent away from exploiting/discovering your weaknesses?

[pingpongrob]

Not Sure about this one Speedplay. Even a weakness can be a strength - I know for a fact that my Fore hand is consistent but not as devastating as my backhand. I don't try and hide the fact - In fact I prefer to receive on my forehand side, as I know that if they cant beat me on my weak side, what hope do they have on my strong side.

In my younger days - my backhand was my weak side - I had none - And would lose all my points on that side. Instead of hiding the weakness I decideded the the more balls I took on my weakness, the stronger it would get.

Its a bit of a see saw effect, as one side gets stronger, players play against the other side which in turn makes that side stronger.

I do see players that favour their forhand, and immediately know how to get them out of position.

I do have a new weakness (one that occurred in the last 3 weeks). I have a Torn ACL and my only remedy is a full Knee reconstruction, which will mean 12 - 18 months of rehab. Although the Orthopedic Surgeon has confirmed the fact - I have continued to play and have been improving my form. With this new Weakness has come some new thinking about the game - better ball placement (so as I'm not out of position), Better Blocking Skills (So my oppenent has to make sure he make the next shot), and of course better serves. I also have to strengthen my Leg muscles to help & stabilize my joint, just as well I was gifted with a set of strong legs.

[Der Echte]

Wow, Torn ACL? Ouch! I've torn some stuff like my Labrum and avoided surgery OK enough, but man, you can't help but to use that injured part all the time. At least with the Labrum, all I had to do was be careful and train it right. I didn't have to walk using only hands/arms and make it throb with pain each wrong step.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

I've lived with torn knee ligaments for 23 years. It was never reconstructed for various reasons. Now its a constant pain step by step as its arthritic. A night of TT leaves me reeling and feeling it lol. But I'm glad I can at least play the game still. Had a surgeon a couple of years (oops 6 years) ago tell me I need a knee replacement, but to hold off til I was at least 45, cos you usually only get one shot and they last about 15-20 years at most. I could barely walk at that point and I asked if supplements would help. He said not much, so I didn't bother. But after about 8 weeks walking on a knee that was great pain with every step I decided glucosamine couldn't hurt to try. Am I glad I did. My knee still pains to walk on, but at least it doesn't crunch with every step now. I've now moved on from glucosamine to taking Green Lipped Mussel Extract. Not cheap, but it works wonders. I still hurt after a night of TT, but without it I wouldn't even be playing. Rob, don't know your exact predicament or progosis but I'd highly recommend taking either of the supplements I've mentioned before having surgery and just seeing how it works for you. Needs at least a month of it to feel effects.

[speedplay]

Yes, what a great idea, lets invite some really old folks here and discuss our medical journals instead off discussing the topic raised...

[pingpongrob]

Yes, what a great idea, lets invite some really old folks here and discuss our medical journals instead off discussing the topic raised...

See - I've spoken about Weakness's and threw in an example - Cant say I'm not trying.

[pingpongrob]

I've now moved on from glucosamine to taking Green Lipped Mussel Extract. Not cheap, but it works wonders. I still hurt after a night of TT, but without it I wouldn't even be playing. Rob, don't know your exact predicament or progosis but I'd highly recommend taking either of the supplements I've mentioned before having surgery and just seeing how it works for you. Needs at least a month of it to feel effects. :roll:

[Der Echte]

Speedplay, your knees will feel it in another ten years. Us over-40 old farts consider the knees as a game weakness. You probably got something better than Glucosimine mix in good ole Sweden, and maybe you get it for free. Then again, with nearly half of any transaction going to taxes, why the heck not? What you so grouchy for anyway? Do I gotta visit you and bring some Scottish Single Malt to mellow you out? We all know you are the number one topic starter and make stuff happen on forums. I try to cover my TT game weaknesses up with improved service and return play to prevent tose balls that trouble me. Obviously, it has only been working not much past the USATT 1700 level.

[speedplay]

Der_Echte, a visit from you and a bottle of Single malt sure would make my day a little brighter

Sorry if I came off as grumpy, but we do all agree that we need to get this forum going, then when a topic is raised, it gets ruined before it even starts. I was actually looking forward to everyone's reply on this, but instead, I get to read their medical journal.

If you feel the need to discuss your bad knees, your bad back or what ever, feel free to start a topic about it, heck, I might even contribute and tell you some about my bad knees, but not in this tread.

[JKC]

Back to the topic then.

I get a bad back from time to time........ (just kidding).

I like to do have a good go the first couple of times someone attacks a weakness a bit like you Speedplay. At a British League match earlier in the season, I knew I had to play someone with a really nasty, quick, reverse serve which I really don't like playing. The first time he did it I looped it as hard as I could down his backhand and won the point. I didn't see it again all match and I went on to win 3-0. I am sure this one point made all the difference.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

I agree with Der, body weaknesses are definitely game weaknesses and affect the strokes, movement and other abilities. However, I guess Slippery is after more of the "I have a weak BH loop" type responses and how we deal with that. I actually find this a bit difficult to answer. Not because I don't have weaknesses lol, as Slip says, we all have weaknesses or we'd be pro. The reason is more that I can display different weaknesses in different games and depending on the player I'm facing and their style. I have a strong FH smash, but at times it can appear a weakness when I'm missing it. I have a strong BH block and chop block, but get to a point with it where the smash or drive is hard enough, if I'm up at the table, I'm gonna put more off the table than on. At times I play too many BH returns high, especially on fast topspins, and this results in smashing opportunities for the opponent. Paradoxically, this can end up being a quirky strength, because off the LP they often over-hit or dump in the net as they seek the put away. The smarter players realise that this apparent weakness is dangerous to tangle with as they come off second best too much. Other perservere with every opportunity and often pay a high price.

I think weaknesses of a players are often seen differently by other players, depending on the strengths they have themselves. This is because they may work out that the opponent is giving weak returns off their pet shot. So they exploit it by playing that shot all game. However, another player not having that shot, can't exploit the weakness, so its not a weakness against that player. Therefore, it is often not until you are playing someone is it whether you will know which of your own weaknesses will show up, depending on how you are played to. A general approach of covering it with aggressiveness isn't a bad strategy to try and ward the opponent off it, but if they try it a few times and see that you go aggro on it and miss it more than hit, then its red rag to a bull. I tend to find it is better to attempt to identify their real strengths and avoid hitting to them. Not always easy of course. So much depends on how well the opponent is dictating the play and how skilled they are. If they have genuinely better skill than you, they won't care about your weakness too much, they will direct play to a place where they can rely on their greatest strength.

[big ears]

Even a weakness can be a strength -

And often a strength can be a weakness...

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Even a weakness can be a strength -

And often a strength can be a weakness...

Sometimes a weakness can even be a weakness  :o

[big ears]

Even a weakness can be a strength -

And often a strength can be a weakness...

Sometimes a weakness can even be a weakness  :o

and a strength can be a strength.....