Where should you attack an opponent who is standing at the kitchen line? You're not wrong if you said the hip, shoulder, or right at their chest. But you’re also only half right.
The correct answer lies in your opponent’s paddle position. Here’s a quick breakdown of common paddle positions and where to aim your attack to be most effective.
Many players lean toward their backhand to cover more of their body. However, this makes them vulnerable to forehand-side attacks. Target these areas:
- Big target: Anywhere on their forehand side
- Precise target: Their forehand-side armpit or shoulder
he problem with sitting backhand heavy is that your opponents can force you into a “chicken-wing” position that causes weak counterattacks.
Players who hold their paddle low and close to the hip are especially vulnerable to high-speed shots. To capitalize, aim for:
- Big target: Chest
- Precise target: Backhand-side chest or shoulder
Hitting high forces them to raise their paddle, making it difficult to defend effectively.
Players are less vulnerable when they hold their paddle in a neutral, ready position. Instead of a speed-up, try hitting aggressive dinks to force them to lower their paddle. If they fail to bring it back up, you’ll have an opening for a later attack.
Otherwise, consider attacking their partner or choosing your attacking shots against this person wisely.