Letting out balls go is an underrated, and acquired skill. It’s not always easy.
Sometimes, it’s the ole’ ego rearing its head. Yes, the bangers are annoying and yes, it’s satisfying to prove to them that they’ll need more than power to beat you.
Paddle technology has made the game faster than ever. Paddles are engineered to provide as much power as possible.
At the amateur level, the addition of power usually means a loss of control. Most players aren't dialed enough to hit the ball as hard as they can AND keep it in the court.
As a rule of thumb, any big forehand windup from mid-court should automatically cue you to let the ball go. If they happen to make the first one, so be it. If the second one lands in, too, then it’s time to start blocking.
But generally, a mid-court wind up is sending the ball long 99 times out of 100. Let it go.
But a big wind up from anywhere should signal to you that it’s time to make a judgement call. If you're the type of player who wants to prove their mettle by hitting every ball back, you're probably giving up free points.
You need to start taking chances and let the ball go:
Above all else, simply keep it top of mind. Be aware. New opponents can create chaos - you aren’t used to their style. Similarly, tournament play lends to nerves, and it takes composure to remember to slow down, think and play your game.
It may seem obvious, but watch any amateur game, and you'll surely see at least one out ball kept in play. Start being the player that lets out balls go and make your opponent think twice before pulling the trigger.
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