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CHASING THE ELBOW
'Elbow'
is referred as the point where a shakehand player changes his
strokes from forehand to backhand. All players have some problems to
handle a ball going fastly to this point. The better the player, of
course, it would be much easier for him to return this kind of
balls, and he is more likely to step around and hit it with a
powerful stroke, but even at the higher levels, the quality of his
returns will be still lower in comparison with a return done with a
'clean' forehand or backhand as he had to move get in position
before playing his stroke. My advice is to use this to your profit.
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WHEN to do it:
When your opponent is close to table. When he is moving closer
to the table. When he is stepping around wrongly
(overanticipating). When you see a chance of doing it. Do it as
a serve return if they serve short or from a close to table
position and he will almost NEVER attack that 3rd ball.
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WHY to do it:
To force a weak return. Most of the time the ball will come
back, but it will be a weak return, since your opponent had no
time to step around and loop, or done with a short or 'poor' arm
swing. You can take advantage of weak returns like this. Of
course, if you can score from a kill at his elbow, it's even
better.
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WHICH strokes are best to be placed at elbow:
Punch blocks against fast loops are the best, if your opponent
is close to table. Loops or flips are fine. Fast pushes are very
good too if you are pushing each other. Anything that gives your
opponent little time to react. Play off the bounce on his short
balls, and he will look FREEZED. If you are going for a hard
shot, you have to know what are the chances if has to come back.
It it's 0%, place it far from your opponent, but if it's (let's
say) 30%, and you place it at your opponent's elbow, his return
will be weak, and you'll be able to hit it hard. No spin fast
balls at elbow are even more effective, same as sidespin, or any
heavy spin. Learn to serve at his elbow. Do so with sidespin or
corkscrew so your opponent is suddenly surprised by a second
bounce that makes the ball jump to his body.
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WHERE is the elbow located:
If your opponent is on a ready position that is backhand
oriented (showing to you his backhand rubber), his elbow is
somewhere between his wrist and his elbow (this point is moving
to the player's forehand if he's more used to play backhand all
the time). It is not at the same spot for all players, so you'll
have to find it during play. If he is on a ready position that
is forehand oriented, his elbow is at the point where he can
only hit the ball with his backhand, as closer as possible to
his forehand. Be careful: place the ball a bit more to his
forehand, and he could step around and loop. The grip that your
opponent has, determines if his style is forehand or backhand
oriented, and that determines where the elbow is located. Also,
the elbow is moving according to his feet.
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HOW to set up the rally to play a ball at his elbow:
You could, if you know that your opponent is weak against elbow
ball, chase his elbow in the following manner (that's an
example, and that can be done in a lot of ways): Play a long
ball, then do one quick drop shot, then one long ball at his
elbow. The drop shot is the key here. I don't recommend playing
like this as a rule of thumb, but that can work against certain
players. I recommend to use elbow balls when you see a chance of
it.
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WHO will hurt elbow balls the most:
Players with bad footwork. Players that play very close to table
(This ones can have its elbow at more extreme spots than usual).
Long arm swing players. Players with weak backhand or forehand
(his elbow is often a bit closer to his weak side). Players with
poor ball control. Players that let the ball drop before they
play his stroke. Players with certain shakehand grips that screw
his wrist action.
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WHAT nobody uses but is very effective:
High balls at elbow: Extremely difficult to do, since a high
ball gives time to your opponent to step around. If you can send
a fast and high ball to his elbow (almost to his shoulder), he
can be in troubles, same as penholders with high balls to his
backhand.
Boris
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