5 Ways to Beat a Better Team From the Right Side

Summary

Selkirk TV’s Coach Marshall Brown starts a series on beating a better team, and the theme is creating chaos, since you won’t out-dink stronger players. This video covers five speed-ups from the right side of the kitchen line.

Hold the ball in front with the paddle tip down so the opponent can’t read where you’re going, then whip it down the middle, into the body or down the line. A line speed-up usually comes back to you, so be ready to finish the next ball. Target a right-hander’s right shoulder to force a chicken-wing pop-up. Step over when the ball is in the middle and attack down the middle or at the chest. And on a slightly high ball, hold the paddle a moment longer and go behind the player who isn’t expecting it.

Key takeaways

• Against a better team, create chaos rather than out-dinking them
• Hold the ball in front, paddle tip down, to disguise the speed-up
• Down-the-line speed-ups often come back, so be ready to finish
• The right shoulder (chicken wing) is a reliable target
• Hold a fraction longer and go behind the player who isn’t ready

Action items

• In dink rallies from the right side, practice holding the paddle tip down before speeding up
• Aim one speed-up per game at the opponent’s right shoulder
• Step over on middle balls and attack down the middle
• Stay ready for the counter after every speed-up