Suckering in Your Opponents
Controlling the game and the next moves of your opponent is crucial to winning.
Based on how your opponent is playing, you want to play on their weaknesses.
It will vary from player to player, day to day. One day your opponent might be looping up a storm and the next they will be sending the balls into the net.
Below is an excellent video of great control and patience in a match between Wang Hao and Ryu Seung Min from the 2007 ITTF Pro Tour Slovenian Open.
Wang Hao has an excellent backhand loop and he utilizes it to sucker in Ryu.
At 0:19, notice how he begins by unleashing great spins thus putting Ryu on defense. Then you’ll see he lets up.
Once, twice, three times he sends easy loops Ryu’s way and Ryu cannot take it. He sees the chance and goes for a counter attack but Wang Hao is ready for it, and backhand counters the ball with a line drive.
Ryu has no chance of getting to it and loses the point.
Normally Ryu has a quick strong attack and excellent footwork that enables him to beat his opponents, but in this match, with Wang Hao smelling blood and vengeance, Ryu is constantly being put on the defense by a ruthless and dominating Wang Hao which is why he lost the game.
