Table tennis, a seemingly simple but rich sport, attracts countless enthusiasts to devote themselves to it. Every table tennis enthusiast has their own unique style of play, and the grip style, as the cornerstone of table tennis skills, determines a player's style and strength. Today, let's talk about the two major grips in table tennis - horizontal and straight, and see who is better in the competition between them.
Horizontal shooting: Steady as a mountain, both offensive and defensive
The horizontal racket, as the name suggests, is to hold the racket horizontally in the hand, which is more suitable for players who are looking for a steady, well-rounded technique. The advantage of landscape shooting is its balance and stability. Due to the large area of the racket, it can better control the landing point of the ball, and can show extremely high efficiency both offensively and defensively.
Players who use horizontal shots often have excellent forehand attacks, and they can easily unleash powerful attacks on or off the table to catch opponents off guard. At the same time, the backhand technique of the horizontal shot is also excellent, whether it is a fast break or a curved ball, it can deal with it with ease. This all-round technical feature allows the cross-shot player to respond flexibly to a variety of situations during the game, whether it is offensive or defensive, and maintain a high degree of stability.
2. Direct shooting: smart as the wind, speed wins
Compared to landscape shooting, direct shooting focuses more on speed and flexibility. Straight-shot players usually have faster reflexes and more agile pace, and are able to quickly find their opponent's flaws in the match and deliver the fatal blow.
The advantage of straight shooting is that it is fast and flexible. Since the racket is shorter, the player can swing the racket faster, resulting in a faster ball speed. This allows straight-shot players to attack quickly during the match, making the opponent elusive. At the same time, the backhand technique of the straight shot is also very unique, and it can hit a very dangerous spin ball that will make the opponent unguardable.
However, direct shooting also has its limitations. Due to the small size of the racket, it is relatively difficult to control the ball, which requires a very high level of skill and feel from the player. In addition, straight-shot players may struggle a little when dealing with multiple rounds of possession, as long duels consume a lot of stamina.
3. Horizontal shooting VS straight shooting: The technical styles are very different, each with its own merits
In table tennis, the two grip methods, horizontal and straight, have their own merits, forming a stark contrast of technical styles. Horizontal players are known for their steadiness, and they are able to maintain a high level of consistency in the game, both offensively and defensively. Straight-shot players, on the other hand, win with speed, with faster reflexes and more agile pace, quickly find their opponents' flaws in the match and deliver the fatal blow.
The contest between the two grips is often also a psychological warfare. Horizontal players need to constantly adjust their pace and tactics to cope with the rapid attacks of direct players. Straight-shot players, on the other hand, need to maintain a high level of concentration and reflexes in order to catch their opponents' flaws in the game.
Fourth, the actual combat case: the peak duel between horizontal shooting and straight shooting
Let's take a look at a real-world case and feel the pinnacle duel between horizontal and straight shots. In this competition, the two competitors represented the highest level of horizontal and straight shots, respectively, and each of their swings was full of power and skill.
Once the match began, the straight-shot players attacked quickly, constantly putting pressure on the cross-shooters with faster ball speed and more agile pace. However, the cross-shot player was undeterred by this kind of attack, and with his solid technique and excellent defensive ability, he managed to fend off the attack of the straight-shot player.
As the bout progressed, the cross-shot player began to show his offensive prowess. He took advantage of the large horizontal shooting area and constantly played precise landing point control, which made the direct shooting player fall into passivity. Not to be outdone, the straight-shot fighter is constantly looking for counter-attacking opportunities in defense with his quicker reflexes and more flexible pace.
The competition was in a heated phase, with both players performing at their highest level. Horizontal shooters are able to fend off the attacks of the straight shooters with their solid technique and excellent defensive ability, while the straight shooters are constantly looking for counter-attacking opportunities in defense with faster reflexes and more agile pace
5. Horizontal and straight shots jointly interpret the charm of table tennis
As the two major grip methods in table tennis, horizontal and straight racket have their own characteristics and advantages. The contest between them is not only a competition of skills, but also a collision of styles and ideas. Whether it is a horizontal shooting player who pursues a stable and comprehensive situation, or a straight shooting player who pursues speed and agility, they are interpreting the charm of table tennis in their own way.
In table tennis, there is no absolute difference between strong and weak, only the technical style that suits you best. Whether it is a horizontal shot or a straight shot, as long as you can play to your strengths and characteristics, you will be able to win the game. Therefore, we don't have to stick to a certain grip or technical style, but should choose the most suitable way to enjoy this sport according to our actual situation and preferences.