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ROBO-COACH
What Style Should You Play?
By: Richard McAfee
USATT Certified National Coach
There are three key areas that you should look at
when developing your own style:
-
What are your strongest strokes? Styles are built around
getting a player’s strengths into the game as
quickly and as often as possible.
-
What are your physical characteristics? Different styles
require different physical abilities in order to perform
at the highest level.
-
What style(s) do you enjoy playing? You will not be
successful with your game unless you enjoy the style you
are playing.
Once
you have identified your best shots, try matching up your
strengths with those listed on the style descriptions found
on the “Modern Styles Articles”, on this
website. You will probably find at least two possible
matches. Then ask yourself which of the two styles would be
the most fun for you to play.
Finally, look at the physical requirements of each style.
To do this, first rate yourself in the following
areas:
|
Foot-speed |
How fast can you move around the court? |
|
Hand-speed |
How quick are your hand-to-ball movements? |
|
Leg-strength |
How strong are your legs? |
|
Power |
How explosive are your movements and
strokes? |
|
Stomach Strength |
What condition is your mid-section in? |
|
Balance |
When moving fast, how well do you keep your
balance? |
|
Emotional Level |
How high is your natural emotional level when
competing? |
Give yourself one of the following ratings in each
category: low, medium, medium-high, or high. Now compare
yourself to the following table and see how you match up
with your style requirements.
| STYLE |
FOOT
SPEED
|
HAND
SPEED
|
LEG
STRENGTH
|
POWER
|
BALANCE
|
STOMACH
|
EMOTION
|
|
Hitter-Penholder |
High
|
High
|
Med-high
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
|
Hitter-Shakehands |
High
|
High
|
Med-high
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
|
Attacker-Looper |
Med-high
|
High
|
Med-high
|
High
|
Med-high
|
High
|
High
|
| Mid-Distance
Looper |
Med
|
Med
|
High
|
Med
|
Med-high
|
Med
|
Med-high
|
|
Close-Table-Defense |
Low
|
Med-high
|
Low
|
Med
|
Low
|
Med
|
Med-high
|
| Attacking
Chopper |
High
|
Low
|
High
|
Med-high
|
High
|
Med-high
|
Med
|
|
Counter-Driver |
Med
|
Med-high
|
Med
|
Low
|
Med
|
Low
|
Med
|
| All-Round
Attacker |
Med-high
|
Med
|
Med
|
Med-high
|
Med
|
Med
|
Low
|
If you match up well with your style, great! If
not, then you need to work on improving your physical level
in the category that you are weak in.
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