How to beat a Big Forehand Looper
Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi
3/17/2004

A player with a powerful forehand with a big stroke and a consistent backhand i.e. the player doesn’t try to make the point right away from the backhand however it is a safe backhand and it is just a setup for the forehand topspin to finish the point.

Strategy against this style: Obviously you would like to avoid going to the forehand with a slow ball because then you are sure you’ll receive a bullet. However, I believe that players that have a big swing for their forehand topspin, an efficient tactic is to emphasize returns on their backhand and then quickly change to the deep forehand corner. This way they won’t have time to adjust their heavy forehand topspin and then you go back to the backhand. Another scenario is to play against their backhand and then quickly change to the middle (i.e. the elbow).

Also, usually players with powerful forehands do not have a speed-oriented game that is taking the ball right at the bounce. They don’t play too close to the table but at a mid distance. It would then a good idea to change the rhythm. For instance, modify the speed of your forehand topspin and also the location i.e. topspin to the backhand and then to the middle.

In addition, what I noticed is that if you are a left-handed player such as myself and you are playing against this particular style, when the opponent (assuming his right-handed) is changing from backhand to backhand down the line rallies to deep to your forehand, try not to topspin with your forehand cross but instead go with a fast topspin down the line to his forehand. Your opponent won’t have time to adjust his forehand topspin. It usually works pretty well. All though, make sure your topspin is fast enough otherwise he can block the ball back and wide to your backhand.

Regarding the service placement from a left-handed perspective, once in a while, long services (a “kicker” serve if possible) are efficient if from the return you try to change right away the direction with a fast pace to the forward corner or the opponent’s elbow. If the player has as a consistent backhand, he would less likely pivot.

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[Playing Tips. Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi.]