How to kill non-short balls at the net-height?

I can loop kill deep balls at the bottom of net or lower height by just going up with my blade.  And of course, I can flat hit balls above net.  But, I have problem killing balls that are at the net height, and come at me with pace, so I cannot wait for them to drop, and can't attack them either.  I end up blocking/lobbing/chopping them and go into defense.  My footwork fails to catch up.

Well, I can flip everything but heavy underspin. 

Try adding a bit of motion that lets you brush over the top of the ball.  Kind of start the swing like you're looping a weak backspin ball, then finish the motion with your racket going over the ball.

dingyibvs wrote: Try adding a bit of motion that lets you brush over the top of the ball.  Kind of start the swing like you're looping a weak backspin ball, then finish the motion with your racket going over the ball.

I think one can flip the ball over net, and let ball drop on the table using small force. If the ball is out of table, one may have used too much energy for flipping.

APW46 wrote: Cynicyclonian wrote: I can flat hit balls above net.  But, I have problem killing balls that are at the net height, and come at me with pace   Don't we all? No- one said it was gonna be easy, The incoming ball that you wish to kill is a very high risk shot for an advanced player, most would be either taking is later and topspinning back using placement and spin to try to gain an advantage, blocking it, counterhitting it, chopping, fishing, etc but not killing it, wait for an easier ball to do that.

The urge to kill it is either in your nature, or induced by the pressure your superior opponnent is bringing upon you. That pressure is indeed intense, because you KNOW that if you do not make a quality return, your opponent will end the point from you return that isn't perfect. That can be rough. Being able to kill it by good timing, a little more open blade and forward weight transfer isn't exactly a high percentage shot as Andy is so correct in saying, it is way harder to execute that shot if your anticipation, position, and ready posture/balance are not in order, PLUS not to mention that pressure opponent puts on you knowing you must make it land and land well. That is why superior opponents win - they impose their will on you and you know you have to be near-perfect, or you perish. That is how the class players win without even hitting half the time.

If that bottomspin ball is one that crosses the endline, my opponent just put a smile on my face. He just gave me the ball that I am most comfortable attacking with heavy spin or power at a high percentage and with placement control. Looping or loopdriving against a long underspin ball ought to be one of the easiest offensive shots in the game. Now if that ball is short, it gets a lot more complicated to aggressively attack it, probably better to play position and get another ball with brighter possibiliites.