How to Beat Long Pips in Table Tennis

Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Alex Horscroft

Do you hear that wooden knocking sound your opponent’s paddle makes? Take a closer look at the rubbers, there may just be a long pips sheet in the mix!

To many players, this will instill panic. Long pips are so unpredictable! I never know what spin is on the ball! But do not fret. This is just because you don’t have enough experience with the style. Long pips are just as predictable as inverted rubbers are.

In this post, I explain everything there is to know about them, including some useful diagrams to help you visualize what kinds of spin they produce. 

What Is Long Pips in Table Tennis?

Long pimples, or long pips as they are more commonly known, are one of the four types of rubbers. The other three are inverted, short pips, and antispin.

Where normal inverted rubbers have their pimples facing inward into the sponge, the opposite is true of long pips. They face outward and make contact with the ball. They behave rather like antispin as they are not particularly grippy and great for spin reversal. 

What You Need to Know: Visualizing Spin With Long Pips

Longs pips can be very difficult to play against because they turn the usual rules of spin on its head. It’s almost like learning spin again from scratch which is very troublesome — especially when you already have strong muscle memory.

Lots of players struggle against long pips because they don’t have adequate experience and are unable to read the ball well. It’s pretty much a guessing game to them. Yet, like all other rubbers, long pips are completely predictable. By taking note of the shot you hit, along with that of your opponent, you can accurately estimate the spin on the ball.

Long Pips Chop Against Topspin: Gives Backspin

Long pips produce some of the highest-quality chops in the game. And I’m pleased to report that their chops are not so different from inverted.

The pimples grip onto the ball and increase the amount of backspin. This gives you a very heavy backspin ball. 

Long Pips Push Against Backspin: Gives Topspin

This is where we start to get into murky territory because spin reversal is at play. Usually, with inverted, a push against backspin will CHANGE the rotation of the ball. However, with long pips, it lacks the grip to do so.

Instead, it slightly reduces the amount of spin on the ball. Yet the SAME spin is present. This means the backspin ball you struck comes back with topspin. In practice, some of this spin will have dissipated by the time it reaches you. So you can expect light topspin or no spin. 

Long Pips Topspin Against Backspin: Gives Topspin

This is another scenario where the spin is not so different from playing against inverted. The long pips slightly increase the amount of spin on the ball giving topspin. Easy-peasy.

Long Pips Topspin Against Topspin: Gives Backspin 

Okay. This a weird one. But stick with me. Topspin with long pips against topspin shots produces backspin. The reason is the exact same as why pushes against backspin gives topspin: spin reversal.

Long pips lack the grip to change the rotation of the ball. In a usual topspin rally, players ALTERNATE the direction of the spin with each hit. However, long pips cannot do this. Instead, the pimples are only able to reduce the amount of spin on the ball, but it is still traveling in the SAME direction. As a result, the initial topspin ball comes back with light backspin, or sometimes no spin. 

Long Pips Blocks Reverse the Spin on the Ball

While blocking with long pips reverses the spin on the ball, it also has a deadening effect. 

So if you hit topspin you can expect light backspin. On the other hand, if you hit backspin you can expect light topspin. 

Strengths of Long Pips players

1. Players Are Unfamiliar With it

Table tennis is overwhelmingly dominated by attackers in the modern age, and these players use inverted rubbers. As such, there are not many long pips players going around so it’s tough to get experience against the style.

This makes players feel very nervous in matches which results in passive play. 

2. Spin Reversal

Long pips are highly effective at reversing the spin on the ball. In other words, the spin is often the opposite of what you expect it to be, forcing you to change your stroke. Seasoned players have honed their abilities to know which angle to strike the ball at, yet against long pips, this largely goes out of the window. 

3. Consistent

Long-pimple table tennis players tend to be exceptionally consistent, and you really have to hit a quality shot to get the ball past them. Many players become frustrated as the rally extends and try to hit finishers that just aren’t there. 

4. Combination Paddles

Most long pips players use a combination long pips ping pong paddle (one long pips and one inverted). This is a right old headache to deal with!

Just as you feel you are getting the hang of the weird long pips spin, they switch to using their inverted side, mixing up the spin once more. These types of players are my least favorite to play against because the game is anything but straightforward. And oh. Did I forget to mention they twiddle their paddles too? This means they can change the expected spin on the ball at a moment’s notice. Horrible!

5. Great for Injured/Older Players

Older folks or those with longstanding injuries can get great use out of long pips.

As it sports a defensive style with heavy use of blocks and chops the physical demands on the body are greatly reduced compared with loops.  

How to Beat Long Pips Players

1. Push One Loop One

The best way to play against long pips players is to alternate between attack and defence. As we have already learned, long pips chops are loaded with backspin. This means if you try to attack every chop, you have to hit a very high-quality loop which is tough.

Instead, you are much better off alternating between looping and pushing. This is because your opponent will most likely push back your push. This produces light topspin which is super easy to attack.

In essence, it’s a question of whether you would rather loop heavy backspin or light topspin. I know what I’d pick! 

2. Long Backspin Serves

Most long pips players are passive and will push backspin balls. This gives you a light topspin ball that is super easy to attack. So start the rally right!

The best way to serve is usually long and with light backspin. You can of course serve short, but by serving deep you increase the chances of a deep ball return which is easier to attack.

3. Avoid Slow Heavy Topspin

I love slow heavy topspin, but it’s not the best strategy against long pips players — they eat it right up! The resulting chop has an immense amount of backspin which you might put into the net.

A better tactic is to use controlled loops. These are nice and simple to push pack. If you develop a good rhythm, an opportunity to kill the ball should eventually present itself. It is this ball you can load up on spin, but make sure it is fast too. Topspin alone is not the way to go against long pips. 

4. Work Angles and Depth

Some long pips players like to stand close to the table and block while others take a few steps back and chop. For both of these styles, working angles and depth can help make you more challenging as a player.

Hits to the crossover work especially well against players who stand very close to the table. There’s often not enough time to pick a side. As for players who stand further away, wide shots are their kryptonite. While they have more time to react to the ball it’s much harder for them to cover the entire table.

5. Pin Them On Their Inverted Side

When things just aren’t going your way, you can think to hell with it, and only play the ball to their inverted side.

Provided they don’t twiddle, you’ll only be playing against an inverted rubber which is what you’re used to. More often than not, the inverted rubber is on the forehand side which tends to be weaker for blocks and chops. This may very well force more offensive rallies.

Alternatively, it could prompt your opponent to stand more to the right to cover their forehand side with their backhand. We all know what that means! Their forehand flank is wide open for a smash or loop kill!

6. Ditch Heavy Sidespin Serves

Heavy sidespin serves are a way to confuse yourself against long pips. Not only this, but long pips rubbers are less reactive to spin as well. So not only will you get yourself in a muddle, but your opponent won’t mess up many of your serves.

A far better strategy is to set yourself up for a quality third ball with a long backspin serve to the long pips rubber side. 

The Long Pips Player in Action

This video showcases the classic looper vs long pips player. While the long pips competitor doesn’t twiddle, he does use a combination setup featuring inverted. This enables him to play offensively on his forehand and punish any weak balls that come his way. I recommend you check the match out — it’s a tight five-setter!

Closing Thoughts

Long pips are one of the best rubbers for defensive players. Chops are loaded with backspin, and its spin reversal can be very difficult to read. That being said, with a solid strategy, beating long pips players is certainly within your grasp. 

Just make sure you are familiar with what type of spin the rubber produces. I recommend referring to the above diagrams as needed as they should come in handy. Perhaps consider bookmarking this page ready for the next time you face a long pips player.    

Next Lessons

I recommend checking out my guide on playing against antispin players. You won’t face the style as much, but the strategy is very similar to facing long pips, so it’s a good next step. 

You might also find my guide on facing choppers useful. Most long pips players chop, so there’s plenty of handy advice that you can take from that post.