Problems with the Traditional Method
The main problem with the traditional method of grouping playing styles is that the terms attacker, blocker, and defender tend to be used to also describe the strokes being played, which is not always accurate. In the old method, a topspinner or smasher is automatically an attacker, and a backspinner is automatically a defender.
More experienced players know that this is not always the case. Topspinners can be defensive in outlook, and backspinners can be aggressive. The idea of grouping players by their strokes didn’t really give all the necessary information about a player. Another way was needed to get a more accurate description of the playing styles.
A New Way of Describing Styles – Level of Aggression
A different way to view the many playing styles is by the level of aggression shown by the player. While at first glance this would seem to be similar to the traditional method, on closer inspection it actually proves to be quite different.
In this method, the amount of aggression that is being used by the player is joined together with the actual strokes that he plays. So you can have a slightly defensive topspinner, or a very aggressive backspinner. Blockers can be aggressive or defensive depending on their approach to the game.
A very aggressive player will be trying to force his opponent to make mistakes, and will take calculated risks in order to win a point. He is willing to make mistakes of his own in order to keep pressuring his opponent. This type of player can be thought of as a ‘play to win’ type of player.
A very defensive or passive player will be trying to avoid making mistakes himself, while allowing his opponent to make the first error. He will not take calculated risks, preferring the safer option each time. This type of player can be thought of as a ‘play not to lose’ type of player.
The amount of aggression can be thought of as a line, with extremely aggressive players at one end, and extremely defensive players at the other. Most players styles will fall somewhere between the two extremes. For example, a moderately aggressive looper will be looking to force mistakes from his opponent most of the time with his loops, but may simply try to return the ball safely with a block if he is attacked hard by his opponent.
A particular player’s level of aggressiveness can also vary from match to match or game to game, or even point to point, depending on his opponent, and what tactics the player is using to try to win.
<------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Extremely aggressive...........................................................Extremely Defensive
