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TIP OF THE WEEK
Chopping Versus Retrieving
By Carl Danner
For defense away from the table, there is a difference between what used to be called chopping, versus retrieving. The chopper stayed closer, caught the ball higher and dug into it more. The retriever went further back, contacted the ball lower and added less spin. Defensive-minded players may wonder about the pros and cons of each.Chopping lets you spin the ball more, return it more quickly and perhaps create more aggressive angles. Retrieving lets you react to a slower ball, and permits a low, floating return that frustrates some attackers. Additionally, retrievers can sometimes mix up the underspin on their returns a little better than can choppers, although they must also cover more ground with their footwork.
Which is the better choice? I think the difference lies largely in what kind of balls you are returning. Slow, high, spinny loops are difficult to retrieve, because you must aim up on your shot from a low contact point and therefore have a slim margin for error (since the loop spin also sends the ball up). It's better to chop those. By contrast, lower, harder flatter shots (fast loops or hits) can be contacted low, and floated back by retrieving. The big ball has probably also tipped the scales more towards chopping, since loops and hits dip for the floor sooner and don't fly out as far (or as level) as before.
Many defensive players favor one style or the other by habit. But mixing up the two is also a helpful tactic. If you're more comfortable retrieving, try stepping in to chop some spinny loops. If you chop, think about a low retrieve when your opponent hits flatter attack shots. If you're new to defense (or an attacker learning how to defend, as all developing players should), it's probably best to chop and lob for the most part, as consistent retrieving may be on its way out due to changes in equipment and attacking strokes.