Playing the elbow, also known as the elbow attack, is a strategy in table tennis where a player deliberately targets the elbow of their opponent’s racket-holding arm. It is referred to as the ‘point of indecision’ because, when successfully executed, it leaves the opponent uncertain whether to use their forehand or backhand. The likelihood of the elbow shot resulting in a point increases under the following conditions:
When the attack is a loop kill or smash
- Loop kills and smashes are fast attacks that reduce the opponent’s decision-making time.
When the opponent is closer to the table
- The closer the opponent is to the table, the less time they have to react. This reduces their decision-making time, similar to the first condition.
