There is no such thing as a weird style, just styles you are not used to. And yet, players are often petrified, or at least mentally too tight, to play effectively against weird styles. (When I say “weird style” I’m referring to any aspect of the opponent’s play that’s “different,” whether it’s technique or equipment.) So, how can you defeat these weird styles?

1. Remember that they play weird only because they play a rare style or use different equipment, which means it has built-in weaknesses – or more would play that way. Find the weaknesses in their game and apply pressure. For example, a player might have trouble playing against long pips, where he keeps getting his own spin. Then he realizes that if you simply gives the long pips a no-spin ball, he’ll get a no-spin ball back – and once he’s used to that, he can start teeing off against them.
2. Adjust to their style. Play right into the weirdest parts until you are comfortable against it. Then you’ve taken away their “weirdness.”
3. Don’t let a few careless mistakes bother you. When “normal” players play, they are playing their normal game against a style that they are used to. Against a “weird” style, you will make more mistakes, especially when attacking – so accept that, and don’t get discouraged by it. Just make sure you are winning most of the points so those few silly-seeming mistakes won’t matter!
4. Play as many “weird” styles as you can. Some avoid doing so, either because they aren’t fun to play, or just as often from the logic that they may never play another player like that, so why learn to play against this one player? The problem is that adjusting to “weird” styles is a habit that needs to be incorporated into the subconscious so that you can quickly adjust to any style. If you only play “normal” styles, then your subconscious – which controls your reactions – will learn to only react normally, and won’t learn to adjust to shots outside the “normal” range. It’s all about developing flexibility in your game, as opposed to robotically reacting the same to different shots, which is fatal against “weird” styles.
5. In particular, learn how to play against all playing surfaces, not just inverted. Long pips (with or without sponge), medium-long pips, short pips, antispin, hardbat – learn to play them all, both in practice and in theory. For example, against long pips, I’ve already mentioned above how no-spin gives them trouble – in theory. But you have to actually practice doing this, and going after their following returns, to really learn to play this tactic.)

Finally, one little piece of advice. Don’t think of “weird” styles as something to fear. Instead, think of them as someone who’s achieved a higher ranking or rating than they might have if more players knew how to play them. If you know how to play them, they will seem over-rated and won’t seem too threatening. Instead, by knowing how to play them, you are the one who is threatening!