Nearly all players reflexively set up to cover against the crosscourt shot. They are ready for down the line shots as well, but players tend to play more crosscourt, and crosscourt gives opponents a bigger angle you have to guard against. And so players guard that side more.

 You could just go down the line. It’s slightly riskier since there’s less table, and it gives your opponent a potential wide crosscourt angle. So it can be a gamble if you aren’t careful. But there’s a simple way to make it pay off almost every time.

Since opponents are already inclined to cover against the crosscourt shot, give it to them – or at least fake it. Set up for that shot, even aim your racket that way. You don’t have to wait and see if the opponent is moving to cover against that– he is. If you wait to verify, it’s too late. Instead, at the instant you expect him to be moving to cover against your crosscourt shot, that’s when you change directions and go the other way. Then watch your opponent lunge and flail at your shot!

You can do this with both forehand and backhand. There’s a simple way to learn how to do these shots, where you set up one way, and then, at the last second go the other way. It’s an ancient secret, but I’ll give it to you – practice! If you practice it in drills or in practice matches, it’ll be there for you in the big matches.