Table Tennis Tips
Hitting the Ball
Drives
Drives are strokes that use the topspin to make a low ball.
It is used to force errors out of the opponent and give
them less ways to attack back.
To use the forehand drive, turn your body at the waist
so that your sides are facing the table. Then you must lower
your paddle to waist level and hold it so that the hitting
part is facing your opponent. Place most of the weight in
the back foot and then swing the paddle forward to meet
the ball at the correct moment. Then shift the weight back
to the front foot and turn the body to face the front as
you swing the paddle. The ball should be hit with the front
part of the paddle and to the side that it was hit with.
The paddle will move forward and slightly upwards to finish
the motion and then you should return to your ready stance.
To use the backhand drive, stand facing your opponent with
the flat end of the paddle at waist level and parallel to
the waist. The paddle should be held so that most of the
fingers are facing the body. The paddle should move forward
with a slight elbow bend to hit the ball. The ball should
be hit with the part of the paddle for backhand and slightly
to the side it was hit with. Then turn the wrist so that
it closes the racket and forces the ball towards the table.
The paddle should move in the same direction as the ball
to follow though with the motion and then you should return
to your ready stance.
Push
Pushes are strokes that are used to change the speed of
the game and to return backspin serves that come in very
low and close. It is used as a defensive move and if done
properly, can send the ball to anywhere on the table that
will be hard to attack from.
Pushes are done by, first, putting your serving foot forward
and then raising the racket up and slightly back with your
elbow near your waist. Swing the racket downwards to contact
the ball soon after its bounce and then flick the wrist
for extra speed when it reaches the ball. Also do this with
an open racket so that the bottom part of the ball can be
grazed and to keep the ball low.
Blocks
Blocks are not even really strokes, they just use your
opponents strength against them by simply placing the racket
in front of the ball after its bounce. It is a relatively
simple move to save you from shots you have very little
time to prepare for.
Do a block against a topspin by tilting the racket’s
hitting area downwards and then allowing the force of the
ball to send it back. The angle of the racket depends on
how much force the opponent put into shooting the ball,
basically, the faster it is coming at you, the more tilted
it should be for a controlled return shot.
Smash
Smashes are used as a way to end a play because if properly
done, it will be shot at the opponent at such a high speed
that they won’t be able to return it properly.
Smashes are done against any high balls near the opponents
side and hit at the top of the bounce. It is similar to
a drive except that there is a longer swing, for more momentum,
at a faster rate, so that the ball will speed towards the
other side, with a closed racket to keep the ball within
bounds. Try to aim for places your opponent will not reach
in time or will not be able to return well. Just because
you have managed a successful shot, know that there is the
possibility that it can be returned.
Chops
Chops are defensive strokes that use a great deal of backspin
to keep the ball going straight and bouncing low. They are
hit after the ball has bounced and has begun to fall and
this is anywhere from under the table to a few feet away
just so they can force their opponent into making an error.
To do a chop, turn your body to the right for forehands
and the left for backhands, and vice versa for left-handers.
Bring the racket up and near your head and extend the opposite
leg, which means most of your weight should be in foot under
the racket. Then swing the racket downwards and forward
and hit the ball as it starts dropping. Keep racket open
and aim and graze the back bottom part of the ball. Follow
through by letting the racket reach its lowest point, which
you will know by your straightened arm, and then returning
to your ready stance.
Flips
Flips are used to return short balls and can be an alternate
for the push. With the use of a strong wrist and a large
step forward, they can send the ball back at great speeds
to surprise the opponent.
To do a flip, you must first take a large step forward
with your serving leg, which could mean putting it under
the table. Then bend the wrist back, perhaps over the table,
and put it under the falling ball after the bounce. When
the ball touches the racket, flick it with your wrist and
move your arm forward and up to give it a graze. Then move
back into your ready stance as fast as you can.
Lobs
Lobs are used defensively especially against smashes that
are far from the table. If done properly, it will have a
lot of topspin and sidespin and will send the ball far to
the other side of the table.
To hit a lob, first lower the paddle and keep the arm straight.
Then lower the shoulder as well and shift most of the weight
to the back foot. Bring the paddle upwards and hit the ball
as it begins to drop away from the table. Hit it high with
a good topspin so that it will land on the farther parts
of the table. Continue through with the sweeping motion
and then return to your ready stance so that you will be
ready for the next move.
Loops
Loops are used to give the ball a lot more spin and for
attacking. Since it requires a stronger upward motion with
the racket to really graze the ball, it will sacrifice moving
forward as much to get a lot of spin
To start a forehand loop, get ready by moving the leg that
is on the same side as your serving arm a little step back
and turning your upper body and lowering your shoulder along
with it so that the racket is slightly behind the back leg.
Keep both knees continuously bent but with the back one
bent a little more for backspins. As the ball approaches,
bring the racket up and turn your body forward at the same
time and then shift most of your weight to the front foot.
Graze and hit the ball forward for topspins and upwards
for backspins. Continue through with the motion upwards
and to the opposite side before returning to your ready
stance.
To start a backhand loop, keep knees well bent and bring
racket in front of the opposite leg by lowering the shoulders
a little bit. Bring the back of the racket forward and graze
the ball as you hit it. Complete swinging racket to other
side of the body and then return to your ready stance.
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