Sunday, December 9, 2007
Footwork
This article is included in the "Table Tennis: From A to Z" e-book which you can order it from here
Slow forehand topspin
This article is included in the "Table Tennis: From A to Z" e-book which you can order it from here
Forehand-retopspin (2)
This article is included in the "Table Tennis: From A to Z" e-book which you can order it from here
Lift Strokes
IntroductionThis is a very technical stroke that is very deceptive. It is difficult to execute and also difficult for opponents to recognise and managed. It is only performed against relatively heavy underspin. The primary objective of a player performing this stroke is to "lift" the opponent's underspin back to him with little or no spin at the point of returning it.The whole idea is to play a fast trick on your opponent, making him to believe what is not true. Because table tennis is a fast game that relatively depends on speed and spin, it requires quick decision making and fast reflexes .You must act fast considering your opponent's stroke.
Executing Lift strokes:In the process of performing lift stroke, a very experience player pretends as if he wants to loop an opponent's underspin but will only place his racket almost if not completely horizontal (see diagram above) and lift the underspin ball across the net. One important principle applicable is the fact that the stroke is by force and not by friction. If there is friction, it should result to partial underspin. The player's racket contacts the ball by taping it in an upward direction. what this means is that the player must assume the position of looping an underspin (down - up motion). If the opponent is deceived by this motion, he blocks the partial underspin or a close to motionless no-spin and the resultant effect is that the ball hits the net. Remember that you can only block top-spin drive/loop strokes with speed and not underspin or "no-spin no-speed" stroke.
Explanation of "no-spin & no-speed" stroke Take a look at the diagram above. When an opponent plays an underspin to you by chopping (preferably deep chop), you lift the ball by taping upward; what you are planning to do is to neutralise the spin, then the ball moves to your opponent's court with a "slight" underspin. This situation retards the speed to a great extent. The table surface drags the ball down and any attempt to block the ball will result to hitting the net.
How to return lift strokes:
What you need to do is to:* watch the player and observe if the stroke is by force or by friction. If it is by force do not block.* watch the ball and observe the no-spin situation. Quickly counter. If you are close to the table smash.* watch the ball and observe the slight under-spin situation. Quickly push. If you are close to the table counter or smash.
The only remedy to successfully return 'Lift' stroke is to perform any other strokes except blocking.
Executing Lift strokes:In the process of performing lift stroke, a very experience player pretends as if he wants to loop an opponent's underspin but will only place his racket almost if not completely horizontal (see diagram above) and lift the underspin ball across the net. One important principle applicable is the fact that the stroke is by force and not by friction. If there is friction, it should result to partial underspin. The player's racket contacts the ball by taping it in an upward direction. what this means is that the player must assume the position of looping an underspin (down - up motion). If the opponent is deceived by this motion, he blocks the partial underspin or a close to motionless no-spin and the resultant effect is that the ball hits the net. Remember that you can only block top-spin drive/loop strokes with speed and not underspin or "no-spin no-speed" stroke.
Explanation of "no-spin & no-speed" stroke Take a look at the diagram above. When an opponent plays an underspin to you by chopping (preferably deep chop), you lift the ball by taping upward; what you are planning to do is to neutralise the spin, then the ball moves to your opponent's court with a "slight" underspin. This situation retards the speed to a great extent. The table surface drags the ball down and any attempt to block the ball will result to hitting the net.
How to return lift strokes:
What you need to do is to:* watch the player and observe if the stroke is by force or by friction. If it is by force do not block.* watch the ball and observe the no-spin situation. Quickly counter. If you are close to the table smash.* watch the ball and observe the slight under-spin situation. Quickly push. If you are close to the table counter or smash.
The only remedy to successfully return 'Lift' stroke is to perform any other strokes except blocking.
Chinese Forehand foreward loop guide
Forehand foreward Loop (off of no spin or top spin) Guide (From the Chinese National Team)
This is a stroke that can't be seen on video to determine how to do. However, if you understand how to do the stroke, the video will make much more sense to you. The reason being that players are very quick and the video can't catch the right moment. If you get this stroke right, I gaurantee your looping lvl will go at least 2 notches higher.
Basics
-Be sure you are loose and relaxed. Not only your shoulder and wrist should be loose, but also your torso. -Use your waist. This does not mean your shoulders. Many people use their upper body instead of their lower abdomins. Try and think of shifting your weight from one leg to the other while twisting your waist. -When you do the stroke, wind back, this includes your waist and your forearm. Use your waist to bring your big arm back and bring back only your forearm, not your big arm. -Accelerate to the ball while keeping loose. When you make contact with the ball, your muscles should be a little more tight. The moment after you hit the ball as your following through, you should be loose again. -Make sure your body moves with the arm
Those were the basics, here are some things that I have learned from Top Chinese coaches.
-If you watch a player like Wang Liqin, you can see him using his whole arm when they forehand loop. Many coaches tell you that you should only snap your forearm. This was the old way of looping. If you tell them to loop with their whole arm, they will continue to say its wrong. However, this is the new technique and i ensure you it is not only more powerful, but more accurate. -When using the whole arm, you still have to snap your forearm, but you also use your big arm. -It is very important to hit the ball into the foam of the rubber. Not the rubber sheet nor so deep it reaches into the blade. When you make contact with the ball, your paddle should be 80-90 degrees (Perpendicular to the ground). If the ball goes off the table, DO NOT solve the problem by closing your paddle on contact. Instead keep it at 80-90 degrees and follow through more foreward or down, however you choose after hitting the ball. This is one quick motion and remember keep loose. If it goes into the net, follow through up more. REMEMBER JUST BECAUSE YOU SHOULD NOT CLOSE THE PADDLE ON CONTACT DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD NOT CLOSE IT AFTER YOU HIT IT. WHAT I MEAN BY THIS IS AS SOON AS THE BALL TOUCHES THE RUBBER, YOU CAN CLOSE THE PADDLE TO KEEP THE PADDLE QUICK BUT INTO THE FOAM OF THE RUBBER. -Turn your wrist when the ball makes contact with the rubber as to keep it in the foam. You do not have to turn it a whole lot, but just to give the ball some "encouragement". The usage of wrist varries from situation to situation. -Also remember: when you wind back to prepare for the stroke, the paddle should start at the ball's current height. -When looping more away from the ball, your opposite foot of your paddle arm should be parralel to the back of the table. (if your right-handed it your left foot and visa versa) -If it seems unaccurate, make sure you are making contact with the ball at 80-90 degrees and into the foam. -Because you are using your whole arm to loop, you can follow through as much as you want. What i mean by this, is that lots of coaches in North America say you should follow through to your nose. This again, is the old style of looping with just snapping the forearm. -Do not be afraid that the ball will go off the end of the table, you can accelerate as fast as you want as long as you direct the ball in the follow through while keeping it in the foam. -Also remember, when you are looping closer to the table, you don't use your big arm as much, but you still do to add some power. -When practicing, sometimes when you don't get it, rember that the paddle has to be perpindicular to the ground. Sometimes it may feel like your doing it, but your actually not. To resolve this, try slowing down and make sure you hit the ball into the foam. -One of the principles is that when the ball is in the foam, you can control it as it "sticks" to your rubber as you turn your wrist. The longer it stays, the more control you have. -When Looping this way, you use the whole arm. However, you don't always use it completely. When you are close to the table, you may use half effort of the big arm. As you are more away from the table you should now fully use the big arm. As you get more advanced, you can use more usage of the big arm when closer to the table. You can start by using a little bit of your big arm when looping. And as you get more "feeling" for the ball, you can start to put a little more big arm power in.
This is a stroke that can't be seen on video to determine how to do. However, if you understand how to do the stroke, the video will make much more sense to you. The reason being that players are very quick and the video can't catch the right moment. If you get this stroke right, I gaurantee your looping lvl will go at least 2 notches higher.
Basics
-Be sure you are loose and relaxed. Not only your shoulder and wrist should be loose, but also your torso. -Use your waist. This does not mean your shoulders. Many people use their upper body instead of their lower abdomins. Try and think of shifting your weight from one leg to the other while twisting your waist. -When you do the stroke, wind back, this includes your waist and your forearm. Use your waist to bring your big arm back and bring back only your forearm, not your big arm. -Accelerate to the ball while keeping loose. When you make contact with the ball, your muscles should be a little more tight. The moment after you hit the ball as your following through, you should be loose again. -Make sure your body moves with the arm
Those were the basics, here are some things that I have learned from Top Chinese coaches.
-If you watch a player like Wang Liqin, you can see him using his whole arm when they forehand loop. Many coaches tell you that you should only snap your forearm. This was the old way of looping. If you tell them to loop with their whole arm, they will continue to say its wrong. However, this is the new technique and i ensure you it is not only more powerful, but more accurate. -When using the whole arm, you still have to snap your forearm, but you also use your big arm. -It is very important to hit the ball into the foam of the rubber. Not the rubber sheet nor so deep it reaches into the blade. When you make contact with the ball, your paddle should be 80-90 degrees (Perpendicular to the ground). If the ball goes off the table, DO NOT solve the problem by closing your paddle on contact. Instead keep it at 80-90 degrees and follow through more foreward or down, however you choose after hitting the ball. This is one quick motion and remember keep loose. If it goes into the net, follow through up more. REMEMBER JUST BECAUSE YOU SHOULD NOT CLOSE THE PADDLE ON CONTACT DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD NOT CLOSE IT AFTER YOU HIT IT. WHAT I MEAN BY THIS IS AS SOON AS THE BALL TOUCHES THE RUBBER, YOU CAN CLOSE THE PADDLE TO KEEP THE PADDLE QUICK BUT INTO THE FOAM OF THE RUBBER. -Turn your wrist when the ball makes contact with the rubber as to keep it in the foam. You do not have to turn it a whole lot, but just to give the ball some "encouragement". The usage of wrist varries from situation to situation. -Also remember: when you wind back to prepare for the stroke, the paddle should start at the ball's current height. -When looping more away from the ball, your opposite foot of your paddle arm should be parralel to the back of the table. (if your right-handed it your left foot and visa versa) -If it seems unaccurate, make sure you are making contact with the ball at 80-90 degrees and into the foam. -Because you are using your whole arm to loop, you can follow through as much as you want. What i mean by this, is that lots of coaches in North America say you should follow through to your nose. This again, is the old style of looping with just snapping the forearm. -Do not be afraid that the ball will go off the end of the table, you can accelerate as fast as you want as long as you direct the ball in the follow through while keeping it in the foam. -Also remember, when you are looping closer to the table, you don't use your big arm as much, but you still do to add some power. -When practicing, sometimes when you don't get it, rember that the paddle has to be perpindicular to the ground. Sometimes it may feel like your doing it, but your actually not. To resolve this, try slowing down and make sure you hit the ball into the foam. -One of the principles is that when the ball is in the foam, you can control it as it "sticks" to your rubber as you turn your wrist. The longer it stays, the more control you have. -When Looping this way, you use the whole arm. However, you don't always use it completely. When you are close to the table, you may use half effort of the big arm. As you are more away from the table you should now fully use the big arm. As you get more advanced, you can use more usage of the big arm when closer to the table. You can start by using a little bit of your big arm when looping. And as you get more "feeling" for the ball, you can start to put a little more big arm power in.
Forehand Flip/Flick Guide
The forehand flip/flick is an offensive shot for attacking short balls. Remember, only flip the ball when you think it will be high quality. A low quality one will make a decent player kill the ball. If your opponent is not at that high of a level, than you can do it more often.
Basics
-step in underneath the table with one foot
-Use mostly your wrist and your forearm when flipping the ball
-close the paddle during the follow through of flipping the ball
-When flipping the ball it is mostly "hitting the ball" not grazing it
-be quick when hitting the ball and snap through
Flipping/Flicking Info from the Chinese coaches
-If the ball is coming on the side of your forehand, hit the ball's side to make it go cross-court. If you want to hit it down the line, you can hit the back of the ball if there is little or no underspin on the ball.
-If there is a good amount of underspin on the ball, flip it on the side of the ball as it is on the axis and the spin effect is much less there. Then you can hit the ball harder. If the ball has a good amount of underspin and it is coming on the side of your forehand, hit it on the side and guide it to the direction you want it to go. Obviously, you are not going to hit the very side of the ball, but the more of the side you hit, the effect of the spin will diminish. If you hit the back of the ball, it will be very hard to produce a quick shot. If the ball is high, you can hit the back of the ball as it will be safer to produce a fast shot. When you hit the side of the ball and make it go down the line, it looks almost as if you are hitting below the ball's equator. (You can do this depending on the angle you are in)
-Lots of the time if it is a weak underspin shot, you can hit the back of the ball. This time, let's say I am right handed, instead of stepping in with my right leg, I can step in with my left leg. It will then be easier to change direction of my shot if I want it to go down the line or cross-court.
-When you flip, make a sort of scooping motion with the paddle. (the paddle goes down then up). When the paddle reaches contact with the ball, that point should be fastest. Don't bring your paddle back aways from the ball before flipping it. It should be a quick "U" motion (from watching the side of the table)
-Remember to mostly HIT the ball even when hitting on the side.
Basics
-step in underneath the table with one foot
-Use mostly your wrist and your forearm when flipping the ball
-close the paddle during the follow through of flipping the ball
-When flipping the ball it is mostly "hitting the ball" not grazing it
-be quick when hitting the ball and snap through
Flipping/Flicking Info from the Chinese coaches
-If the ball is coming on the side of your forehand, hit the ball's side to make it go cross-court. If you want to hit it down the line, you can hit the back of the ball if there is little or no underspin on the ball.
-If there is a good amount of underspin on the ball, flip it on the side of the ball as it is on the axis and the spin effect is much less there. Then you can hit the ball harder. If the ball has a good amount of underspin and it is coming on the side of your forehand, hit it on the side and guide it to the direction you want it to go. Obviously, you are not going to hit the very side of the ball, but the more of the side you hit, the effect of the spin will diminish. If you hit the back of the ball, it will be very hard to produce a quick shot. If the ball is high, you can hit the back of the ball as it will be safer to produce a fast shot. When you hit the side of the ball and make it go down the line, it looks almost as if you are hitting below the ball's equator. (You can do this depending on the angle you are in)
-Lots of the time if it is a weak underspin shot, you can hit the back of the ball. This time, let's say I am right handed, instead of stepping in with my right leg, I can step in with my left leg. It will then be easier to change direction of my shot if I want it to go down the line or cross-court.
-When you flip, make a sort of scooping motion with the paddle. (the paddle goes down then up). When the paddle reaches contact with the ball, that point should be fastest. Don't bring your paddle back aways from the ball before flipping it. It should be a quick "U" motion (from watching the side of the table)
-Remember to mostly HIT the ball even when hitting on the side.
Backhand loop Guide
I've seen quite a few styles of backhands both Chinese and European. This is how I understandably know how Europeans backhand loop to but this is a Chinese way of looking at it. Please comment if you have any additional info
Basics
Basics
-(things to note) Have the elbow pointed forward. This is very important. From the elbow down (your wrist, your forearm), should be relaxed. The elbow should be ahead of the wrist
-It is important to use your wrist, forearm, as well as your body.
When receiving a top-spin or no spin ball
-Keep your weight evenly destributed on both legs and a little wider than shoulder width. To wind back, shift 70% of your weight to your right leg. Having more weight on your right leg will cause your body to twist left. Bend your right leg a little. Point your elbow foreward and bring your wrist cocked back loosely. Make sure the elbow is ahead of your wrist and bring the wrist back to your stomach area.
-Keep the paddle around 45 degrees (whatever is comfortable for you). Don't open the paddle up completely when receiving a top-spin or no spin ball. Nor should you close it completely
-Hit the ball into the foam of the rubber so you can control it. When the ball makes contact with the rubber, close the paddle. Chinese coaches will tell you to "wrap the ball" (mostly with your wrist and some with your forearm)
-As you do this motion, shift your weight back to the original backhand ready stance (weight evenly distributed)
-Don't wind back with your elbow comming back as you don't want to use your elbow to drive your arm.
-You can use your big arm as long as you make your forearm drive your arm first. If your using your big arm, make sure the elbow goes to the side not foreward when you do the stroke.
Backhand looping off of underspin
-(things to note) Elbow should be pointed foreward (ahead of your wrist). The wrist should be cocked back. From your elbow down, should be loose.
-As you get ready for the backhand loop, your weight should again be evenly distributed with a little wider than shoulderwidth stance. Your wrist should get ready to come back cocked loosely with your elbow ahead of your wrist.
-As you swing back, make sure your right leg has 70% of the weight. Bend your legs a little (mostly on your right as your most of your weight is there) and bring the paddle to your waist area.
-When you loop the ball, your leg should spring back up a little and have the weight shift to the original stance.
-The forehand drives the arm. The elbow DOES NOT drive the arm. So don't bring the elbow back. If you want to use your big arm, use the forearm to drive the elbow which goes to the side.
-The paddle should be more open and make sure you "wrap the ball" (mainly with your wrist). However, this doesn't mean your forearm should not do any wrapping action to.
-If the ball is very spinny and your loop goes to the net, bring your paddle down more (sometimes under your crotch)
Additional Tip
-If you want to make the ball go down the line, shift about 90% of your weight to your right leg. (not So much that your left leg is left dangling in the air) Then it is easier to hit the right-side of the ball to make it go down-the line.
Reverse Penhold Backhand
-RP Backhand is the same except that you have to do two of the following things
-Your grip should not be like the old way of holding the paddle. It should be more like Wang Hao's. The pinky, ring, and middle finger should not be curled so much that the side of the middle finger is keeping pressure on the surface of the paddle. If you want to do RPB, you should take the three fingers and put them straight on the back together with all three fingers touching the paddle. Then curve them to the side together with most of the pressure between your thumb and the pad of your middle finger. The side of the middle finger should be touching the paddle but not keeping pressure. The pads of the ring and pinky should also be touching the paddle but not keeping pressure.
-You have to try and hit the ball near the edge of the paddle as not to hit the fingers. Shakehand players should try to hit there as well as there is more wrist movement there. Thus, more power.
Backhand block & Counterloop Guide
Backhand Block
-When blocking, always try to keep the paddle 45 degrees (not to the ground). Make sure the handle is not parrallel or perpendicular to the ground. So make the handle about 45 degrees to the ground. (the paddle far edge faces towards the ground if your a penholder reverse and up if your handshake. This will give you good control and more surface area of hitting the ball.
-When you block the ball, turn your a little wrist for some extra control.
-If the ball is very spinny, try and block more towards the side as that is where the ball's spin effect is not as effective
-Sometimes when you want to take a good amount of pace away from the ball, some Chinese coaches say that when the ball comes to your paddle, you may want to bring the paddle back a little to slow the ball down. This can be used for having a block close to the table if the opponent is far out etc.
Counter-loop
-When you are closer to the table, you don't want to make to much of a motion. However, when you are further away from the table, the stroke becomes much like a backhand loop. When you are further away, you should use your big arm as well.
-When close to the table, try and hit the ball while it is just about to get to the highest point. You don't need to wind back to much.
-Cock your wrist loosely and bring your forearm back a little just enough that the cocked wrist is behind the elbow (sometimes you don't have enough time to bring it back there, so just aim towards it). Also don't forget to be loose.
-Also use a little waist to bring your paddle back (Not to much)
-As you counter-loop the ball, hit it around 45 degrees depending on the spin, and into the foam. Then close the paddle after you make contact
-When you are further away from the table, you should bring your forearm back so the elbow is more ahead of the wrist than when close-to table counter-looping. You might also want to use your big arm when counter-loopin away from the table. When you do this, the elbow should go to the side, not foreword. The forearm should mainly drive the rest of the arm
Side Note: When close-to-table counterlooping, make sure from the elbow down, is all loose. When more away from the table, the whole arm can be loose as well.
-When blocking, always try to keep the paddle 45 degrees (not to the ground). Make sure the handle is not parrallel or perpendicular to the ground. So make the handle about 45 degrees to the ground. (the paddle far edge faces towards the ground if your a penholder reverse and up if your handshake. This will give you good control and more surface area of hitting the ball.
-When you block the ball, turn your a little wrist for some extra control.
-If the ball is very spinny, try and block more towards the side as that is where the ball's spin effect is not as effective
-Sometimes when you want to take a good amount of pace away from the ball, some Chinese coaches say that when the ball comes to your paddle, you may want to bring the paddle back a little to slow the ball down. This can be used for having a block close to the table if the opponent is far out etc.
Counter-loop
-When you are closer to the table, you don't want to make to much of a motion. However, when you are further away from the table, the stroke becomes much like a backhand loop. When you are further away, you should use your big arm as well.
-When close to the table, try and hit the ball while it is just about to get to the highest point. You don't need to wind back to much.
-Cock your wrist loosely and bring your forearm back a little just enough that the cocked wrist is behind the elbow (sometimes you don't have enough time to bring it back there, so just aim towards it). Also don't forget to be loose.
-Also use a little waist to bring your paddle back (Not to much)
-As you counter-loop the ball, hit it around 45 degrees depending on the spin, and into the foam. Then close the paddle after you make contact
-When you are further away from the table, you should bring your forearm back so the elbow is more ahead of the wrist than when close-to table counter-looping. You might also want to use your big arm when counter-loopin away from the table. When you do this, the elbow should go to the side, not foreword. The forearm should mainly drive the rest of the arm
Side Note: When close-to-table counterlooping, make sure from the elbow down, is all loose. When more away from the table, the whole arm can be loose as well.
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