Finish Position – The Most Critical Element
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In each of our Free Online Lessons, there are 3 things that we at PingSkills focus on when looking at a stroke and how to teach it.
• Your body / feet position,
• Start position of your bat
• Finish position
Of these three, the most critical is the finish position when you are learning a stroke.
Try it for yourself. Find the appropriate finish position and if you don’t know what it is go to our Free Online Lessons and select a stroke you want to work on. Find out where you need to finish and then focus on this during your practice.
Werner Schlager
Photo courtesy ITTF
For example for the Forehand Topspin you need to finish with your bat near your head. Focus on getting your bat to this position and see the difference it makes to the learning of your stroke. The rest of your stroke tends to fall into place when you work on getting the finish position right.
This applies to strokes like the backhand counterhit and topspin, the push strokes, flicking and even to serving. Think about where you want your bat to finish with the serving stroke and focus on getting it there. For those of you with a copy of Serving Secrets Revealed, check out some of the finish positions and work on them. Focus especially on the wrist and bat position.
So why does this work? It is because we have time when we are learning to set up the first two things, the body and start positions. All we need to concentrate on while we are executing the stroke then is the finish position. Your body naturally finds the easiest path to get to that position. This direct path is usually the most efficient and effective path for your strokes.
So you may say, if I start with my bat in a really silly place I will not make the stroke correctly. That is completely right. But let us assume we have time to get set when we are learning. So during your training time focus on the finish position and let us know the results.
We think you will be pleasantly surprised.
zulkef
commented on August 6th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Cool. Is it similar in life? Focus on the end result maybe be rich, healthy, happy. But do enjoy the process though.
Hari
commented on February 22nd, 2011 at 10:05 pm
Great one. Sir what should be the finish position for loop and smash?
Jeff Plumb
commented on March 1st, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Hari,
Watch our free lessons on these strokes as we cover that in detail.
Hari
commented on March 2nd, 2011 at 12:08 am
Hi jeff! Do you teach the european method in your free lessons. If so what should be the finish position for chinese loop and smash.
Hari
commented on March 2nd, 2011 at 12:11 am
I have read your free lessons. They are the best. They are short and to the point. I love your free lessons. Thanks for these free lessons which are like precious gem to me.