The backhand counterhit is a very important stroke. You need to master this to progress onto the backhand block and backhand topspin strokes.
Dear Alois, i have also looked at the backhand i play backhands well of which as improved watching PingSkills DVD, but one observation again i am raising is the start position of which yes the bat is open with bat arm and free arm above the table but does it help to position your bat-arm at the height of the net to acheive contact at the peak of the bounce and reduce miss errors.
Hi Derrick,
The start position needs to be a little below the contact point so that your bat is coming up to the contact point and getting a little bit of topspin on the ball.
As always, clear and concise. The only thing better would be to be there studying with you guys in person! Thanks.
Thanks Howard.
Alois, Jeff, Thankyou for the video, you transfer a large quantity of valuable information in less than 5 minutes! Its very effective.
With this drill I have been taught to avoid finishing the stroke with my bat moving off to the right as this can keep my elbow too low. A low elbow position can lead to unnecessary lateral bending of the wrist, in order to close the bat to get the topsin, which introduces unwanted variability. I also finish with my bat pointing in the direction of the ball.
Should I be training this way? ie focussing on keeping a straight wrist in line with the forearm? (whilst allowing for rotational twisting along the axis of the foream and wrist) and fininshing with my bat pointing in the direction of the ball?
Hi Matt,
If there is little time you can shorten the stroke as you say.. If you have time you can follow through fully.
Again, the 1080p HD makes it easier to see details of the strokes. I noted that Jeff was hitting the ball just a bit below the centerline of the bat (as a research engineer, this makes sense to me). In the side views, Jeff appears to be hitting the ball to the left of center, adding some sidespin to the shot. I have seen some of the world's top players do this--at times almost to the extreme.
I presume this is to make the ball curve further to the side--making it harder to reach and to return. Having slow motion is particularly useful for senior players like myself, since there is so much detail to see in some of the table tennis shots.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the feedback Arne. I am not sure about hitting the ball further to the tip of the racket. I think this is because out there the bat is moving faster and so will be able to generate more speed.
Coach thank you very much now i can beat my friends in school.
Good work! I like to hear it.
Hi, names Josh and im 29yo, Iv always been a natural athelete and pregress as sports very rapidly, I have only been playing table tennis since the Olympics and I fell in love with the penhold grip and preferr it over shakehand. It suits my playing style of quick footwork and strong forehand attacks. Im loving all of your videos and have already had to travel to a bigger state to get better competition. I am stil in the process of learning my RPB. Just wondering if you guys would/could make any videos for penhold players. (Just the basic strokes) I really am only having trouble learning to loop my backhand effectively or attacking/blocking with it. Its my weakest point as it is with most penhold players but I would love to master it. Thanks in advance for a reply
Hi Josh,
We do have a video on Youtube on the Penhold Techniques for Table Tennis. It is a basic version of the strokes but it may help you out.
Hello Alois, Nice video n teachings, i need to share that when i am practicing my backhand strokes and rallying with a partner in a practice session, i am very consistent and play with a confidence. But when it comes to a match or a real opponent, i get very reluctant and avoid using much of the backhand stroke rather i make backspin return even when i have a chance of hitting it back with a backhand stroke. i am very good at a forehand strokes with a top spin.
HI Fareed,
That is OK. It is all progressive learning. If you keep working on the stroke you will start to be able to use it in a game as well.
what is the hardest backhand stroke?
Either a backhand smash or a backhand topspin against backspin.
Hi Alois, I love this video and moreover since you are playing with left hand and Jeff is playing with Right, it covers both FH & BH :)
Great work.
is it necessary to hit the ball at a little left side of the center of the bat?? because i often have this problem, whenever i play backhand counters, the ball does not fall in the opponents court!! i feel that the ball-bat contact is a problem for me !! so can you suggest me something sir??
Hi Vaibhav,
For the counterhit it is best to hit the ball in the middle of the bat for the best control. Take particular note of the start and finish positions of the stroke and work hard at getting then right. Everything else will fall into place.
Hi Alois,
i'm really very weak in backhand smash.can u please help me
Hi Kitu,
The Backhand Smash is not something that you need to work on. If the ball is high on the backhand then you should have enough time to get around and make a forehand smash. If not then make a backhand topspin.
Okay I noticed something interesting and have a bit of a question. Where in the ball's path of flight should you make contact with the ball? I noticed in the video Jeff was making contact with the ball 98% of the time on it's way up from the bounce before it reaches it's peak. I am assuming this is because the ball's upward momentum helps "lift" it so you will have height to pass over the net. I have noticed a lot of times when I am having issues with the counter hit the ball is going straight into the net and I am guessing it is in part that I am waiting to hit the ball as it is coming back down to approx. the height of the net
Hi Sean,
I think it is easiest at the top of the bounce or just before it while the ball is still rising. The better you get the earlier you can take the ball to give your opponent less time as well.
I would start thinking about hitting it at the top of the bounce and then work forward.
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