3rd ball attack allowing for sidespin

Table Tennis Strokes and Technique

Last updated 10 years ago

Ivan Kopcanski

Ivan Kopcanski Asked 10 years ago

Hello,

I am left hander and 90% of my opponents are right handed.

I serve very often a long or medium length pendulum side spin serve deep into player's backhand.

I get long push back down the line to my back hand - this is too often to ignore.

The return spin is strange - back spin with rotation axis not parallel with base line.

if it is hit flat, tends to go down and right (in regards of my view point).

My idea and goal is to attack this ball with forehand pivot top spin.

The problem is not a ball's back spin, but it's tendency to go at the right side.

My solution is modified footwork - I place my legs and shoulders in almost 90 degrees with base line.

Then it gets easier to hit the ball in the spot where that "going down" effects starts to work for me.

I asked my partner to return repeatedly my serve in exact the same way - and my tactics worked!

Question for you is: is it ok to modify footwork like that or there is a better solution?

Similar to that, same solution can be applied if opponent serves pendulum back spin to me -

 diagonally to my forehand. Thanks for help, sorry for the long text :)


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago

Hi Ivan,

I think you can do this also with just a slight adjustment of the wrist.  You can bend your wrist backwards slightly and then brush the ball on contact to lift the ball and also get the angle of the stroke correct.

If you turn your whole body it can be slow to get back into position for the next ball.


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Ivan Kopcanski

Ivan Kopcanski Posted 10 years ago

Great that you are raising attention about false creativity. :) You are right about the wrist, it crossed my mind.

But, with banded wrist like that, my shot is too passive, ball is more pushed then brushed.

Here is another idea! How about rotating at the waist to the left rather than moving entire feet?

Bat angle issue would be solved while still keeping myself in correct position. Can you tell if this mindset is OK?

Thank you! :)


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

Yes you need to use your waist as well.  If you keep your wrist relaxed and brush up on the ball this will also help.


Ivan Kopcanski

Ivan Kopcanski Posted 10 years ago

You were completely right on wrist! Usually, the mentioned return is short enough

so I can make a short top spin with waist+wrist twist. It worked perfectly 5 times yesterday.

I will practice that. Thank you Alois :)


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

Great to hear it Ivan.



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