Defending against topspins

Table Tennis Strokes and Technique

Last updated 11 years ago

Muhammad Awais

Muhammad Awais Asked 11 years ago

Most of the time when I try to defend my opponents  top spin smash it usually go outside the table.

What should I do?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago

Hi Muhammad,

If the ball is always going long, try a few things.  

First try to close the angle of the bat slightly.  This means facing it more down towards the table.

Secondly, you can try to put a little topspin on your return.  This will help the ball to dip down onto the table.  If you hit it very flat the ball will keep going and not have any dip on it.

Thirdly, you can also try to relax your hand a little to soften the impact of their hit.

Take a look a our lesson on the Backhand Block on our Stroke & Technique page.  This hsould help you.


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Shripathi ramakrishnan

Shripathi ramakrishnan Posted 11 years ago

hi alois, when i try blocking off a flat hit of backspin/block, the ball almost always goes long! what am i doing wrong?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago

Hi Shripathi,

Are you playing with a bit of topspin.  This will help you to get the ball to dip down onto the table.


bertus bertus

bertus bertus Posted 11 years ago

Keep the bat very still, very close to the surface of the table and don't squeeze the hendle of the bat! Keep it lose in your hand. Blocking is essential in defending against attackers. When you're able to block effectively then think about placement of the ball. My preference is sharp to the opponents backhand side because with backhand you cant hit as hard. And if you produce sharp placed balls you get a weaker ball wich you can counter loop.


Good luck!


Izzy H

Izzy H Posted 11 years ago

You need to hold your bat low to the table so when the ball bounces and it comes up with topspin it almost immediately hits your bat and if you have the right angle it will return to the other side of the table.
This also makes it hard for your opponent to perform another topspin because the ball is getting back very quick.



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