Last updated 14 years ago
First of all can you actually lob the ball when you are only just behind the basline? And secondly when my oppenent does a loop I can hit the ball but it always stuffs up. How do you hit it back?
And in your video how to smash it look like you are doing a sidespin and a topspin smash.
And last of all when you describe the flick on your video i am still confused because when you do it it looks like a flat surface and then you do a topspin?
Hi Matthew,
Lots of questions.
The lob is a defensive stroke to be used when you are forced away from the table. When you are close to the table the lob is not a good option because if they hit it hard to you it will be difficult to return. You are better off trying a different stroke such as an attacking stroke or a defensive push.
To return a loop the easiest and safest way is to block the ball back. Take a look at the Lessons on Blocking and also the lesson on How to Counter a Slow Spinny Topspin. This last lesson will give you a few options on how to combat the slower loop.
For the smash it should be a fairly flat contact. To get the ball to travel faster it shouldn't be a sidespin contact. This is what we are showing but it may look like a sidespin.
For the flick because you are coming up slightly on the ball there is a little topspin on the ball. The higher the ball the flatter and less topsin you can hit . If the ball is lower or has some backspin, then you need to brush up a little more and get a bit more topspin on the flick.
Hope this all helps.
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