Fixing smashes

Table Tennis Strokes and Technique

Last updated 13 years ago

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson Asked 13 years ago

I have recenty been having issues with missing smashes or hitting off table or in the net . I am missing about 2/3 of them when the incoming ball has side spin.

In the past I have been very good at connecting with the ball for a smash regardless of spin or height but recently my accuracy on them has gone way down.

I think my form is pretty good. I learn from you guys at PingSkils. I get into position and side on straight away and pretty much go shoulder height with horizontal swing. I have practiced with video recorder and my stroke looks pretty good. I keep my eye on the ball until the ball has bounced and is about chest height then I work on looking towards my opponents court to make left/right adjustments before smashing the ball. This seems to be the same way I have alway played but obviously something has change to mess up my smashes.

Any temporary training tips or permanent changes to my game that you (and the PingSkills community) can offer would be appreciated.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Paul,

The only thing I wold change there is to keep your eye on the ball while making the stroke and not focusing on your opponent.  You will see this anyway.

Other than that, without seeing you hitting that ball it is a little difficult.  Anyway, try watching the ball constantly and see if it helps. 


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Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson Posted 13 years ago

I have follow your suggestion and have been watching the ball until impact. The folks I play with are not too interested in drills so I ended up tying a string to a ball and suspended it from the ceiling to practice (I know it sounds silly). I would swing it and work on hitting it at the appropriate time, making sure I am watching it the entire time. I have gotten really good at watching the ball and have since applied it to game situations and am doing so much better. Thank you for the suggestion.

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 13 years ago

Hi Paul,

Glad that it is working well for you.  I like the idea of putting a ball on a string just to practice watching the ball. 



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