Forehand Follow Through Behind Head

Table Tennis Strokes and Technique

Last updated 6 years ago

Bryan Lee

Bryan Lee Asked 6 years ago

Hi pingskills,

I've seen in some of your past videos that when you complete a forehand, your follow through should not go past your center line of your body. But then i have seen videos of top players bringing their follow through over their head and back a little (Ma Long) after a really powerful shot. Is this fine for us to do after a strong shot? or should try and stay with the normal follow through.

Thanks


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 6 years ago

Hi Bryan,

The follow through will change slightly according to the shot that comes at you.  Sometimes when the ball comes really fast at you the reaction is to finish behind the head to absorb some of the speed as you don't need any forward momentum to get it back on the table.


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Thoughts on this question

Pasquale Mule

Pasquale Mule Posted 6 years ago

Hi Bryan!, its normal yes.. the reason why Alois doesn't want us to cross the middle line is because we must finish our stroke nice and high, the most important part is that you finish high and make sure that arm follows the path of the elbow and that your underarm finishes at a 90 degree angle just as explained in the forehand topspin video. So you can cross it a little if needed but not exagerated. Correct me if im wrong Alois. Hope this helps!


Rohan Keogh

Rohan Keogh Posted 6 years ago

My challenge with controlling the follow-through like this is that I end up creating tension in my arm, shoulder and torso in order to stop the momentum I've created in the pre-contact part of the swing. Without putting the 'brakes' on, my follow through ends at least level with or beyond my left shoulder (at head height).

So, how do we limit the follow-through yet maintain a relaxed disposition?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 6 years ago

There need to be the ability to stop.  The triceps at the back of your arm does a lot of this stopping.  The hand and firearm can still remain relaxed.


Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 6 years ago

I hope the firearm remains relaxed :)


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 6 years ago

Haha... oops... that should be forearm...



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