How to hit the ball down the line

Table Tennis Strokes and Technique

Last updated 12 years ago

Mars De Los Santos

Mars De Los Santos Asked 14 years ago

Coach, I'm having problems with changing the direction of my forehand loop, forehand drive and forehand flick. I have no problems doing those to the forehand side and center of my opponent but when it comes to directing the ball to my opponent's backhand side, I simply can't do it. This is with the assumption that both of us are right-handed.
Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago

Hi JM,

The first thing is to keep your wrist flexible and relaxed.

To change direction to the backhand side, just push your wrist back slightly.  You can basically do the same stroke and just with the small change of wrist position you can make the ball go to the other side.

The other thing to change is the hitting position in relation to your body.  If you hit the ball from further behind your body it will go a little more to the right. This is for both the topspin and flick.

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Thoughts on this question

Arnab Ghosh

Arnab Ghosh Posted 12 years ago

There was also a video of Simon regarding this shot. If it helps, here is the link to that
http://youtu.be/JgkIsEjtink
Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Thanks Arnab!
ruben bentancourt

ruben bentancourt Posted 12 years ago

well explained, very clear

 

Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Thanks Ruben. 
Arnab Ghosh

Arnab Ghosh Posted 12 years ago

Hi Jeff, you are obviously welcome and I am glad PingSkiller Ruben has cleared out his problem.
Bennett Burke

Bennett Burke Posted 12 years ago

Is your footwork supposed to be more open for down the line shots or is in the same whether you are hitting down the line or crosscourt?

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

You can do it from the same leg position to add deception to where the ball is going.
Mohammad El Hariri

Mohammad El Hariri Posted 12 years ago

Hi everyone,

Does the same argument apply for the Forehand Block? What about playing a Backhand Block from the Forehand side to get the ball down the line? I think it would be harder to play a Forehand Block from the Backhand side because you'll need to pivot. Am I right?

Thank you. 

 

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

You can use your wrist to change direction on all strokes.  I wouldn't use your backhand block from the forehand side though because you are then leaving the backhand area completely open for the next attack from your opponent.  You can pivot and make a forehand block because you have better reach out to your forehand side for the next ball.
Ram Sood

Ram Sood Posted 12 years ago

How would you build your backhand to become stronger?
Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

This is about hitting a lot of backhands with good technique.  Really important to get the technique right first.  Take a look at the lesson on the Backhand Counterhit.
kathy mckelvey

kathy mckelvey Posted 6 years ago

Hi Alois and Jeff,   I was able to watch the first two videos on lesson 9,   although was no video for how to hit the ball down the line!!  Thank's

Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 6 years ago

Hi Kathy,

We are moving the video responses to the questions into the tutorials section.

kathy mckelvey

kathy mckelvey Posted 6 years ago

Okay!  Thank you Jeff

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