Improving backhand technique and return of serve

Hi Alois,

I am Ram from India.  I have been watching your videos on youtube and those videos are delight to watch.  You guys have done a great homework and u r a great coach. 

After watching those vidoes, I have started playing table tennis for 3 months.  I am able to control my forehand shots, but not the backhand.  Whenever I hit a backhand, either it goes too long or lands shot on the table for my opponent to finish off the rally.  Kindly give me any special tips to improve my backhand.

Kindly tell me how to return a serve be it backhand side or forehand side, which is angled into one's body.

Expecting your early reply.

Thanks and Regards,
Ram

Hi Ram,

I would suggest that you watch the lesson on the Backhand Counterhit and work hard on getting the movements correct.  This is vital to be able to make a consistent stroke.  The start and finish positions that we show are the most important factors.  Do it slowly to start with until you feel confident that you are able to get the ball on the table even 100 times in a row.  Then you can start to speed up the stroke.

To return serves that are angled in towards you, tae a small sideways step to enable yourself to get into a good position to hit the ball.  Sideways footwork is the important skill here. Watch our lesson on Footwork Basics to help you.