Strokes and Technique
Hi Alois/Jeff,
I recently came across this video where Kenta Matsudaira is shown doing sidespin blocks which looks very effective. Can you explain what is he doing there? It feels like along with the sidespin he is also generating some backspin as well. Is this what they call a chop block? It would be great if you could do a video on how to learn this stroke and when to use it.
Hi Abhinav,
He can put backspin as well as sidespin on the block. It is a great shot and one more of the young Japanese players are using now.
Hopefully a few Premium members will vote for this one to get a video happening. It is a fun shot to try.
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.
Abhinav Upadhyay Posted 10 years ago
I have voted :)
Phillip Simmons Posted 10 years ago
I would like to see the video.
Xavi Gordillo Posted 10 years ago
I would like to see the video.
Gordon Hume Posted 10 years ago
Yep, me too, please.
Fidel Salazar Posted 10 years ago
Amazing video Jeff and Alois. The slow motion footage is great and helps me understand the shot easily. Definitely a very good weapon for every advanced player's arsenal of strokes. Thanks guys!
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago
Hi Fidel,
I love the slow motion footage too!
Keno Haken Posted 10 years ago
Thanks Jeff Plumb for making the video, easy to understand
AkulBylvaChakk Dave-ABCD Posted 10 years ago
Is it possible to do the same block with forehand?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago
I guess it is. Give it a try and see how it goes.
Eliot Bartley Posted 10 years ago
I tend use that by accident a lot, very interesting
Kaustubh Kulkarni Posted 10 years ago
Thank for the video. Now I can do sidespin and backspin blocks effectively. I tried to do the same with forehand, but its quite difficult for me.
eduardo espinosa Posted 10 years ago
Hi, Alois. I believe this stroke also adds confusion of the opponent by sending the ball in a unexpected direction.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago
It does do that Eduardo. Can be really effective but it is a difficult stroke to execute as well.
eduardo espinosa Posted 10 years ago
I know a man in my club that does that quite a lot with both f/h and b/h. He plays w/. pips and stuck to the table.
Keno Haken Posted 10 years ago
Please make the video , I vote Yes
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago
It is already there. Take a look above.
Fetish Madez Posted 10 years ago
Thanks for the video coach! :D
martinand bernard Posted 9 years ago
interesting, i shall try
eduardo espinosa Posted 9 years ago
All of us that have played for a while are familiar w/ this shot in some degree. Matsudaira does it in a professional level. It is a known fact that in a hard exchange over the table the ball can be answered more or less in the same direction that is coming. To change that trend as drastically as he does it you have to be really skilled.
Yap Zhi De Posted 8 years ago
Hi Alois
Is jeff doing this shot using a normal rubber?
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago
Yes, I was using Xiom Vega Pro.
Roger Adams Posted 8 years ago
Excellent demo Jeff, It's all in the wrist!
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago
Thanks Roger!
table-tennis player Posted 8 years ago
Its so sad for me.
I can't do this amazing thing.
as im im using a Anti-spin rubber
Suvankar Sarkar Posted 8 years ago
Sir, Please give me a video tutorial for hammer brush serve
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago
Hi Suvankar,
Unfortunately for you it is a Premium lesson. However, you can sign up for even one month and you will be able to see it and all of the other Premium lessons.
D K Posted 8 years ago
Can these blocks be done with forehand?
Or a longpimpled backhand?
Johan B Posted 8 years ago
You can find Ma Long doing a "windmill block" on YouTube, which is basically the same on the forehand
Of course you can do it with LP? The contact is the same as for a normal chop
Hendrik S Posted 8 years ago
Im not too sure if u can do this block with LP and create your own sidespin...
Johan B Posted 8 years ago
Well yes, but you can still do the stroke :)
D K Posted 8 years ago
Johan:
Do you know about any video where he uses that forehand block?
Hendrik:I know that it will me more difficult to create my own sidespin with longpips.
But although hard it is still possible,as I can use my opponent's speed to make the brush quicker...
And if it will be unsuccessful,opponent can still think that there is a sidespin and miss the table...
Johan B Posted 8 years ago
https://youtu.be/Umtu6CEP2GQ
This is the vid I meant, DK
D K Posted 8 years ago
Thanks Johan
Oh....professional shot.
But I meant if the sidespin/backspin block is truly possible on the forehand side.
Ma Long,despite using hsi forehand,has used it on his backhand side
Johan B Posted 8 years ago
Just chop the ball like a tomahawk serve.. Kenta Matsudaira does it quite regularly, and I've seen it done by Zhang Jike and other people as well. It's just like a normal forehand chop but your bat is pointing more forward do you hit the ball at this angle: o/
Johan B Posted 8 years ago
And the Matsudaira backhand block in the video is easier to do on your forehand side. That's why Jeff has to side step even wider to the backhand to pull it off
D K Posted 8 years ago
Oh...that tomahawk...
OK,I will try it.
I want to master all strokes that are defensive.
Hendrik S Posted 8 years ago
Yea, just try it out and let us know if it works :P
D K Posted 8 years ago
WOW
I have tried this stroke today at the tournament and it seemed to work.
As my opponent always opened the bat and it bounced fast off his opened bat it looked as a heavy side/backspin.
But it had no curve.
Any idea why?
Johan B Posted 8 years ago
Because you use a funny rubber? Or because your bat was moving straight down when you struck the ball?
D K Posted 8 years ago
No I have done it with inverted rubber.
I tried to copy Jeff's movement.
Maybe the ball hit the bat in the different spot.
Allen Papapetrou Posted 8 years ago
@ D K:
I would try to copy Kenta rather than Jeff. Why? Jeff was always doing "Kenta's: sidespin block down the line. Whereas Kenta block was more toward the middle line. Also, Kenta appeared to use more sidespin than Jeff.
I sense that Kenta's block would be more difficult to return than Jeff's since Jeff's return provide more space without the table interfering than Kenta's.
Also, Kenta was contacting the ball more to his right. One of his returns was virtually a backhand from his forehand.
I'm practicing Kenta's sidespin block by transforming it into a backhand serve. I'm finding as a serve the stroke requires heavy inside-out sidespin, low, moderately short, and just to the forehand side of the middle line. When I serve it down the line I've found the receiver has an easier time returning it with inside-out sidestop.
D K Posted 8 years ago
Maybe there are some subtle differences,but I am unable to see them.
My sight is very bad after all
Allen Papapetrou Posted 8 years ago
@D K:
The free VLC video player will let you slow down the playback even of slow motion. I've found that I must repeatedly watch a stroke in slomo before I see all that's happening.
Allen Papapetrou Posted 8 years ago
@Jeff and Alois:
What are the counters to Kenta's Sidespin block? Both defensive and offensive. Or...
What would Waldner do?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago
Hi Allen,
We use VLC a lot and find it really effective.
As far as how to counter the sidespin block, the offensive counter would be to make a topspin stroke. You need to brush the ball heavily to get the ball spinning the way you want it to. Defensively you can chop it back, allowing for the sidespin in particular.
What would Waldner do?... whatever he wanted ... He may even do a sidespin push stroke or a sidespin topspin back.
D K Posted 8 years ago
I also use VLC but I do not know any way how to apply it on avideo that is online
Haha,Waldner could also smash it if it would be high enough,right?
Allen Papapetrou Posted 8 years ago
@D K's comment: "I also use VLC but I do not know any way how to apply it on avideo that is online"
Screen capture programs are one way to create video files w/o download. Also programs like aTube Capture will download and save many videos.
The website alternativeto.net, this links to a search for alternatives to "atube capture".
I use Kazam to screen capture videos in Linux Mint and ZD Recorder in Windows. I use aTube Capture to DL videos in Windows. I have a Mac but don't use it for saving videos.
Finally, while I haven't found a way to save an online video in VLC, it will let you play them and use slow motion, at least in Linux VLC 2.1.6:
To play in VLC:
1 Use Menu: Media>Open Network Stream...
2 In dialog box paste the URL (like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zWyHqwufDw for Kenta's YT video)
3 Click the play button
4 Watch the video at different speeds depending upon the Menu: Playback>Speed settings
Trust this helps.
D K Posted 8 years ago
Ooh...this is too complicated for me :DDD
I am not so skilled in using so advanced programs
Farhan Hashim Posted 8 years ago
I am using it but very rarely & mine doesn't grip or sidespin much & i do it during backhand to backhand counter rally so the level is low but the thing is that during back to back counter rally whenever i do the kenta side (or a soft version) i do get most of the points
eduardo espinosa Posted 8 years ago
Seems to me that this shot comes right from the "ping-pong zone".
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago
Haha, maybe an uptown derivation.
eduardo espinosa Posted 8 years ago
I can picture Mr. Matsudaira insisting on practicing the shot when the coach wasn't looking.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago
That is a funny image Eduardo.
kathy mckelvey Posted 8 years ago
So interesting! however, I feel it takes time and experience to master all the different spins. Challenging though, I hope I can recognize them soon. I'm probably doing some spins that I'm totally unaware of! thank's Alois and Jeff for your great videos.
eduardo espinosa Posted 8 years ago
When you have to win, do whatever you have to do; even "inventing" or refining a shot you improvised and it worked! If I don't remember wrong, I think I saw Waldner doing a "similar" shot against Grubba in 1989 World Cup.
Mike Garland Posted 7 years ago
Alois as a premium member can I download videos such as these from your website?
Thanks
Mike
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago
Hi Mike,
These ask the coach videos that are available for all members are currently not available for download. If it's a premium member only ask the coach response then you can download it, but unfortunately the ask the coach videos that everyone can view, you can't just yet. But since they are free you will always be able to watch them.
On a side note, we are currently working on a big website restructure, and as part of that we'll make all of these videos downloadable for premium members too! It's still at least a few weeks away but we are pretty excited about this!
Jean Balthazar Posted 7 years ago
If you open the video in YouTube, there are plenty of plugins that will allow you to download the video. Check what is available for you browser.
Mike Garland Posted 7 years ago
Thanks everyone