Looking at the ball untill it reaches your bat?
Table Tennis General
Last updated 11 years ago
Piers Grey Asked 14 years ago
Hey Jeff,
One thing that I find hard is to look at the ball untill it reaches my bat. I find this difficult due to the fact that I don't know when I should look at where I want to place the ball on the otherside of the table. Does it need to be after you hit the ball or do you have to think of it as your playing the shot where you want to place it.
Could you give me some tips on how I could improve this?
Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago
Hi Piers,
Always watch the ball closely. You never have to look at where you are hitting the ball because your target doesn't move. The only thing that is moving is the ball. You will know where the target is without having to look directly at it.
So always keep your eye on the ball and track it throughout the rally. During the rally search for the label on the ball. Keep searching for it even if at first you never see it. After a while you may start to get glimpses of the colour of the label.
At first this will be quite strange and difficult and you may even feel disoriented but persevere with it for a week or so and then see how it feels.
Thoughts on this question
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Piers Grey Posted 14 years ago
Thanks for the advice guys, I really appreciate it!!!
My game has improved ten-fold after following your advice of watching the ball. I'm able now to put various spins on both my normal shots and my serves; although I'm not as good at putting spin onto my serves, but then again that just goes down to how much practice that has been done on serving will reflect on how much spin I can put on the ball. As you've said on your DVD, Serving Secrets Revealed, it does take a while to get the contact right and the speed of the contact right; espically being able to snap your wrist on contact - I find that incredibly hard!.
Something else I learnt when I was doing this (constantly just looking at the ball at all times) was that, in order to put more speed/spin, you need to lean forward during the shot sao that your bat goes through the ball at a faster rate, putting more spin/speed on the ball.
Do you agree with this?
(pardon my grammar on this response; my grammar isn't very good today)
Paul Gevaert Posted 11 years ago
I've found that watching the ball for the label can also help you determine the spin on the ball.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago
Hi Piers, I am glad that you have improved so much with this advice. As far as leaning forward you are right. To get more speed you can go more forward into the ball.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago
Hi Paul,
Yes the label is a good focus. Also try before you serve focusing on a very small part of the label like one of the letters on the ball. If you do this before you are serving you may find some changes as well.