Practice top spin

Alois Rosario Answered 10 months ago

Hi Rob,

Thanks for your question — it’s great that you’re keen to work on your topspin even when you only get to play with a friend once a week. Practicing alone on a half-table setup has its limits because when you do the stroke correctly the ball will fly off on your side.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Shadow Practice (No Ball)

This helps you focus purely on the mechanics:

• Practice the full topspin stroke: start low, brush upward and forward, and finish around head height.

• Focus on brushing up the imaginary back of the ball rather than hitting through it.

• Go slow and smooth, then gradually increase speed.

• Use a mirror or film yourself to check racket angle and swing path.

2. Drop & Hit (Self Feeding)

• Drop the ball in front of you and attempt a topspin stroke after one bounce.

• Aim to brush the ball lightly with a closed racket face (tilted slightly down).

• Watch how the ball behaves — topspin should bring it down sooner if done right.

• Even on a half-table, you can get good feedback by noting if the ball arcs and dips or flies too straight and it should fly up off the other half of the table.

3. Use Your Phone to Film

• Even without a partner, filming a few strokes can tell you a lot about why the ball is flying long.

• Common issues: too open racket face, not brushing enough, or contacting too flat.