Vertical Racket Position

Hello,

I have an older student that, when the ball gets close to his body, holds the racket in an almost vertical position. This seems to be a common problem among table tennis players that never had any formal training. Besides explaining to them the proper start and finish of a forehand stroke, do you have any specific advice or techniques on how to correct this behaviour?

Hi Walt,

Perhaps you could try to get them to focus on getting the bat more on the side of them.  When they get the ball too close to them it is hard to get their bat into the side on position.

To get the bat into that position involves a small sideways movement with the feet or at least a sway to the side with the body.

Give this a try and let me know if it works for them.