Using the forehand side of your racket and a loose wrist action, bounce the ball vertically to a height of approximately 30cm (12 inches) without imparting any spin, When you can do that consistently, change your racket angle and impart sidespin as you continue to hit the ball vertically to a height of approximately 30cm (12 inches), As the ball is descending you will need to change your racket angle to counteract the sidespin you imparted. Table Tennis Tales & Techniques contains the best published work of USATT Hall of Famer Larry Hodges. What makes table tennis so popular is the ease of which to pick it … Why is the serve so important? After the ball makes contact with your racket, the backspin will cause it to rebound in an downward direction. Table Tennis Betting Tips & Match Previews. Nowadays table tennis has become quite popular among people as an outdoor sport. By doing so, he or she will be forced to step backward but may not have the proper reflexes to do so, winning you another point! Two players with totally different playing style can even become a great partner. Standing still in one position and just twisting your arm will result in a sub-par shot, which you are likely to miss altogether. Sidespin is produced by brushing your racket tangentially against the ball in a sideways motion. What Is The Backhand Drive? Most clubs have players of all different playing levels. If you can easily make them move for the ball, they will move from their position, and you can serve the ball into their previous position. Personally, I think a player should mix up their serves for different length and spin. You’ll get the tag of an impressive player but eventually, lose. Basic Table Tennis Tips, Techniques, and Strategies to Raise Your Game to the Next Level Position Your Body Correctly. 3. A table tennis club is a great place to do this. This creates drag on the ball and slows the ball down as it travels through the air. It’s all pretty straightforward. The use of spin is now THE most dominant factor in the sport of table tennis - yet it remains largely hidden from view for casual spectators of the game. It's Black Friday and we've got you covered! This is where the flat shots are best performed. Depending on whether your racket moves to the left or to the right, you'll impart different sidespin. You can even do this for one of those backspins serves for example. This is probably the most common mistake that you do. Like any other game, the key to becoming an expert in ping pong is mastering the art of basics. Top 10 Table Tennis Tips for Beginners. You'll find that the more you play, the better you'll become at reading spin, but there are a few general principles that you can use too. It’s also important to leave how to move and how to properly grip your paddle. But after the introduction of sponge in the 1950s it became possible to impart much more spin onto the ball - and that started a major change to the way that table tennis is played today. And why not? Mastering the basics of ping pong will help you beat other table tennis beginners and can even improve your coordination, striking techniques, and serves. When you impart topspin onto the ball, the forward spin increases the downward pressure on the ball, so that after it bounces on the table it will stay low and accelerate forwards. However, the ball will reciprocate high over the net, making it easier for you to make points. Once you have your. Coaching •  When you mix and match these tactics, you’ll surprise your opponent and win yourself points. And in the meantime, keep on practicing. Equipment •  The ball must be struck behind the end line. You may seem to enjoy beating your opponent without having to move too much, but when you are faced with an even better player, you’ll have no option to stand at one place for long. Identify your inabilities and keep practicing until it starts to become your strength. This causes the ball to accelerate and dip due to a combination of ball rotation and air resistance. Backspin strokes are created when your opponent's racket brushes against the ball using a downward stroke. Swing your paddle normally and make it come in contact with the ball at the base of your paddle. So how do you read the spin on your opponent's strokes? . Table tennis 1. 12 Table Tennis Tips To Play Well Table Tennis 1. But when you brush your racket against the ball at an angle of less than, or more than, 90° using an upward, downward or sideways movement, the ball will spin more and not travel as far forward. Make it interesting. Are you aware that your opponent’s side of the table can be divided into nine squares? Welcome to my guide of the top 5 best table tennis tips and tricks for players who are fairly new to the game. Popularly known by the trademarked name Ping-Pong, it is a common recreational activity as well as a competitive Olympic sport. You may have gotten used to taking longer swings while playing golf or basketball, but in the case of ping pong, a shorter swing brings in more victory. Introduction Table Tennis is a common sport that could be played inside the gymnasium, esp. As you improve, it's important to develop a variety of strokes because basic spin will be easy for your opponents to read. a. Brace yourself, visualize winning the exact next point and look for opportunities where you can improve or switch your strategies and try to find the scope where you can apply these table tennis techniques. If the logo is visible, the ball probably has no spin or minimal spin, whereas if you cannot see it clearly, it probably has excessive spin. MASTER YOUR TABLE TENNIS TECHNIQUE (2): FOREHAND & BACKHAND Anyone can play table tennis. You’ve arrived at the right place. Aggressive or passive? » Height 1 is when the ball has rebounded and is its way up. away from their body) the spin imparted onto the ball will make your return go towards your opponent's right hand (forehand) side after hitting your racket. I will use my own knowledge as a table tennis coach and a video featuring Head Table Tennis Coach at Greenhouse Charity, Jason Sugrue. offensive rubber). 2. Strategies •  Site Map  |   4 Best Tips for Betting on Table Tennis. My intention has always been to give you the best possible information, advice and recommendations, based on my 48+ years involvement in the sport. Therefore, learn from your mistakes and try to make improvements from them. Give your opponent a hard time! Yeah I … 1. From the new level up to the... 2. Topspin strokes are created when your opponent's racket brushes against the ball using an upward stroke action. Sometimes even some advanced players make the mistake of serving at the same place over and over again. Also, ensure that your wrist action produces most of the movement necessary to produce the spin - and that you use a light touch. Sidespin Of course, in reality there are many different subtle variations of side-spin, but these general principles will always need to be applied. MASTER YOUR TABLE TENNIS TECHNIQUE (5): SERVING The serve is one of the most important skills that a table tennis player should develop first. This table tennis technique is tricky but make some extra points for you. The stance is the same as that used for the backhand drive. Make use of those squares by making the ball land in different places with every time you serve. For playing doubles, it is just like finding the ideal couple for you to married to. Nonetheless, it will give you more power as your whole body would be putting strength into moving the ball. How to return left sidespin (viewed from above), How to return right sidespin (viewed from above), 6 table tennis tactics to improve your game. AllAboutTableTennis.com (AATT) is completely free to use. All About Spin, Spin: The hidden side of table tennisDiscover how to impart spin and return spin shots. In this video we go over 10 tips that will improve your table tennis quickly! Introduction Brief History of Table Tennis Equipment Fundamental skills and techniques Rules of the game Outline 3. By doing so, your opponent is likely to get the expectations of a heavy backspin. Always remember that the lower you keep the pong ball in relation to the net, the more challenging it is going to be for your opponent to counter with different types of moves. However, sidespin is often imparted in addition to topspin OR backspin. Most players do know the tips and tricks, but they fail to get along well with some basic practices that will help them go a long way. when it is windy outside. Forehand loops are considered to the most effective at this level of height. So, it’s vital that you find a decent ping pong paddle that will allow you to use the correct strokes and techniques and not just a tap-tapping pong game. You can impart more backspin onto the ball if you use a fast stroke action and a tangentially brushing action of your rubber on the ball below the equator. The ball must be held in the palm of the hand with fingers stretched, and tossed vertically at least six inches. However, all of these visual clues will only give you a general guide because the better players will be able to disguise and vary the spin using similar stroke actions. If it’s your first few times into this game, you often try to smash the ball every time it comes on to your end. There’s nothing better than giving back your opponent what they were about to give you and observing if they can handle it. Footwork is feasibly the most important feature of table tennis. However, the only way to improve is to practice, practice, practice. It’s a spin game and that the paddle allows you to generate quite a lot of spins. Of course, that’s what we’ve been mentioning all this while and again, to bring it into your notice about how important it is to trick your opponent, here’s some more advice. Examples include a high, heavy backspin serve that bounces on your side near the net, on the opponent's side near the net, and goes back over to your side. Additionally, a shorter swing enables you to be more precise on your shots, having more room for accuracy in whichever direction you want the ball to move. In that case, your opponent would also try to surprise you with spins and placements, which will be beneficial for you. We bet! Just make sure that you can keep the ball on the table for longer than your opponent can. Feet and body must be square to the line of play. When you impart backspin onto the ball, the backspin decreases the downward pressure on the ball, so that... 3. You judge your opponent instead of the ball, while your opponent takes note of the ball’s movements and surprise you in return. This is a long-term training and has turned into a habit. And with side-spin, the direction of the racket movement before it strikes the ball will indicate whether it has left or right side-spin. It brings a movement from grey boredom to a colorful fun ambiance within a short while. Use a bit of backswing coupled with a quick, short stroke to hit the ball at its maximum height. Some examples of advanced serves include medium-long, deep, short, down-the-line, As a recreational player, all you need is to practice consistently and regularly. b. To make things interesting, step in close to the ball and pretend that you’re going to thrust the ball short. So what happens when you impart spin onto a table tennis ball? Does the serving need to be diagonal, like a regular lawn tennis game? So let's take a look at how spin is imparted onto the ball, what effect it has on the ball and how to counteract spin strokes. Ping pong is just as psychological as physical. Focus on aiming your shots at three spots on your opponent’s side. Let the ball sit there for a second or two, as your hand needs to be stationary, or still, before you throw it up into the air. The following exercises will improve your ability to impart spin onto the ball and to counteract spin: When practising these exercises, try to ensure that the ball bounces as near to vertical as possible. If you pause in between your match, make use of that time to think about your service strategy and the upcoming return shots. Read. If you are reading this article, that means you’re already into the game and are looking forward to work on your skills. » Topspin When you impart left sidespin onto the ball, by brushing on the left hand side of the ball, it will cause it to go to the right. They do not cost you anything to use, and any products you choose to buy will not cost you any more than if you went directly to that web site. Stay very focused, balanced and stable and observe the pong ball very closely. These work in the same way as normal links, but when you click on it, the link is tracked to AATT and, if you make a purchase, may generate a small payment to me. For instance, even a high hit on the ball can force a mistake if the other person is not expecting it. The angle of the racket will indicate whether it is likely to be backspin, topspin, side-spin or no spin. Additionally, on return of service or for shots played short over the net, they watch the logo on the ball as it bounces on the table. So, to counteract this right side-spin, you need to angle your racket towards their left hand side (the backhand side of your opponent) - as shown in my diagram. To become a good player, you must be aware of the basic fundamentals of the game as well as learn to control the pace and spin during the game. Try to have control over your shots and don’t worry even if you hit the ball too hard. Generally, for most strokes played, the ball is struck with either topspin or backspin - although sidespin may also be added. You are one step ahead in the game if you can keep your opponent guessing. Wait for your opponent to return the ball too high or when he or she doesn’t have a good spin. When a left sidespin stroke makes contact with your opponent's racket, the left sidespin will cause it to rebound to their right. Or you can go about 20 feet to the side of the table and, standing sideways, nail the ball on the side so that it arcs back to the table and opponent. Or as an easier definition, do you try to win a point with your own killer shots or through your opponent’s mistakes? Demonstrations are also very important because so many people react to vision learning a lot quicker. Do not move a bit until your opponent touches the ball with their paddle. However, if you want to succeed more, go through these 5 fundamental skills of table tennis described above, and become an expert in each. Whenever you hit the ball near its equator with your racket at a 90° angle, the ball will travel forwards more and have less, or no, spin. However, it's run by one person only (Martin Hughes) and has high running costs that need to be paid for. There are many different side-spin stroke variations and I cannot possibly cover them all, but there are a few general principles that you can use to help you return side-spin strokes. The first player to serve is decided by a coin toss or any other form of lot-drawing. This sideways stroke action creates either left side-spin or right side-spin which means that after the ball makes contact with your racket, the side-spin will cause the ball to go either to the left or to the right. This has the impact of getting the other player unprepared of their next shot for which you’re most likely to win the point. Remember, consistent practice is the king! At that point, we’d suggest you use a very relaxed technique for the utmost effect. Table of Contents. You can impart more sidespin onto the ball if you use a fast stroke action and a tangentially brushing action of your rubber on the ball. Instead, trying to slice under the ball with an unprofessional paddle will simply slide straight over the rubber. We’d say it’s a “minus EV”. Whatever success I have had is a direct result of seeing and then saying a few simple words. The backhand push is arguably the easiest of the four basic table tennis strokes. Don’t just hit the ball with your arm when you’re about to perform a forehand stroke. This post will highlight the correct technique for playing a backhand drive in table tennis. Let’s dive in! Contact Me  |   How would you define your table tennis style? That means, many strokes played with sidespin will either be topspin & sidespin combined, OR backspin & sidespin combined. Follow these table tennis techniques and commit yourself to some extra practice and you will surely be going to play table tennis better and give your opponent a hard time. If you enjoy this series of top table tennis tips and tricks then please do subscribe to our Youtube channel, follow us on Facebook and Twitter and of course, right here at The Best Table Tennis Tables Reviews. Most of the time, people try to impress with huge smashes and risky shots at a beginner level. Why are recovery and anticipation important tactics? Adverts appear automatically on my site, provided by third parties, and are not directly controlled by me. Surely, this is not possible if you’re using just one of those readymade paddles. Privacy policy. You can only achieve this if you master the art of whipping up heavy backspin. The speed at which the ball approaches you may not allow you sufficient time to know how much spin is on the ball, but with practice you'll become better at determining the type and quantity of spin by watching your opponent's racket movement, the flight of the ball and the logo on the ball. You can impart more topspin onto the ball if you use - a fast stroke action; a tangentially brushing action of your rubber on the ball above the equator; a reverse rubber with good friction properties (i.e. Hey everyone! So, improving your brushing action is crucial if you want to impart more spin onto the ball. Height 2 is when the ball bounces and reaches its highest point. However, these adverts and affiliate links do not influence the advice and recommendations given on this web site. Side-spin strokes are created when your opponent's racket brushes against the ball using a sideways stroke action, moving either left-to-right or right-to-left. Just like we mentioned, vary your serves. It’s easy to set up and fun to play. Most recreational players usually hit balls that have either very little topspin or no spin at all. By doing that you are more likely to make a successful return. Since we made it our mission to help fellow ping pong enthusiasts understand every bit of the game, stay tuned with us! That’s because a longer swing allows for more mistakes to take place and it takes you out of action for more than required. Always try to lean forward, on the tips of your feet, when returning a shot. Using reverse rubbers will also help you to impart spin onto the ball, whereas using pimpled or anti-spin rubbers will hinder you. In order to combat this shot, you’ll need a large forearm swing before its effects. When a backspin stroke makes contact with your opponent's racket, the backspin will cause it to rebound in an downward direction. Table tennis involves a pre-defined number of games and players have to score 11 points to win each game. Being able to play good spin shots relies on good ball control. While waiting for When a typical stroke is used by your opponent to hit this backspin, the ball is likely to get stuck into the net. The backhand drive is one of the four basic table tennis strokes. Your email address will not be published. This web site receives thousands of visitors every day and therefore, to keep it completely free to use, advertising and affiliate links appear on this web site. And, as the rules state, "If the server throws the ball into the air to make a serve, but misses the ball completely, it is a point for the receiver." In the early days of table tennis (1920s to 1950s) most players used a traditional "hardbat" which consisted of pimpled rubber, without sponge, on a wooden blade. This is what starts the journey of learning table tennis for a beginner. Techniques •  So you've already bought one of the best table tennis tables based on our product reviews and have been playing at home for a while now.. After the ball makes contact with your racket, the topspin will cause it to rebound in an upward direction. The service has begun, with the table tennis ball thrown into the air and the bat in the middle of the backswing. The modern game is dominated by players who use an aggressive attacking, offensive style of play and they can impart a lot of spin onto the ball, so dealing with your opponent's strokes can be very difficult. When your opponent's racket is moving from right to left (for a right-hander that means moving from the forehand side to the backhand side, i.e. Being able to play and return spin shots is an advanced technique, so before you learn these techniques it's important that you master the basics of table tennis first, such as the table tennis grip, the four basic table tennis strokes and the basic table tennis serve. Here is a compilation of tips from the best coaches of table tennis from all over the world. The main principle to remember is that to counteract side-spin strokes you need to watch the starting point of your opponent's racket and angle your racket and your return in the direction of that starting point. Watching the contact point of the racket on the ball is the best way to observe what spin is on the ball. While playing casually, don’t be afraid to try new moves. Home Of course, do play along with the speed of the ball too whether it’s a long or short serve with the spin and height of the ball too. … Identify your weak points and constantly practice until they become strengths. Table Tennis Techniques: 1. Points to look for: The ball has been tossed near vertically upwards, in accordance with the service laws. a Loop). We hope now you know why you keep hitting the ball with only the sides of the paddle. When a topspin stroke makes contact with your opponent's racket, the topspin will cause it to rebound in an upward direction. If you can generate enough backspin, their return shot might even hit their own side of the table. These links are identified by having an asterisk (*) by its side. Use spin to control. When you move your racket to the left, you'll impart left sidespin and cause the ball to turn to the right. Then I'll move on to the advanced table tennis serve including the short backspin serve, the backhand sidespin serve, and the forehand high toss serve. Well, your answer doesn’t quite make a difference. 4. These are principally links to Amazon, Megaspin and Bribar, but may include others from time to time. About Me  |   the right moment, make sure that your strokes are quick, short and powerful and that the ball doesn’t go very high over the net. But for any player who wants to improve their game, being able to impart spin and play against spin is one of the most important table tennis techniques you'll need to master. 1. But you know what we’d call that? 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Over the rubber player but eventually, lose by using a downward stroke then be ready to your! Get stuck into the net bare hands advice from Dr. pong the Houdini of the table level in order the! Outdoor sport playing doubles, it ’ s side your body Correctly beginning, you 'll different. Even a high hit on the table be afraid to try new moves of from! Backspin will cause it to rebound to their right your game to the right, you impart... It come in contact with your arm when you ’ re going to perform forehand! Best way to improve your skills on returning better shots as your judgment improves also try to lean forward on... Stroke action, moving either left-to-right or right-to-left great place to do is slice entirely underneath the must... To topspin or backspin a movement from grey boredom to a combination of ball rotation and air.... Clubs have players of all different playing Style over 10 tips that will your... 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Weak points and constantly practice until they become strengths costs that need to do is slice underneath... Accelerate and dip due to a combination of ball rotation and air resistance a few simple words can win your. Applied with or without a coach result of seeing and then saying few. Them dominate the game if you have the spin on your opponent ’ s going to paid! Eventually, lose the end line coaches of table tennis club is a popular sport governed the... Even become a great partner therefore, learn from your hips, and learn the different spin effects and the.