Test out your opponent’s forehand
Photo courtesy of ITTF
Go to the forehand
Although the backhand is used more in modern Table Tennis than in the past, generally people’s forehands are their most dangerous shot. To counter this, the ball is usually directed to the backhand side of the table, even with the serve. So players get used to pivoting around and playing forehands from the backhand court.
This means that there are a number of good reasons to try and place more balls out to the forehand of your opponent. Firstly, if they are pivoting a lot, it makes this much harder as they need to cover the wide ball to their forehand. Secondly, you may be surprised to find that players struggle more with a wide ball to their forehand. Some players are simply not used to hitting the ball from out wide on their forehand. Thirdly, once you have played the ball wide and your opponent makes their forehand, you have opened up the court and can then play the next ball into their weaker backhand side.
Of course it is important to pick the right ball to play out to your opponent’s forehand. You should not hit a very weak ball there as you will certainly pay the price. When returning serve, you can try a firm flick or a heavy backspin ball. If you are blocking then simply execute your normal stroke but place it out wide to the forehand. If you are attacking, then the forehand is also a good place to try as often people have a weaker forehand block.
Of course there are some disadvantages of going to the forehand of your opponent in that if they have read your play and are expecting the ball, they can go on the attack.
If you are reading this and think OK, I’ll give it a go in my next match, then make sure you do. When you get into the game it is easy to forget about this tactic. It goes against most players instincts to do this but be brave and test out your opponent’s forehand.
Ji-Soo Woo
commented on February 13th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
This is very true.
The last thing you want to do in a match is to become too predictable and let the opponent get too comfortable. Mixing it up and hitting it wide to the forehand keeps them guessing, and puts a seed of doubt in their minds if they like running around their backhands (like I do).
For the same reason, it’s always good to be able to hit a few punishing forehands early in a match. Suddenly the opponent has an exaggerated fear of your forehand side and starts to try and hit exclusively to your backhand - limiting himself and becoming predictable.