Smashing the low under spin ball

Strokes and Technique

Harkaran Sohal
Harkaran Sohal Asked 6 years ago

Hi Alois and Jeff

My opponent has a special technique of smashing a low under spin ball with his forehand. He does not teach it to me because he thinks that if I learn it I will defeat him.

When I put an under spin ball on his forehand in a match play situation he scoops or smashes the ball.

The contact and the technique is very difficult to see and the ball is so fast that it is next to impossible to defend.

Pls help me learn this technique in whatever way which is good with you.


Alois Rosario
Alois Rosario Answered 6 years ago

Hi Harkaran,

This is a very difficult technique with a very high risk.  If you want to do it you have to hit the ball at the top of the bounce and open the angle of your racket to allow for the backspin on the ball.  If you are smashing without topspin then the ball is flying is quite a straight line which means it has to have  very small margin for error.


Thoughts on this question


Tommy Edwards

Tommy Edwards Posted 6 years ago

To be able to do that you would need to be able to read the amount of spin the opponent's put and adjust the angle precisely. When doing this technique you need to be fast and quick, don't swing your arm too much, keep your arm close to your body, relax and suddenly apply the force when contacting the ball. apply this method the spin would not affect you as much and would have a high chance to land that shot.

If you really want to use that as your main weapon you might need to consider getting a new blade or rubber that is harder to be affected by spin.
i.e. hard blade / harder and thinner rubber sponge.

In fact, this technique has been used frequently by short pips users. If you really really really want to go for it, you can switch into short pips. But you need to know that if you do so you will have a lot of trouble on looping and when playing far from the table.


Aniketh Danam

Aniketh Danam Posted 6 years ago

Actually it's not called smash , it's topspin.Contact the ball with extreme left side of forehand.


Benzene Chiral

Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago

When returning the shot, why not try moving further away from the table?


Aniketh Danam

Aniketh Danam Posted 6 years ago

Yes , You must move further away from the table and do a topspin.


Aniketh Danam

Aniketh Danam Posted 6 years ago

Communicate with me on mail-  aniketh_danam@yahoo.com


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