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This lesson appears on PingSkills Coaching Lessons Volume 1 available as a DVD or download.
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The Backhand Push
The Starting Position
The backhand push starts with your bat in front of your waist (similar to the start position of the backhand counterhit). As a basic stroke you can start with your bat slightly tilted back. The start position can be altered once you learn the basic stroke. The more spin that the opponent has played the more your bat should be tilted back to face the ceiling at the start of the stroke in order to counter the backspin.
The Finishing Position
Your swing is down and forward and should finish near the table with your palm facing the table and at an imaginary line that is drawn in front of the middle of your body. You don’t need to swing past this line as it makes recovery slower.
The Short Backhand Push
A short backhand push is a very useful defensive stroke that will stop your opponent from getting a strong attack in. You must ensure that you keep the ball nice and low over the net and that it will bounce at least twice on your opponent's side of the table. To keep the ball short, you will need to take a shorter swing at the ball. Take a look at the video above to see this in action.