Brush loop vs. Loop drive?

Duc Le Asked 14 years ago

Hello PingSkills coaches!

 Thank you for setting up such a useful site; I've learned a lot from your lessons.

 I am currently refining my forehand loop and would like to understand the difference between a brush loop and a loop drive. Right now my forehand loop is basically a upward (about 45 degree) brushing motion with a closed bat angle, grazing the ball with a tacky Chinese topsheet; the resulting ball has ok spin but is relatively slow. From what I understand, a loop drive is supposedly performed with an open bat angle and the stroke should go more forward.

 Now my questions are:

1. What are the advantages/disadvantages of these two loops? Is any superior to the other? In what situations should I use a brush loop and in what situations should I use a loop drive?

2. When attempting to perform the loop drive with an open bat angle, I can't generate enough topspin; the ball tends to go straight and off the table. How can I fix this?

3. What type of loop should be used to effectively attack a backspin ball (assuming it has medium-heavy amount of spin).

 Thanks for your time!

Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago

Hi Duc Le,

Don't get too worried about terms that are used.  The loop drive tends to be more of a faster stroke. Yu can do this by either brushing over the top of the ball with a closed blade and a tacky rubber or by hitting with a flatter blade.

To hit the ball faster and with more spin with your tacky rubber turn the bat over the ball and swing through more horizontally. 

It is easier to attack a heavy backspin ball with an upward lifting loop.  If you generate enough speed with your racket you can have the blade more closed though.

I hope all of this helps.