Chinese Loop

Table Tennis General

Last updated 8 years ago

Carlo Unknown

Carlo Unknown Asked 14 years ago

First off I would like to share this event which happened not long ago. I won the Regional Selection for the National Junior Tournament here(Under 15). I would say it was easy but I don't want to get all cocky. You see most people at my age range are experienced specially that I come from a not yet stable country where there are a lot of unprivileged kids with talents aren't recognized. They aren't much playing areas here too. I was named Little Waldner because of my really good allround blocking play which led my opponents to go chase the ball everywhere while I stand in the center of the table. But the talent scout offered me advice: "You have a bright future ahead kid but I don't think you can go far with your technique. There are times where you could have won the point but you let it go. I suggest you learn the Chinese Loop"

Now I went back home and watched Kong Linghui who is known for the very relaxed technique and Chen Qi who is supposed to be the Kill Shot King. I want to play like both of this players have a relaxed stroke which still play fast and agreesive. 

Now I ask, HOW DO I DO THE CHINESE/ASIAN LOOP? What's the difference of it between the European one which you Aussies comonly use? Can you do a video on it?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago

Hi Carlo,

The Chinese loop as it is called is just a more forward swing and relying on the grip of the rubber to get the ball to go forward.  This usually requires a grippy surface on the rubber to execute well. It doesn't rely so much on the ball sinking into the sponge.

The bat still moves in one direction. 

The other loop just contacts the ball a little flatter and relies on the ball sinking into the sponge more to generate the topspin.

We will put it on our list of things to do.


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Thoughts on this question

Carlo Unknown

Carlo Unknown Posted 14 years ago

If you mean grippy surfaces, do you mean Sriver or Chinse Rubber?

Leslie Unknown

Leslie Unknown Posted 14 years ago

Chinese - as the topsheet is predominantly more tacky (sticky) than that of a Euro/Japanese rubber. The different grip on these 2 kinds of rubbers leads to small differences between the techniques used to play with.

Ji-Soo Woo

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 14 years ago

Good question Carlo...I'd also be fascinated with a video showing the slight stroke difference between so-called Chinese and European loops.


Tevia Sapire

Tevia Sapire Posted 14 years ago

Does the chinese loop technique have anything to do with the longer swing and extended arm at the end of the backswing? This seems to be taught to the chinese players like Chen Qi and wang liqin, while the european loop has the elbow mostly fixed in position, like timo boll, samsonov and pingskill's own Jeff. Could you verify me on this?


andrew brand

andrew brand Posted 14 years ago

This is an interesting topic. ive noticed timo boll does keep his elbow well bent even on severe loops against heavy backspin from a defender. the americans seem to almost straighten the elbow on the backswing, the chinese rotate more and straighten the arm right out and also follow through much further to the left shoulder, this seems to be the longest arm swing humanly possible if you look at the entire motion, just check out ma long's forehand shots he is an awesome example, and i dont see anyone touching him now he is so strong! maybe every individual is different in any country? table tennis is half about individual style isnt it.

Ilia Minkin

Ilia Minkin Posted 8 years ago

Hi Alois,

I have a similar question about using tacky hard rubbers. In your "Topspin Variations" video, you say that with that kind of rubber one has to come over the top of the ball with a more horizontal swing. But how does it affect the starting position of the stroke? Do I need to have a higher starting position?

>We will put it on our list of things to do.

That would be great. I have never seen an instructional video where someone demonstrates a topspin with a soft sponge rubber, and then a topspin with a tacky hard rubber, explaining differences in details.


Ilia Minkin

Ilia Minkin Posted 8 years ago

>just check out ma long's forehand shots he is an awesome example

I watched some videos of Ma Long filmed in training halls, this for example. What I see there is that he starts pretty low and finishes high, even on powerlooping. He contacts the ball at 3(9) hours and doesn't go over the ball that much. When I try to execute a similar stroke with a hard sponge rubber (Xiom Vega China), I get a flat hit that goes out in the woods. However a similar stroke works perfectly with a soft sponge. I tried it with my coach's bat that has Tenergy 64FX and the ball hits the table like a self-homing missile. That makes me think is that Ma Long's rubbers are not as hard as the ones sold to mere mortals...


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Hi Ilia,

Yes with the harder rubber you can start slightly higher with you swing.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

You are probably right about the rubbers as well.  Ma Long’s rubbers are probably a bit softer and forgiving.



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