Dealing with heavy spin on the forehand

Duncan Wraight Asked 10 years ago

Hi both,

In my league matches I'm finding more and more that if I can get in first, I win... but against better players, I can't get in first quite as often, and I'm really struggling if they then come at me with spin.

If they come at me with speed, I feel like I'm in control of the game because I can force them to slow down by playing angles or force them to push by loading up my own pushes and serves.

However, against more spinny players, I generally just have trouble keeping the ball on the table! If their pushes are loaded, I can't keep them short and I'm scared to angle them in case I misjudge the spin. That then gives them the opportunity to get in with a slow spinny loop and that's where my game falls to pieces.

If they spin to my backhand, I chop - as I think you guys remember. I'm using SPs for chopping over the summer season because it's helping me to improve my positional awareness and chop properly. If I'm in the right position, I can usually return these spinny loops with my backhand.

However, to my forehand, I have literally no idea what to do. If I'm far back from the table and I let the ball low, I can basically touch the ball and it'll topspin its way back to my opponent's side of the table. However, if I'm too close, I'm not blocking properly at all and the ball flies off. If I'm half-distance, same thing applies.

So... in short, can you suggest how I a) deal with the heavy spin pushes and serves to stop my opponents from being able to attack easily (keeping it tight, really important for my style) and b) how to block heavy topspin from close and return those really heavy loops from mid and long-distance? I guess for the latter it's mostly an issue of technique but also just generally which shot to choose. Should I be trying to do the forehand "brush return" that some modern defenders do? Should I try to counter-loop it? Should I try to drive through it?

Thanks guys

Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago

Hi Duncan,

Good to hear from you again.

Firstly for the return of serve it is a matter of touch.  Try to keep your hand really relaxed and give the ball little to no forward momentum.  Just provide the angle of the bat and almost let it bounce back off your bat.  This is one of the hardest parts of Table Tennis.  This will get the ball back shorter so it is more difficult for them to attack.

The other thing to think about is to deliberately push the ball long and deep so that you know what is going to come next and you can be ready for it earlier.

In trying to block the ball take a look at the lesson on how to Counter a Slow Spinny Topspin.  I think this applies here.

Let me know if you have any other questions with it.