Different Topspin

Hi Pingskills, 

I am currently in my School's Table tennis School team and my coach asks me to do a different kind of topspin. He asked me to start with my bat about perpendicular from the ground and move the bat forward. He told me that when my bat came in contact with the ball, I should wrap around the top of the ball (to generate topspin), almost covering the ball and end with my bat with less than at a 45 degrees angle. This is different from your tutorial videos (which are very helpful) but it works for me sometimes. Is this a wrong way to Topspin the ball or is this a stroke that is for a beginner that has yet to learn the actual topspin? I have never seen any professional players doing this before. (I have been playing table tennis for 2 years but have only been in the school team for about 1/2 a year) 

Thanks a lot!!!

Hi Stefan,

It may be Ok for you.  I think the change of angle may lead to some inconsistency in the stroke though.  Since he is coaching you, do as he is saying and see if it works.  If it doesn't then you can revert to the way we teach it to you. I think the way we show you will give you more consistency.