Flick against a long ball and topspin against a short ball?
Strategy
Aaron Lin Asked 8 years ago
So we know that the standard flick/flip is an attacking stroke used against a short ball, but is there any situations where it's correct/effective to use a flick against a LONG ball?
And likewise, the topspin i know is the standard way to deal with a long ball, but if the ball is short is there any situation where i could use a topspin against a short ball, instead of pushing/flicking a short ball?
Was just thinking about this situation on paper. thanks!
Jeff Plumb Answered 8 years ago
Hi Aaron,
It's great to see you thinking in different ways. I really think that the ability to question things helps us improve!
For a long ball the topspin stroke is always going to be more effective because you can take a bigger swing at the ball, so I don't see any advantage in trying to flick a long ball.
For a shorter ball, it would be great to be able to topspin it but the problem is that because it is short, and will bounce twice on the table if we let it, we can't actually play a big stroke because the table itself is in the way. Nowadays to try and attack the ball with topspin people are using the backhand sidespin flick which is proving to be very effective!
Recommended Video
Stop Losing to Choppers: Spin, Patience, and Point Planning Explained
Struggling against those tricky choppers? You're not alone. Defensive players can be very frustrating to play against. In this video, we’ll show you exactly why chopper are so effective, and how you can turn the tables with smarter tactics and better control.
✅ Why defenders thrive on your mistakes
✅ How to use spin and tempo variation to break their rhythm
✅ When to reset the rally vs go for the power shot
✅ 3 common mistakes players make and how to fix them
✅ Drills to prepare for real matches against choppers
It’s not about hitting harder! It’s about playing smarter. Let’s help you win these battles with control, patience, and a clear plan.
Watch NowThoughts on this question
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.
Rohan Keogh Posted 8 years ago
Jeff, is there a FH version of the BHSP flick?
Hi Rohan,
Not really. The backhand is used since you move your wrist to a position where you can get a lot of rotation on the bat and hence generate a lot of bat speed. That's why when you watch the top players they often move over to the forehand side to play the sidespin backhand flick return. 10 years ago you would almost never see someone move that far over to make a return.
Rohan Keogh Posted 8 years ago
I just tried and see what you mean. You can get at least 270 degrees or more rotation of the wrist on the BH and maybe 150 degrees of that occurs before contacting the ball. But on the FH side you can probably get no more than 180 degrees with maybe only 60 degrees of that before contact. That's a really big difference.