Forhand loop for high ball
Strokes and Technique
LeangHeng IT Asked 12 years ago
Hi coach, my loop is powerful enough to get the point, but when the ball going up high and I try to hit, I miss it or it is very weak in term of speed and power.
Why so??? Any suggestions to improve this???
Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago
Hi LeangHeng,
This often happens to players that have a strong topspin.
When the ball goes up higher try to get the start position of your racket higher and make a smash rather than a topspin. Also because the ball is higher over the net you won't have to topspin the ball so much. Flatten the contact out. This will give you more speed with the shot. Take a look at our lesson on the Forehand Smash for some more help.
It is difficult to make the adjustment from topspin to smash but the main thing is to get your start position right.
Thoughts on this question
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LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago
Thank you coach for your useful advice.
One year ago, after looping the ball, I always smashed to destroy the ball. Then, I became very consistent with this 5th ball attack (3rd ball for slow spiny loop, 5th ball for deadly smash). I realized that I was able to use this strategy with the beginners since their chopping didn't have heavy backspin (easy to loop) and their blocking gave me easy position (soft block) to smash.
However, I was overwhelmed by the higher level players. Those players were very good at chopping (much backspin and low over the net). I had to lift the ball harder so that I could clear the net (losing balance), and they killed me by just blocking to my widen forhand (my hand not yet back from the movement of topspin).
So I have decided to practise different loop (slow, fast, drive, and yet fade + hook). I suggest the senior players to chop (normal, short pimple, and long pimple rubber) the ball to my forhand, and I loop. Now, it gives me much improvement for the loop. But, once my opponents return my serve with mistakes making the ball up high, lobbed the ball, or topspinned back my loop, I have the above problem.
Because in my mind there is only loop loop loop, I make mistake for the high ball.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Yes LeangHeng,
Keep practicing the change from topspin to smash. It will get better with training especially if you focus on getting the start position right.
LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago
:( today, I tried to smash the lobbing balls (played at upper level A4), I made many mistakes which bring about the lost to my team.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Keep working on the shot. Don't be discouraged. These things take time.
LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago
:) I know what was going on (my footwork and reluctant to backhand loop)!!! Next time, I will beat that team!!!
Debo : Posted 12 years ago
Don't feel lonely, this problem is very common to most of us. Even if you hit a topspin on a high ball, try to keep the racket angle almost totally closed, facing downwards to the floor. This may help. Not sure, but I see many players hitting topspin like this to high balls.
LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago
Thank mate
Rajesh Sawant Posted 12 years ago
Hi LeangHeng,
Debo's suggestion is bit right and it will take lot of concentration and practice. As you have to make very close racket angle there are lot of possibility for hitting ball on the edge of racket and ball will go off. Its better to smash hard as Alois suggests. Also you will get advantage if you make room and try to hit/smash ball at particular spot (odd for opponent to return) or smash hard with accuracy and wait for next loose return.
Thanks,
Rajesh Suhas Sawant
LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago
Hey Rajesh, good suggestions...
I have problem when player lobbing ball to my body on backhand. It seems that I do not move back for ready position.
Rajesh Sawant Posted 12 years ago
Oh well, in that case you need to think about your first drive on which your opponent can easily lob to your body(BH) side. you need to smash hard at particular spot so your opponent will feel difficult to lob at desired place at your side and then also ball lob at your Bh, you need to work hard to learn BH drive :-) Dont forget lob is having little topspin on ball so need to adjust your stroke accordingly. If you have good practice to smash lobs then it will be easy for you to smash hard. and if possible think about convert BH ball to FH by fast footwork (This is alternative and you need to have to be very fast) and again that requires practice :-)
LeangHeng IT Posted 12 years ago
:), he lobs my loop not my smash(by getting back far from table) makes me feel uneasy, :P.
Yes, practice, the problem is my foot locked to the floor if I do not have set up the next stroke.
Anyway, thank you Rajesh.
Debo : Posted 12 years ago
Here, it may be appropriate to say that there will be cases where you wish to smash a high ball and also you wish to loop a high ball depending on the situation. Smashing OK, no issue, but if the topic is looping a high ball, then you must adjust your racket angle. I think we all are not always consciously adjust our racket angle, it is our reflex action which actually do the job for us. So, practice looping different type of balls and over the time you will gain the ability to loop high balls. This is the only key.
Also I think when your position is far away from the table, it is better to try a loop rather than smash to get the table consistantly, so practicing looping balls of different height is important.
Debo : Posted 12 years ago
Here, it may be appropriate to say that there will be cases where you wish to smash a high ball and also you wish to loop a high ball depending on the situation. Smashing OK, no issue, but if the topic is looping a high ball, then you must adjust your racket angle. I think we all are not always consciously adjust our racket angle, it is our reflex action which actually do the job for us. So, practice looping different type of balls and over the time you will gain the ability to loop high balls. This is the only key.
Also I think when your position is far away from the table, it is better to try a loop rather than smash to get the table consistantly, so practicing looping balls of different height is important.