How to practice powershots
Training and Drills
Rob Janssen Asked 10 years ago
Hi Coach,
Im a big fan of Ma Long and his forehand beeing fast and furious and after watching him alot of times I am trying to get my forehand better with his technique. Ive learnt alot from him already like how I should use my legs, rotating my body and transfering my weight and all that stuff. The only thing I have to practice it how to use my wrist in the stroke to unlock maximum power but I'm slowly getting there.
But the thing is that in a match my shots get returned sometimes and Im too late for the next ball. So I want to practice this. But what happens when practicing on this the ball doesn’t come back that often because they have trouble with the speed and are not really able to block it back. So is there another way to practice those power shots?
And I was also wondering you know some exercises to get more arm mucsles and I can hit the ball faster. I already tried to take a weight in my hand and make the stroke and do it for 5 minutes nonstop. Do you know some other exercises?
Thanks in advance
Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago
Hi Rob,
A good way to practice this is with multiball. Get someone to feed you the ball. Hit the first one fast and then try to recover quickly for the next one.
The thing that Ma Long does best is that his legs are so strong that he can remain balanced while making such a big stroke.
The main thing you need to work on for your power of strokes is not your arm but your legs.
It would be good to go to a gym and get someone to take a loo at you and help you personally. It is difficult for me to give you personal advice about this.
Thoughts on this question
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Rob Janssen Posted 10 years ago
Okay and thank you for the advice.
1 more question; How do you get your wrist involved in the forehand? I have been trying it, somethimes it works and sometimes not. I let my wirst relax and come through with the stroke but when my arm moves foreward my wrist goes a little bit backwards and then I move my wrist in the main position again. and what happins is that when my wrist goes a little bit backwards my racket angle opens slightly so sometimes I hit the ball off the table and somethimes I hit the table. Is there a way to prevent this?
Thanks Again
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago
Hi Rob,
Relaxing the wrist is the right thing to do and let it flow with your stroke in a forward and backward motion.
There is a degree of control of the wrist with the angle but this feel comes with experimentation. Allow yourself to make some mistakes and adjust the angle of the racket.
For our Premium members there is the lesson on the Advanced Forehand Topspin which will show you this.