Lollipop forehand

Table Tennis Strokes and Technique

Last updated 11 years ago

Duncan Wraight

Duncan Wraight Asked 11 years ago

Hi again both,

Apologies for two questions in one evening.

I've started receiving some coaching, after playing TT for 8 weeks. I thought my forehand topspin was reasonably solid but he's looking to rebuild it.

What he's saying makes sense and goes hand in hand with your videos: use the elbow joint, the shoulders and the legs to do all of the work - the body especially should be the force behind the shot.

I never realised how "wristy" my forehand action was. Now, when I'm trying to follow his suggestions, it's noticeable that my wrist is popping up, i.e. going vertical (looks like a "lollypop").

Is there anything I can work on - even just temporarily - to stop my wrist from doing this and to generally make this new stroke feel more natural? I've got a wrist splint I used a year ago to stave off RSI when working with computers too much, which is basically a metal-backbone splint that stops my wrist from moving. Would it be worth practicing with that on when I'm knocking about at lunch times with some of my students at school?

I had a nightmare at practice with forehands tonight as when trying to use the new stroke I've fallen way behind the playing level I was and as such I'm "letting my practice partners down" and thus less eager to practice. I certainly don't want to give up with the new technique, just need to try and make it feel a little less awkward so that I can practice it more readily and easily.

Thanks in advance,


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago

Hi Duncan,

This can be a difficult change to make but if you focus on it for a while it will happen.  I find there are a few cues that work.

Try thinking about pointing your pointer finger down to the ground at the start of the stroke.  

Another way is to imagine a torch pointing out of the top of your bat.  Try to shine that torch on the side wall at the start of the stroke.  I think that your torch is probably shining at the roof at the moment.  Try one of these ways during your training.

Then when you are playing your stroke you can bring your wrist through however you want but keeping it relaxed is the best and it will come through with the stroke.

It is important that you set aside a little bit of time during your playing time to practice this.  Ask your partner if they don't mind you spending 5 or 10 minutes to just work on this and that you will probably make a few errors in that time.  That will take away the guilt of making errors and allow you to experiment for that time.

Give this all a try and let me know how it works.


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Duncan Wraight

Duncan Wraight Posted 11 years ago

Hi Alois,

Your suggestion of "pointing the finger to the floor" has helped a great deal. My forehand is finally starting to come on - hopefully it's now reasonable enough to at least "keep up" in a rally for practice purposes and that means I can progress it further.

I'm still conscious that my wrist pops up occasionally, but I'm working on it. My elbow joint is certainly doing more work than the wrist now at least so I think I'm generally moving forward.

My only remaining concern is how tightly I'm gripping the bat. On nearly every stroke, just as I hit the ball, it's like I'm trying to open a jam jar! Do you have any tricks for relaxing it, or do you think it'll come naturally as the rest of the stroke becomes more natural? I don't do it as much on pushes or chops.

Thanks again.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago

Hi Duncan,

Good to hear that the wrist is starting to get into the right position.

For tightness of grip, it will get better as you start to feel more comfortable with your stroke.  You can also focus on it sometimes in training while you are doing the stroke.  Think about the fingers, hand and wrist being relaxed.  Then move it up to the forearm and upper arm and then shoulder.  Shift your attention from the start position to the tightness.  Keep switching your attention backwards and forwards between the two.

It will take time but it will improve.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago

You can also do some swings without the bat and see how much effort that takes.  Compare this to when you are hitting the ball and see where the differences in tension are.



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