Missing the Ball
Strokes and Technique
Jordan Jorš Asked 11 years ago
Hi, im Jordan and i have played table tennis for a month. I'm doing pretty good, but i have problems when i'm about to return a hit and i miss it. Sometimes i also miss when i take the position to smash and then i fail. How to avoid missing the ball?
Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago
Hi Jordan,
Well done on starting with Table Tennis. If you have only played for a month, missing will still happen a lot.
Just try to think about watching the ball all the time while you are playing. See if you can watch it till it gets to your side and then the other side of the table. This will help you to hit the ball more often.
Good luck with your game and give us some updates as you keep going.
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Jordan Jorš Posted 11 years ago
Hi! I'm Jordan. I haven't update this topic for a while becuase i've been busy playing Table Tennis. I'm no longer missing the ball and i'm doing pretty good smashed. I have bat "Atemi 900", which stats are - Spin: 90 Control: 70 Speed: 90. It's really good bat i'm doing good spins on it. I also was on local tournament and I won 2 place. I'm still continueing Table Tennis. This is my favorite sport.
Jordan Jorš Posted 11 years ago
During the rally i try to spin, but it's not effective. How to do effective spin during rally?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago
Hi Jordan,
It is good to hear you have improved your game and you are still enjoying it so much. Well done on your second place in the tournament.
In the rally the most important spin to be able to do is topspin. Take a look at our lesson on the Forehand Topspin Against Block for some help on this stroke.
Dieter Verhofstadt Posted 10 years ago
I have been playing for 2 years now and probably this is now my greatest issue. It especially happens when I'm playing defenders: they take the pace out of the rally, which invites me to pivot to my forehand and go for a good topspin on chop. I often am simply hitting past the ball.
I could of course decide not to pivot and loop with backhand but in general I find it easier and more attractive to attack a long chop with a forehand loop. Also, they may send their defense shots or serves to my elbow and I need to move anyhow.
What could be other reasons for missing the ball and how to cure it?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago
Hi Dieter,
It is good to pivot and utilise your stronger forehand topspin.
This sounds like more of a technique issue. Against the backspin ball you still need to come forward a little to make good contact not the ball. If you go straight upwards, you are likely to miss the ball because the intersecting paths of the ball and the bat are very small. You can utilise the turning of your waist to get the bat moving more forward while still maintaining the upward action of the arm.