Not able to make FH Smash in a match

Table Tennis Strokes and Technique

Last updated 11 years ago

Pallav Gurha

Pallav Gurha Asked 11 years ago

Hi Coach,

I do lot of practice for FH counter-hit as well as FH Smash and have went to rallies of around 100 each many times with my partner, but I am not able to do that during a match.

I can hit BH counterhit as well as smash very well and because of that also may be my stance is also mostly towards my BH, so that I can hit the ball with my backhand, and may be because of that I can't hit with my FH. So now people have stopped playing lot of balls to my BH and they give more to my FH. So the only thing that I can do with my FH is play a chop shot.

What I have realized and my partner has also told me is try to play lot of FH shots during a match, but I just dont get the confidence of hitting the ball especially on a chopped shot, which is either short or long, during a match.

Since I am not aware of topspin, so what I am thinking is that I should learn topspin so may be because of that I will get confidence of hitting a chopped shot and that can improve my game, but my partner is telling that I should be avoiding to learn FH topspin as of now, as by learning that I may be really confused as whether to a do a topspin on the ball or whether to do a FH smash.

So, please suggest as what should I be doing since I am really confused as what to do.

Thanks,

-Pallav

 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago

Hi Pallav,

It is good that you are able to do so many hits in a row of counterhit.  This is not something that you should expect to do in a match.  What this does is it builds your consistency and control of the ball.

In a game situation try to ater your stance a little so that you are more able to be ready for forehands.  If you are right handed, move your left foot forward slightly.

The forehand topspin is a very important stroke, much more than the smash.  You really need to develop this stroke first.  You need to develop it to the stage that you will have confidence to play a topspin against a push stroke consistently.  This is the single most important stoke in the game.


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SirLoops Alot

SirLoops Alot Posted 11 years ago

I suffer from similar problems in matches. I tend to make half-assed, tentative swings which get me in more trouble than it prevents. One thing that I've found helpful is to repeat to myself "commit to the stroke". When you topspin the ball (or any other stroke), do it decisively. You will occasionally miss here and there, but when your strokes are authoritative and decisive, you'll build more confidence which reinforces itself in subsequent shots.

 

 

 

 


Pallav Gurha

Pallav Gurha Posted 11 years ago

Thanks Coach and Dan

Yes, I am right handed. So, I will start practicing FH Topspin. And I will also try to make my stance more towards my FH, so that I can hit more balls with my FH.

Will let you know how it goes.

Thanks,

-Pallav



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