Point of contact on stroke

Roneil Sivanandan Asked 7 years ago

Hey coach

I was advised by a superior player that when hitting a counter-topspin, I should hit the ball after the peak of the bounce on the way down. I tried this and found it easier to control the shot. Is this the only case where not hitting the ball at the peak is optimal? Any other tips for the counter-topspin?

Alois Rosario Answered 7 years ago

Hi Roneil,

You can hit all shots at the various positions.

It is a matter of what works best for you. Some players like to take the counter spin before the top of the bounce as well.

The other thing you need to consider is what effect your different timing has on your opponent as well. If you hit the ball later does your opponent like the ball coming to them a little later or do they struggle with the slower speed.

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Jean Balthazar Posted 7 years ago

Is volleying the ball back allowed now? Just kidding, I guess it was intended to read "before the top of the bounce".

One thing to consider also is that when you topspin the ball back in its decending phase, your racket angle will be very tangent to the ball's trajectory, hence increasing the risk of hitting the edge. Taking it at the top of the bounce, or even before that if you're fast enough, could make it easier to "cover" the ball.

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

Watch out for this weeks Ask the Coach show.

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

Nice pickup @Jean. I've modified the original answer so people don't get confused. It now reads "before the top of the bounce" rather than "before the bounce".

emmanuel dufour Posted 7 years ago

if you want to counter topspin (topspin on topspin) the ball must have a downward slope, same reason as the topspin on backspin ball :
When going downwards the ball has a long contact time on the rubber because the paddle and the ball have parallel (though opposite) directions, long contact time allows to impart more spin on the ball, and you either want that on a counter topspin so that your ball has spin at all or on a topspin on back spin ball so that the rubber friction propels the ball upwards.

If you want to smash a topspin (no spin required on your part) then that's another story.....