Problems with short high backspin

david j Asked 8 years ago

Hi!

this is a technique question i suppose. i'm having incredible difficulties when a ball lands in the first half of my side of the table with backspin on it, and particularly when it's a bit high. When it is very low i just go for a push, trying to keep the ball low and to return it with my own backspin, that seems to work fine.

However when the opponent messes up a bit and gives me a ball that is a bit higher in the same position and with the same spin I feel like i should capitalize on that mistake. However, i am unsure how to do it. because the table itself is in the way i can't properly get under the ball, so it's very hard to do anything like a fast topspin ball. if i try to return it like this it just ends up being a rather slow ball with a bit of topspin

, which is super easy for my opponent to attack, making me lose the rally. because of this i usually just  push the ball even if it is high, this seems like wasted potential though.

i hope i've described the problem adequately, and i hope you can help me somehow

Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago

Hi David,

It may sound strange, but this is a common problem.  The best thing is to try to make an attacking shot but make allowances for the backspin by still lifting the shot.  If you are not confident it is OK to push or control the ball back.  Better to do that than make a simple error.

We have a video on this for our Premium members. High backspin close to net.