Push with less backspin

Hi coach!

Sometimes my opponents return pushes with less backspin to confuse me. I feel there are still some backspins in such returns. So I return them by push or do topspin against backspin. If I push such ball it will be easy to answer by loop. If I do topspin then ball often goes off the table. What do you suggest?

Hi Ardak,

This can be difficult to see and to adapt to.

The first thing is to watch the contact of their push carefully to see if you can recognise any differences between the heavy backspin and the less backspin push. Watch for the contact on the ball.  For the heavier backspin there will be a finer contact and the ball will come out more directly towards you.  For the less backspin the ball will go up slightly off their racket.  There will also be a different sound off their racket that you can listen for.

If you can find a player to practice with you and get them to vary the spin and see what you can recognise between the two types of pushes.

The next thing is to adapt your stroke to the type of spin. For less spin push your topspin needs to go more forward to keep the ball down.  To push the less spin you need to come down with your stroke or brush under the ball more.  That is all a matter of adjusting your stroke slightly for each variation of spin.  It takes time.