Smash and sidespin topspin

Hi, Jeff and Alois

First of all, Happy New Year, I wish you all the best and many success in your work. which you are doing excellent. It's a New Year, so, I have a new question. When you talked about smash, you talked about the shot that is usually performed when the ball bounces high. But, can you do the smash when the ball is lower, something like Forehand Smash Against Block, or Backhand Smash Against Backspin, if you understand me. I simply want to know if it is possible to smash a low-bounced ball.

And one additional question: I have watched a video about Forehand Side Spin Topspin. I have seen that you drop your wrist and hit the ball sideways. What I want to know is, can you apply the same technique to hit the ball on the back, like you do when you perform regular topspin, and, if so, what would it be like, what kind of effect would it produce. 

Best regards

Hi Sasha,

Firstly thanks for your kind words.

You can smash the ball when it is lower but it is not something we recommend.  It becomes too risky to do this.  We recommend you put topspin on this type of ball.  When the ball is low there isn't a good direct line between the ball and the other side of the table.  The topspin will give you a chance to hit the ball quite fast and then the ball will dip onto the other side.

If you hit the ball on the back with topspin it will not be very fast.  By brushing the back of the ball sideways you will not give it much forward momentum.