Switching Forehand & Backhand

Ugur KILIC Unknown Asked 14 years ago

Hi,

My name is Ugur. I've been play table tennis about 15 years. First times I was play in my school team. When I started the collage, couldn't play anymore. A few months ago, I realized to how much missed to play and I've been started again.

So far, always is OK but while I playing, I'm experiencing some difficulties to switching forehand to/from backhand. I think there might a couple of exercises but I can't remember those.

If you can, describe some of those.

Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago

Hi Ugur,

There are several exercises you can do. If you can take a look at our new DVD Training Secrets Revealed. This has several suggestion as to what you can do.

Try the simple exercise of switching one forehand from the forehand corner and then a backhand from the backhand corner. You can then vary the positions for both of your strokes. Make sure to keep the placements relevant to what you would do in a match situation.

Switching is a key skill to have. try ing to make a decision between forehand and backhand is critical, especially for shakehand players.

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Leslie Unknown Posted 14 years ago

After watching many of the elite women play (I play as close to the table as many of them do during rallies) I find it best to have your paddle slightly to your backhand side. This is because it is easier to go from backhand to forehand than the other way around.

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 14 years ago

At the same time, just to add to the complication, I find it helps to have a stance that slightly favours a forehand (open).

Andrew T Posted 14 years ago

You should also keep the same grip for both backhand and forehand. Even subtle differences can make changing between the sides difficult - especially when quick changes are needed.

Alex Polyakov Posted 14 years ago

I had the same problem and it took me and my coach a long time to realize the exact problem in transitioning from FH to BH. What we found - it was my neutral position. I kept the blade too close to my body, but I also had the head of the blade point to the ceilng, as if I was ready to push. The problem - not ever ready for spin or block or counter. Since push is a slower shot than either of the attacking stroke and the block needs a solid angle to block well, I needed to get used to holding the paddle a bit to the backhand with a wrist completely relaxed and pointed to the left.

As an excercise, there is one you can do without the ball and the game - triangle. Where you make a forehand swing, then bring your hand down to the neutral, then do the backhand, then down to the neutral, etc.

The other excercise is a simple transition drill, have your partner block to your backhand and a little wider to your forehand. Meanwhile, your job is to hit the ball from both wings to the same spot to your partner.

Hope this helps!

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 14 years ago

Switching between backhand and forehand can certainly be a problem. That is why our DVD Training Secrets Revealed has several exercises that focus on "switching". We are currently producing a flyer which we will put up on our website as a free download that lists the drills covered in Training Secrets Revealed. I'll let you know as soon as it is ready.