Topspin against very heavy backspin

Table Tennis Strokes and Technique

Last updated 8 years ago

Dario Mirić

Dario Mirić Asked 8 years ago

I usually dont have problems with topspin against backspin, but when the ball has a really heavy backspin I find it difficult to return and often ball goes into the net. I know the technique and I think I do everything correctly since I don’t usully have problems with returning backspin balls. But one player with whom I play table tennis with gives me often very heavy backspin balls and I often return them in the net even if my stroke pretty vertical and my follow through is fast. I see lots of players struggling with his backspin balls not many of them like to use topspin they would rather just push it. Should my angle bat be opened( not flat, but really opened) or what is the problem with very heavy backspin balls?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago

Hi Dario,

In the long term it is better to learn to lift the heavy backspin ball with a topspin.  If the ball is going into the net, you can do three things.  One is open the angle of you racket.  The second, is change the plane of your stroke to make it more vertical and the third is to increase the speed of you stroke to gain more lift off the rubber.

Experiment with these three things and you will find that you will be able to lift it over.


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Ilia Minkin

Ilia Minkin Posted 8 years ago

>One is open the angle of you racket.  The second, is change the plane of your stroke to make it more 

What is the difference? Aren't these two options the same?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Not necessarily.  You can open the angle of the racket and then come forward with your swing therefore hitting the ball flat.



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