What is topspin really

Basel Assad Asked 12 years ago

hi alois,

 when i play with people older and about my age at school (i'm 12) they constantly say 'm doing i topspin shot but really to me i'm just doing a basic forehand and backhand shot ( i've seen topspin shots and i can't really understand how they think that i'm doing topspin cause there's nothing importantly similar)!!! my question is that are they right that i do topspin forehand/backhand shots or do they just say that to sound that they know a whole lot about table tennis and what does topspin do in real.

Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago

Hi Basel,

All of your attacking shots will have a little topspin on them.  They are all just extensions of each other.  Your basic counterhit hit also has some topspin on it.

Don't ever get tied up with names of strokes.  They are unimportant.  Just think about their effect.