Forehand Topspin Against Block

Great job as usual with the video. In teaching this stroke why is there no mention of the back swing or shoulder turn? Isn't important to incorporate this into the stroke! I find that many beginners just use an arm swing.

Hi Jeremiah,

You are right.  This is something that we add in.  I guess we try to focus on the simple start so that the players get this right first.

Once you have the basic stroke right then it is a matter of incorporating the body in a coordinated manner to allow your whole body to helo you with the stroke.  Getting this coordination is something that comes with more hitting and focus on it.  One simple thing I get players to do is to focus on their free hand.  Trying to get it in at the start of the stroke and then turn away during the stroke.  This naturally turns the body and starts to incorporate other areas.

Thanks for all these great Videos. My question to this forehand-topspin-video refers to Jeffs upper arm movement. Why do you use so much upper arm? Isn't the use of the lower arm gaining more acceleration, if you "open" and "close" the cubital joint instead of using the upper arm? Especially when considering to come back as fast as posible to the initial position after hitting the ball. And in my opinion it also helps to keep the whole movement very short and with a short duration.

Yes, this is right when you are aiming for more speed and spin.  For the controlled ball you can use a little more upper arm.

Amazing video. I can see the stroke much more clearly and I love that you are showing Jeff 2 or 3 times from side on and behind him. That helps me really much. But while I was watching the video I noticed that Jeff is almost not or not using his forearm. I tried to do it like him, but I found it difficult to play a fast spinny ball. I was wondering if Jeff can make a strong fast topspin that way.

Very nice video , started training this stroke a few weeks ago .

Thank you for the explanations of this stroke

It allows me now to make this stroke more easily during the  matchs.

Now   I am going to have to try it against a blocker and especially  a chopper   ^^

great videos and explanations, those help me a lot 

Coach had a hard time today.

What happened?

when the locker blocks the ball, does it have topspin, less spin or back spin?

It has a little bit of topspin but really quite flat.  You can block with a bit more topspin as well.

how can you practise the topspin against block alone. also, does the stroke end above your head, more neraer to the left or right ear or infront of you?

That is difficult. You really need a practice partner to do this effectively. If you can get a Return Board that may help.

is a returnboard a board with a rubber coating?

Yes Jonathan, that is what a return board is.

can you customise the rubbers and is a robot better?

Hi Jonathan,

Yes you can but it gets expensive if you want to change them often because you need about 8 sheets to cover the board.

I think they have different purposes.  A robot will feed balls out more consistently and the return board will give you a more realistic spin.  If you have a choice I would go for the return board.

Alois, i started with the faster topspin first. is this okay?

No I think it is better to start with control.

oh. back to th flat brush topspin then

hi, what is the angle of the bats meant to be when doing the topspin stroke. (eg. 70-80 degrees?)

and can i imaite and copy timo boll's, ma long's and waldner's style and loops and mesh them  together to create the ultimate style.

and is it normal to slighty modify it.i start with my arm more open and finish at around the left side of your face and a bit more in front. it varies slighty for each and every shot.

Jonathan,

You need to make sure your stroke is consistent.  You can't nominate an angle because there are always slight variations.

You should get the strokes consistent first and then you can make your own variations.

and finally i've got the robot!

and should the bat finish a hand width's in front of your head?

Hi Jonathan,

It doesn't need to be that precise. As long as it is close to there and you try and keep your shot consistent, you will be fine.

Pretty.

Hi Alois and Jeff. Great video as always. I have a Power Return Board if Johnathan or anyone else is interested. You can see it on you-tube under Eight Table Tennis Exercise or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ydKQdDro_4. My e-mail is stribs4922@yahoo.com if anyone is interested. This one is from Germany when if first came out. Now there is all kinds. Will definitlly sell it at a cheaper price. Thanks

I have an idea. It would be great, if you show us, how you can vary the ratio spin/speed to produce slow spinny or fast less spinny topspin .... exactly as you did in push lessons.

nice video.....

Sometimes when i play against beginners, they dont let me warm up the topspin, how do i get the feel without warming up, i just have to hit the topspin once but they cant warm up with me

at like around about 2:30 Jeff grip looked dif

It looks alright to me.

I think this video is useful but what we really nead is the practical steps we should take to master  speed ,spin and direction of this decisive stroke and also its optimum reply. I think the majority of us know how to do this stoke but it differs when levels of speed and spin increase to the critical point which separates between the experts and the amateures.

Thanks for the suggestion Ahmed.

You are welcome Alois.By the way I saw your match with the Italian Champion.You were really good.I liked your calmness,determination and concentration.

is there a shot in which you can maintain the spin and speed & is better than the normal topspin

I think the topspin is the key stroke in Table Tennis.

How to make my topspin more spin and surely enter to the table

Hey Dominique,

What sort of rubber do you have on your bat? Are you able to generate spin with it? If you have a decent rubber then you need to concentrate on the start and finish positions as suggested by the video. By doing this you'll hit the ball in such a way that you generate the topspin you need to get the ball to dip onto the table.

hello,

Could you please talk a little about the work of the legs during the topspin stroke ?

I often don't use my legs correctly and then my stroke don't have enough pace. I also play to much with the shoulder instead of the elbow.

Thank you.

Christian

Hi Christian,

As a Premium member you can watch this lesson on the Advanced Forehand Topspin.  I think this will help.

Yes it helps a lot. Thank you. 

Wonderful. I had missed this one. 

I will work on these new points. 

Christian

I just doubt how forehand topspin is different from forehand counterhit . Thanks.

They are basically the same stroke.  The difference is that the topspin is a little longer and a slightly more brushing contact.

Thanks for the video.

I have a question about forehand topspin.

How do I return a forehand counterhit with a forehand topspin? Is it similar to forehand topspin against block?

Hi Peter,

Yes it is very similar.  A counter hit is just slightly faster than a block and with a fraction more topspin.

So doing topspin against block and against simple counterhit is alike?

Yes that is right.

I just won a match on30th march because of the forehand topspin against block when I put some heavy spin my cousin block the ball and the fly off the table and t have my game point is 5 and my cousin match point is 2.

Sorry I typed the wrong letter because I typing the words so fast.

Hi Coaches.

When jeff plays lifting strokes. Where he exactly contacts the ball? Is he contacting back of the ball from the bottom of the bat.

Back of the ball with the top part of the bat.

Hi, 

I am a new player (3-4 weeks) I only play at work in my lunch time, usually daily for about 30 min- an hour.

The people I play against are much more experienced and all I am doing is blocking the hits and trying to keep the ball on the table. Most of the time the ball goes either flying over the table or to soft and hits my side of the net. 

Watching these videos i am going to try hit the ball more aggressive instead of holding my bat still and hoping the ball bounces correctly:)

i will try learn some techniques from here and hope i can play some table tennis instead of running after the ball 90% of the time!

Good luck Ruan.  Let us know how it goes.

I am also a new player,,,i am watching these videos in sequence,,,for this video i wanna comment that i dont see much differnece in strokes in Forehand topspin against block and the Forehand counterhit...just a one difference that in this video, Jeff is attacking the ball more,,but the hand position and movement are quite similar...

That is right Ammar.  We talk about them all being extensions of each other.  Just extend the stroke for the topspin.  This keeps the game a little more simple.

Good video. I improved my topspin greatly after watching this video. I want to know that should I put more speed on the ball while playing a topspin?

Thanks,

Kaustubh.

Hi Kaustubh,

If you have the technique correct you can start to play the ball faster.  Make sure you stay with your technique.

Do mean that I should first play slowly and when I develop good style I should start playing it faster.

Yes that is right.

Okay, Thank you.

Thank you for this video . I am now being able to do a heavy amount of spin with reasonable speed . I had a few doubts and I would grateful if you could help me with them. I noticed that my spin decreases when I try to increase the speed . I'm able to do 50 rallies in a row but the speed is very less compared to the speed shown in your video . could you suggest some practices and techniques on and off the table to increase spin and speed ? lastly I'm unable to match finish position to yours. My bat ends up near my chest instead of my head

How do I change that? 

I would be grateful if you could address all my questions .thank you .

Hi Anantha,

Firstly one way to increase speed is to keep the same contact just increase the speed of your arm movement.  You can also flatten out the contact but this will decrease the spin.

The finish position is real important.  Work hard on this position during training.  If you can do this then the faster stroke will also be more consistent.  In training do one stroke at a time and stop at the end of the stroke.  Check where the finish position is.  Then repeat several times till you find you are getting the right finish position.

Thank for your advice . I tried it out and my speed has improved but this time not at the cost of spin !

I also had a request . while playing defense (chop) against FAST top spins I tend to lose control and the ball goes out . I feel my technique is wrong somewhere . Could you upload a detailed video regarding defense . Thank you.

Hi Anantha,

I am glad that we have been able to help.

For the chop video take a look at the Forehand Chop and Backhand Chop lessons.

hi pingskills,

I am having trouble getting a consistent topspin (ball goes out or into the net after about 10 hits) any tips or pointers?

thanks alot

Hi Brian,

May just be you are altering your swing slightly after a while.  In theory, if you play the same stroke to the same ball you will get the same result.

thanks for helping me now i ll try my best

Good to hear it Albert.  Let us know how it goes.

Hi PingSkills,

i play with a Chinese penhold grip and I have been noticing that my forehand seems to be reverting back to a lifting, rather than forward, stroke, causing it to be slow and sometimes to go out. Any tips on how to improve this?

Hi Austin,

Focus on the finish position of your stroke.  This will help with getting the ball lower.  Get your finish position a little lower.  You can also think about the angle of your racket.  See if you can turn your bat more forward.  This will also help with keeping the ball lower.

Thanks. I think it really helped with making the ball faster and harder to return. Now I can win points rather than just moving the opponent backward

Great to hear it Austin.

Alois,

First off I would like to the you that you and Jeff are great. Really looks like Jeff is having a good time making these video's. But what I would like to know is, are you left handed or right handed? After watching a bunch of these video's I have noticed that you are playing both hands. Which do you prefer?

Let me know,

Thanks,

Orangecrush

Hi Steve,

I am definitely Left Handed...

Hi Alois,

That's a really nice video about topspin and has helped me a lot.

However, I have a doubt regarding the shot one should choose based on the which part of trajectory the ball is in. Is it correct that a topspin should be hit when the ball has reached it's peak after bounce and has started dipping? Similarly is a counterhit advised when the ball is yet to reach it's peak or at it's peak?

Also, is there any general part of the trajectory, after the ball has bounced, where a player should aim to hit the ball?

Thanks in advance,

Sagar

Hi Sagar,

I think if you aim to hit the ball at the top of the bounce then you can’t go too far wrong.  Sometimes it is good to topspin a backspin ball when it is just falling after the peak.  But if you stick to the principle of hitting the ball at the top you will give yourself a good chance of making a good stroke.

Hi Sagar,

Against a backspin ball you shouldn't really use a counterhit. This topspin against backspin (also called a loop) is the way to go.

Hi, PingSkills!

To Jeff Plumb-

What kind of blade+rubbers you play on this video?

I like carbon blades, but it has a dirty sound. The sound of you blade is clear tone.

I think it is pure wood off- and middle hard rubber like tibhar radip or andro revolution.

Thanks.

Hi Svyatoslav,

Good observations.  I can answer for Jeff that he is using the Pingskills Touch which is an all wood blade that is rated around an allround to offensive minus.  The rubber he is using in this video is Vega Pro.

I have bought this blade.

Thanks for info.

Yes, I see the order.  Can you confirm your address.  I have sent you an email so please reply to that.  Thanks.

Hi,

sir can you tell what is the mistake i am doing while playing this stroke by seeing a video of mine playing this stroke

Hi Akshat,

I probably would.  This is a service we offer our Premium members.

Alois,what will happen if I topspin the ball with the topspin against backspin version or the topspin against topspin. What will effect my topspin against block and will it still end well on the table?

Hi Eugene,

Each topspin needs to take into account the type of ball that your opponent has played to you.  The more backspin, the more vertical your stroke can be.  The more topspin the more horizontal the stroke can be.

Thx alois

I love your videos

Alois, I did the forehand topspin multiple times but most of the time I start having rallies over 20 with my forehand topspin. When it starts to rally to 20 the ball goes lower and lower and eventually hit the net. What do I do?

Keep the angle the same.  You are probably chaining the angle of you racket after a while.

hi, i am using a phantom rubber [grass d.tech]. how to flick the ball against back spin

thanks 

When using long pimples Suchetanbir, the spin won't have much effect. This means you can flick through without needing to counter the spin. We have the LP Attack Against Backspin lesson for our premium members.

I've been told that the topspin should consist of two components one that spins it and one that carries it forward . in order to get the optimum topspin what should be the ratio of these components ?

Hi Anantha,

You can vary these components to whatever you like depending on the type of ball you want to play.  For more spin though, you want more brushing and less forward hitting.  To the ultimate degree of spin, you will get a slow spiny topspin with little forward momentum. Take a look at the lesson on the Slow Spiny Topspin.

what is the difference between forehand counterfeit and this one?

Hi Tami,

You are brushing the ball a little more, starting with your bat lower and finishing higher.  This is just an extension of the Counterhit shot.

@Tami Singh - it is an important extension though because the extra topspin causes the ball to dip and hence you can hit the ball with a lot more power using the forehand topspin. That's why if you watch the top players they use this shot a large percentage of the time.

Hi pingskills,

When playing the forehand topspin, I often do not have enough time to do the stroke after the first block as the ball comes back really fast. Should I slow the stroke down or do other adjustments

Try to make the second ball more efficient by not having such a big swing.  Also make sure you are balanced with the first topspin to enable a good recovery.

sir,

when you told us the technique of doing topspin using a vertical stroke.I tried that and that was completely working.Then you told that if we want to play the stroke more faster you should do a more horizontal stroke means we should come more forward.But when i tried that means when i started to do the stroke more forward sometimes the ball was going of the table and sometimes the ball was not cross the net.What do you think is the problem with me?and please tell what can i do to overcome that problem.please tell.

THANK YOU

Alois, 

Which part of the ball should I brush for maximum topspin?

Hi Eugene,

It's not the part of the ball you hit that changes the amount of spin. It's how fast you are moving the bat and how finely you brush the ball. So if you want lots of topspin be sure to get the bat moving fast and brush the ball really finely.

Thx jeff

Hi Akshat,

There is nothing wrong.  Just allow yourself to keep adjusting and learning.

Where should I start the stroke? At the hip or the knees? I've experiment with both and I found that when you start at the hips, you can hit more forwards with more speed. But there's no loop. But when you start at the legs, you can get more loop but the ball goes out.

That is right Eugene.  The higher you start the more forward you can go whereas the lower you start the more lift you can get.

Is it true that with the correct angle, you will always generate topspin naturally?

You also have to get a brushing contact on the ball.

Should we hold the racket tightly or loosely

Always keep your hand as relaxed as possible... without letting go of the bat of course

Hey alois ,

I want to buy a new rubber . I'm a topspin based player . should I go for rasant powergrip or tenergy 05 ?

Also what is the difference between a rubber having many gears and one having less gears ?

Thanks

Hi Anantha,

I think Tenergy 05 is a better rubber overall but is also more expensive.  For very high level players, International level, the Tenergy is definitely better but for other players there isn't a lot of difference.

With the gears they talk about it having reasonable control at a lower speed of hitting but when you play faster shots it can also get the ball moving faster.

Hi coach

If i was in Jeff position and had the exact situation he had in the video above but in this case i want to perform my fastest loop  (loop kll), should i close the paddle more and finish it in the much lower position (in front of my left biceps)?

I often do it during the game to win a point, it works very well especially when i want to play third ball attack. But the problem is i often didn't make a good recovery because of my finish position in fŕònt of my left biceps.

Any ideà coach? 

Thank you very much

Best regards,

Ryan

Hi Ryan,

It is best to keep the stroke the same so that your recovery is easier and you are making the stroke safer as well.  Finishing lower means you are showing less of the bat surface to the ball which can lead to more errors.

I perform the forehand spin slower and make it good but when I do it a little faster or stronger I almost always left the ball in the net or over past the table, what am I doing wrong?

Try to make sure you are maintaining the spin on the ball.  Often players when playing faster will flatten out the contact too much which will lead to these errors.

Hi Walter,

This also my problem. Whenever I try to hit faster, the ball will go out. EVERY TIME!!!! That's why now I don't try to hit faster. I just use a standard topspin and use placement and consistency to win points. Just like the backhand counterhit we discussed. It certainly helped. I can beat stronger players or even challenge them. Try it.

P.s. want to communicate with e-mail?

Yes I do Eugene...

Actually I perform a stroke very different from backhand or forehand topspin.

When the opponent return the ball in my left side some times I hit the ball like forehand but from that side (left), I don't know if I explain it clear, I mean when I am performing that stroke I take the racket (bat) near my left shoulder and hit the ball quickly putting the bat in forehand position.

I know is so weird an unusual stroke, what can I say? jeje

Do you understand it???

No I don't understand what you mean. And if you really want to communicate with e-mail, leave your email address

Ok, wor2000_sv@yahoo.es

Ok here goes again.

Take your racket with your right hand, now take it near your left shoulder and turn it on to hit the ball in that possition, quicky and strong enough.

Let me tell you that I am not a native english speaker, so that's why you missunderstand me or I am not clear enough when I try to explain what I mean.

I mean I don't understand what jeje means.

Sorry a wrote thinking in spanish, that means I am laughing like in english say "ha ha" that's it

Sir  when I hit the first ball it lands on table  tennis but on second  ball it goes  out the table. What do u think is the problem with me is timing the problem and at what distance should we stand from table while performing FH topspin and ya please tell me the solution for above problem

Hi Akshat,

We do have a Premium lesson in the Master Classes on Forehand Followup that talks about this exactly.

It is the subtle change between the lifting of the first ball and the coming forward on the second ball because there is already some speed and spin on the ball.  Really focus on keeping that second ball lower.

Hi Alois,

Please show me the contact point on racket when I do the forehand counter hit, forehand topside against block and forehand topspin against backspin? Do you think the contact point is the head of racket for above strokes? And may I use the contact point at the head of racket for all strokes of table tennis?

Thanks Alois!

Hi nam Nguyen,

For forehand counterhit, contact the back of the ball flat. forehand topspin, on the top of the ball with a brushing contact. Topspin off backspin, back of the ball with a brushing contact.

Thanks Eugene Lu, you are right. Now I knew that from you. But I also want to know where we contact on racket with each forehand counterhit, forehand topspin and forehand topspin off backspin?

Thanks!

Hi Nam,

For counterhit contact in the middle of the bat.   For both topspin against block and topspin against backspin the contact is closer to the leading edge of the racket.

Thank you very much, Alois Rosario!

Dear Alois,

Thanks for your answer, but I am still not understand clearly. Do you mean the contact is closer the edge and the head of the racket with brush action for topspin against block and topspin against backspin?

Thanks!

For the counterhit, hit the middle of the bat, for the topspin for both block and backspin, contact near the edge of the racket head. But I recommend the middle as it's more consistent.

P.s. my email is Eugenelu3168@yahoo.com if you need any help

Thanks Eugene Lu for your advice, I will email to you if I need any help.

Thanks!

Dear Alois Rosario, Jeff Plumb and Eugene Lu,

Do you think the topspin for both block and backspin, contact near the edge of the racket head is more effective and more spinner than contact at the edge of middle racket?

Thanks!

Yes, that's correct. You get more spin and speed. But you lose consistency. If you are a consistent player, then you can try hitting near the edge. But if you are an inconsistent player like me,Then just hit the middle.

Hi Nam, you do get better spin when you can get the contact higher on the bat.

Copy that. Thanks Alois!

Hi Alois, 

while making a top spin shot my ball. dosent spins. why is this happening? 

or is am making a wrong stroke.? 

help. me out with this please. 

thank you 

Does your rubber have grip?  If so then just focus on the start and finish positions of the stroke.  If you do those well then you will get spin on the ball.

Sir, 

i am using GKI belbot racket.which is not a custom racket.

so i have to change my racket in order to learn the basics of tt shots like top spin and more?

thank you 

It depends if it still has grip on it.  Rub your finger across the rubber and see if it is gripping your finger.

Awesome work..! Hats off..! 

Thanks Suhas.

Sir first I always hit continuous 10 topspins but after I take a 1 month break then I gone to my club and played counter hit for 1 hour then I started forehand topspin and I am not able to hit even 2 every one is saying that I am not able to get ready for 2 nd shot . What should I do please tell

Akshat. You need to retrain because you have not play for long time. Just recover faster from the finish position after you have done the stroke.

As for alois, I have a question for you.

Why when I try to spin the ball heavily, the ball will end up outside but when I hit the ball thicker, it lands on the table?

It depends on the stroke Eugene.  You may be going too much upwards with the stroke when you are spinning the ball and therefore lifting it off the table.

Hello My name Is Majid

thanks for Your Videos

I have Ovtcharov Carbo Speed (FL) Blade and my rubbers is Blue fire jp01 turbo & acuda blue p1 turbo

i am intermediate. I want aks about my blade and my rubbers -> what do you think about my choose

thanks for good website

Hi Majid,

t sounds quite fast.  Are you able to control the ball well with it?

Hello Again

With my forhand rubber in Acuda blue p1 --> i can these attacks well --> high loop  , top spin , forhand outside Loop very Well

in my backhand Blue fir jp01 turbo so bad -> the ball with my backhand after my attack very hich the net

i want have a more feel and control with my rubber

what do you think about it ?

thanks for your answer

I play table tenis after 10 years , before it i play with normal blades (WorldCup)

i think my choose is bad and i can't play well with this rubbers

after smash or backhand smash i can't answer it because my rubber answer fast and the ball come outside the table

you have any solution for me ?

It may be better to change your rubber and use something a little slower.  Try a Mark V type of rubber.  You can always keep the other rubber and use it again when you get more confident with your strokes.

Hello , thanks for your answer ;)

I love Jan-Ove Waldner playing and I see his matchs.

I want can Playing like Jan-Ove Waldner , his very very cool in returning the ball after smash or fast high loops

do you know his rubbers and his blade what is it? and you think with thats rubbers and his blade and more more practice , I can playing a little like his ?

after search find this pictures Please See .

http://s9.picofile.com/file/8271287934/rubber_blades.png

http://s8.picofile.com/file/8271287976/rubber_blades2.png

http://s9.picofile.com/file/8271287992/rubber_blades3.png

http://s9.picofile.com/file/8271288042/rubber_blades4.png

Hi Majid,

I think almost everyone wants to play like Waldner.  He has a very difficult style to copy though, because he relies so much on his incredible touch.

Yes Really.

everyone wants have incredible touch like his

Sir I have one problem while performing this stroke. Most of time my ball goes off the table .also I don't have fast rubber so I m not able to recognize my problem what should I do pls tell.pls tell me what changes should I do in swing of stroke and while contacting the ball pls tell me as soon as possible

Hi Akshat,

Focus on generating topspin rather than speed.  The spin will help the ball dip onto the table.

Another question during brushing: Must we contact the ball as top as possible ?

Hi coaches!

During brushing the ball, must we contact as mush area of the ball as possible?

You can contact behind the ball and brush up the back of the ball or brush over the top of the ball.  This will both give you topspin.