Serving
Backhand Lob
Use this stroke when you have been forced away from the table by your opponents smash.
Starting position:
Start in a crouch position facing the ball
The action:
- As the ball comes toward you, take the bat down to knee height (1 & 2)
- The movement goes upward, brushing the back of the ball to import topspin - ideally make contact at waist height (3 & 4)
- Recover ready for the return ball, try to get plenty of height on the ball, and land it as near to your opponents baseline as possible (5 & 6)
Backhand Push
This shot is used to return a short back spinning ball
Starting position:
Start in a crouch position facing the ball
The action:
- The bat moves forward and down, making contact underneath the ball with an open bat angle. Notice the arm bent at the elbow and the head near the bat. (4 & 5)
- Contact just after the bounce for a short return, or at the top of the bounce for a deeper, aggressive push (6)
- Very short follow through and recover quickly to be ready for the return ball.
- Make sure you do not leave your foot under the table!
Backhand Smash
This is a more difficult shot than the forehand smash - with a higher ball which should give more time to get into position most players will try and go for the forehand. However, there are exceptions, and the ball might be so wide on the backhand that you have no choice!
Starting position:
Notice the more upright, sideways stance, with the elbow pointing forward (1 & 2)
The action:
- Take the wrist back to get more speed into the shot. The bat moves forward with a closed bat angle, make contact at shoulder height (3 & 4)
- Extend the arm on the follow through, notice the bat angle I still closed (5 & 6)
Backhand Topspin
Although not as powerful as the forehand, the backhand topspin has the advantage of being able to generate heavy topspin by using an exaggerated wrist movement.
Starting position:
Keeping the elbow forward and up, take the bat back and down to the hip, notice the wrist is bent back and down (1, 2 & 3)
The action:
- This action is similar to throwing a Frisbee
- The movement is forward and up, pivoting on the elbow, with the wrist snapping forward to the neutral position on contact with the ball (4 & 5)
- Follow through keeping the bat angle closed (6)