FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS IN TABLE TENNIS (STROKE, SPIN, GRIP)

BASIC STROKES
1. THE DRIVE

- is a light topspin stroke that produces a low-ball trajectory, are the primary offensive
strokes in table tennis. One employ drives to force errors and to set up winners. The
mastery of both the forehand and backhand drives is important because it will give your
opponent less options when using attacking strokes of his/her own.

A. FOREHAND DRIVE

Keep the upper arm close, but not flush, to the torso. The forearm (form a rough 90-
degree bend with the upper arm) should be drawn back to the 3 o'clock position, and let
the waist turn naturally along with the arm (this is where relaxing is important). Shift your
weight toward the right foot at the same time. While shifting your weight back to your left
foot, swing forward with a slight upward motion, with the waist providing additional force
in the swing. Use the elbow as a pivot point; it should not move so much up and down,
but also should be allowed to move slightly forward in the follow-through. Contact with
the ball should be made slightly to the side of the body after the top of the bounce. Make
sure the paddle is somewhat closed (or facing downwards at an angle), and remains that
way throughout the stroke. Follow-through should finish when racket is parallel with the
left shoulder. Immediately return to the ready position. The left foot should be slightly in
front of the right for support.

B. BACKHAND DRIVE

From the ready position, the waist turns left with the racket pointing towards the 9 o'clock
position. When following through, contact with the ball is made in front of the body, slightly
after the top of the bounce. Let the elbow again act as the pivot point, and snap the
forearm forward in a slightly upward direction. Make sure the paddle is closed. Follow-
through should finish naturally (about 12~1 o'clock) after contact with ball. The left foot
should be slightly ahead of the right.

2. THE PUSH
- are the basic backspin shots, used to change the pace of an exchange or to return certain
very low and close shots such as backspin serves. A generally defensive shot, it allows
placement anywhere on the table that is difficult to attack when executed properly.

A. FOREHAND PUSH

Bring the racket slightly up and back, while keeping the elbow at your waist. Bend the
wrist back. Swing forward with a downward motion, and when the racket reaches the ball
snap the wrist forward for extra racket speed. With an open racket, graze the bottom half
of the ball. An ideal contact point is right after the ball bounces. Never push a ball at the
top of the bounce, because the resulting return will pop the ball high enough for the
opponent to execute a smash. Try to hit the ball in front and slightly to the right of your
body. Follow through forward and slightly down, and return to the ready position.
B. BACKHAND PUSH

Bring the racket slightly up and back, close into your stomach while cocking the wrist back.
This time try to contact the ball directly in front of your body, and remember to keep the elbow
still while the forearm and wrist move forward and down. Graze the bottom of the ball and
follow through.

2. THE BLOCK
- it allows a player to use the opponent's force against him/her, and is done immediately
after the bounce so that maximum control and speed are retained. Adjusting the racket
angle depends on the severity of topspin on the ball; the more topspin there is, the more
you should close the racket. Being essentially a cut-down drive, there is very little
backswing and follow-through.

3. THE SMASH

- is the put-away stroke of table tennis. Any ball that is high enough and close enough to
the opponent's side can be smashed, although some opportunities are better than others.
Smashing combines waist, forearm, and wrist movement to the fullest extent. A good
smash is very hard to return, but it can be done. Do not dawdle after you have executed
a smash. The ball is contacted at the top of the bounce at its highest point.

A. FOREHAND SMASH

B. BACKHAND SMASH

SPIN
Spin is imparted onto the ball by using a tangential brushing action with your racket. The
faster your racket brushes against the ball, the more spin you’ll impart onto it.

1. TOP SPIN

- is produced by brushing the ball in an upward motion. Topspin often yields high ball
throw being really suitable for offensive set-ups or cheap and easy points when the ball
throws off the other end.
2. BACK SPIN

- is produced by brushing the rubber against the ball in a downfall motion. It is most
commonly used for serving and receiving subsequently. Backspin is never overused by
offensive and all-around players because doing so promotes increased chances for the
opponent to attack as the ball is slow and easy to eye on when in backspin.

3. SIDE SPIN

- is produced by brushing the ball in either side of the ball. Sidespins are usually used to
supplement topspin or backspin to add confusion and hesitation to the opponent.
4. CORKSCREW SPIN

- A special type of sidespin. This is a concentrated sidespin capable of making the ball
trounce and kick sideways in a quick and far motion. This is usually done in snakes to
disorient the rhythm of the opponent and possibly force him/her to commit offensive
error.

5. NO SPIN

- is produced by hitting the ball in concrete contact with the ball. This is effective in
faking a spinny serve, spinny loop, or spinny chop.

TABLE TENNIS GRIPS

Before one learns about angles and swinging, one of the most foundational choices a player
has to make, or one that is made for him by his coach or trainer, is how to hold the racket.

1. THE SHAKEHAND GRIP

- the blade rests on the V-shape created by one’s thumb and index finger, and save for
the other three fingers, this grip will make it look like one is about to shake hands with
someone. The index finger should lie roughly parallel with the edge of the rubber at the
base of the flat paddle area where one hits the ball.

There are two variations of the shakehand grip, shallow and deep.

2. THE PENHOLD GRIP

- one grips the paddle handle the same way one would grip a pen when one is about to
write, with the thumb and index finger in front of the handle, and the remaining three
fingers curled slightly around the back of the racket for support.

3. V-GRIP

- the blade is held between the index and middle finger, spread apart at first to form a
letter V. When the blade is in place, the index and middle fingers curl down the blade,
gripping it, and the ring and pinky fingers are wrapped around the handle of the paddle.
The thumb can be placed wherever it feels most comfortable for the player.

4. SEEMILLER GRIP

- it can be observed to be a variation of the shakehand grip, but the tip of the forefinger is
placed near the edge of the paddle, or around the edge of the paddle. There is a 90-degree
turn so that both thumb and index fingers are grasping either side of the paddle.