EFFECTS OF SPIN (Wikipedia)

Adding spin onto the ball causes major changes in table tennis gameplay. Although nearly every
stroke or serve creates some kind of spin, understanding the individual types of spin allows players to
defend against and use different spins effectively.

4 phases in a backspin curve

Backspin
 Backspin is where the bottom half of the ball is rotating away from the player, and is imparted
by striking the base of the ball with a downward movement.
 At the professional level, backspin is usually used defensively in order to keep the ball low.  
 Backspin is commonly employed in service because it is harder to produce an offensive return,
though at the professional level most people serve sidespin with either backspin or topspin.
 Due to the initial lift of the ball, there is a limit on how much speed with which one can hit the
ball without missing the opponent's side of the table.
 However, backspin also makes it harder for the opponent to return the ball with great speed
because of the required angular precision of the return. Alterations are frequently made to
regulations regarding equipment in an effort to maintain a balance between defensive and
offensive spin choices.
 It is actually possible to smash with backspin offensively, but only on high balls that are close to
the net.

4 phases in a topspin curve

(+632)5336-6582/ 5336-89-56/ 5336-89-66

Public service through quality education.

Address: Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma-corner Mayor Antonio J. Villegas Street Mehan Gardens, Ermita, Manila, Philippines 1000
Tel. No.: Fax. No.: (+632) 5336-6554 Email: admin@udm.edu.ph
Website: www.udm.edu.ph
 Topspin
 The topspin stroke has a smaller influence on the first part of the ball-curve.
 Like the backspin stroke, however, the axis of spin remains roughly perpendicular to the
trajectory of the ball thus allowing for the Magnus effect (the force exerted on a rapidly spinning
cylinder or sphere moving through air or another fluid in a direction at an angle to the axis of
spin) to dictate the subsequent curvature.
 After the apex of the curve, the ball dips downwards as it approaches the opposing side, before
bouncing.
 On the bounce, the topspin will accelerate the ball, much in the same way that a wheel which is
already spinning would accelerate upon making contact with the ground.
 When the opponent attempts to return the ball, the topspin causes the ball to jump upwards
and the opponent is forced to compensate for the topspin by adjusting the angle of his or her
racket.
 This is known as "closing the racket".
 The speed limitation of the topspin stroke is minor compared to the backspin stroke.
 This stroke is the predominant technique used in professional competition because it gives the
opponent less time to respond.
 In table tennis topspin is regarded as an offensive technique due to increased ball speed, lower
bio-mechanical efficiency and the pressure that it puts on the opponent by reducing reaction
time.
 (It is possible to play defensive topspin-lobs from far behind the table, but only highly skilled
players use this stroke with any tactical efficiency.)
 Topspin is the least common type of spin to be found in service at the professional level, simply
because it is much easier to attack a top-spin ball that is not moving at high speed.

Sidespin
 This type of spin is predominantly employed during service, wherein the contact angle of the
racket can be more easily varied.
 Unlike the two aforementioned techniques, sidespin causes the ball to spin on an axis which is
vertical, rather than horizontal.
 The axis of rotation is still roughly perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball.
 In this circumstance, the Magnus effect will still dictate the curvature of the ball to some degree.
 Another difference is that unlike backspin and topspin, sidespin will have relatively very little
effect on the bounce of the ball, much in the same way that a spinning top would not travel left
or right if its axis of rotation were exactly vertical.
 This makes sidespin a useful weapon in service, because it is less easily recognized when
bouncing, and the ball "loses" less spin on the bounce.
 Sidespin can also be employed in offensive rally strokes, often from a greater distance, as an
adjunct to topspin or backspin.
 This stroke is sometimes referred to as a "hook".
 The hook can even be used in some extreme cases to circumvent the net when away from the
table.

(+632)5336-6582/ 5336-89-56/ 5336-89-66

Public service through quality education.

Address: Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma-corner Mayor Antonio J. Villegas Street Mehan Gardens, Ermita, Manila, Philippines 1000
Tel. No.: Fax. No.: (+632) 5336-6554 Email: admin@udm.edu.ph
Website: www.udm.edu.ph
 Corkspin
 Players employ this type of spin almost exclusively when serving, but at the professional level, it
is also used from time to time in the lob.
 Unlike any of the techniques mentioned above, corkspin (or "drill-spin") has the axis of spin
relatively parallel to the ball's trajectory, so that the Magnus effect has little or no effect on the
trajectory of a cork-spun ball: upon bouncing, the ball will dart right or left (according to the
direction of the spin), severely complicating the return.
 In theory this type of spin produces the most obnoxious effects, but it is less strategically
practical than sidespin or backspin, because of the limitations that it imposes upon the
opponent during their return.
 Aside from the initial direction change when bouncing, unless it goes out of reach, the opponent
can counter with either topspin or backspin.
 A backspin stroke is similar in the fact that the corkspin stroke has a lower maximum velocity,
simply due to the contact angle of the racket when producing the stroke.
 To impart a spin on the ball which is parallel to its trajectory, the racket must be swung more or
less perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball, greatly limiting the forward momentum that the
racket transfers to the ball.
 Corkspin is almost always mixed with another variety of spin, since alone, it is not only less
effective but also harder to produce.

(+632)5336-6582/ 5336-89-56/ 5336-89-66

Public service through quality education.

Address: Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma-corner Mayor Antonio J. Villegas Street Mehan Gardens, Ermita, Manila, Philippines 1000
Tel. No.: Fax. No.: (+632) 5336-6554 Email: admin@udm.edu.ph
Website: www.udm.edu.ph