Table

Tennis
MUHAMMAD IMRAN KHAN
“what are the
basic skill in table
tennis?”
• To improve at this game, you need first to
learn the basic strokes in table tennis:
forehand drive, backhand drive, and
backhand push. Knowledge of these
basic strokes will make it easy to
advance to other table tennis shots.
 • You can play this game with a tennis

“what are the table, two rackets, a table tennis ball, and
an opponent. There are both singles and
doubles match at the competitive level.

basic skill in So, if you want to start playing table

tennis or have just started playing the

table tennis?” game. Then you need proper skills to be

a better player. So, here are the basic
skills in playing table tennis.
Forehand
The fundamental skill for playing table
tennis is the forehand drive or a forehand. A
rookie player needs to learn this basic skill
to play. When the ball comes to the paddled
side of the body, this shot is necessary. You
need to hit the running ball while rotating
your body and the other arm. A forehand
shot increases the power, and the opponent
gets a powerful knock. While playing this
shot, you need to put your thumb upwards.
 The second fundamental skill is to know the backhand drive or the backhand. When
the ball comes to the other side of the paddled hand, this skill is required. You can

Backhand
also play this shot when the ball comes straight at your body. In both of these
scenarios, your footwork and stance are important with swinging the racket. You can
also play this shot when the ball is fast, as you don’t need to apply force.
 Serving

Serving in table tennis is important, as your

opponent will get the opportunity the hit the
ball after an easy serve. In serving, you need
to bounce the ball on your side and then to the
other side. After every point, players start the
new point with a serve. There are so many
variations of a table tennis service. You can
serve with both forehand and backhand serve.
Players who can swing the ball are the best
servers.
Pushes
There are mainly two strategies players
follow. One is to play the ball with full
force and the other one is to play a
short ball. So, when a short ball is
played, you need to get closer to the
table and lean forward. You don’t need
to apply force to the ball as your body
movement will automatically apply
force to the ball. You can use this skill
regardless of which side of your body
the ball is.
 Flicks
The flicks are the skill to return a spin
shot. Suppose your opponent plays a shot
where the ball has a spin and is also close
to the net. You may confuse this skill with
the push. But here, a motion from your
wrist and elbow is needed to deliver the
ball to the opponent’s side. Also, you
don’t need to apply full force to the ball,
as a force can push the ball outside the
table.
 In table tennis, there are mainly four
Spinning different spins. Spin is very important in
a table tennis match, as it is a tricky shot
that can challenge the opponent. No
matter whether you want to play
defensive or offensive, you need to learn
to spin the ball.
•Topspin – Paddle swings from low to
high.
•Backspin – Paddle swings from high to
low.
•Right Side Spin – The paddle goes left
to right.
•Left Side Spin – The paddle goes right
to left.
Loops
This is one of the modern table tennis
basic skills. Recently table tennis
players have acquired this skill to put a
spin on the ball during the offense.
Players play this shot by swinging their
racket from low to high to put swing
and force. The style of the shot
generates topspin and makes it harder
to play for the opponent. When there is
a monotonous game running, then there
is a need for loops .
1. The Grip
Arguably the most foundational of all skills, how you
grip your paddle can significantly influence your
gameplay.
•Shakehand Grip: Most popular in the Western
world, it's like shaking hands with your paddle. It
offers a balanced forehand and backhand stroke.
•Penhold Grip: Predominant in Asian countries, this
grip involves holding the paddle similarly to a pen.
This grip provides a strong forehand but can be
limiting for the backhand.
A game of table tennis begins with a serve,
2. The Serve
and having a strong, unpredictable serve
can be a considerable advantage.
•High Toss Serve: By tossing the ball high,
players can generate extra spin, making it
harder for the opponent to predict the
ball's trajectory.
•Short Serve: Keeping serving in table
tennis short and close to the net can
disrupt an opponent's rhythm and prepare
you for an attacking return.
•Side Spin Serve: By striking the ball on
the sides, you can make it curve, creating
challenges for your opponent.
3. Forehand and
Backhand Drives
Drives form the core of table tennis rallies
and are essential for maintaining an
offensive stance in the game.
•Forehand Drive: Performed from the
player's dominant side, this stroke is
powerful and can be used both defensively
and offensively.
•Backhand Drive: Executed from the non-
dominant side, the backhand drive is crucial
for balls coming to the player's left (for right-
handers) or right (for left-handers).
4. The Spin
Introducing spin to the ball can make
your shots unpredictable and
challenging to return.
•Topspin: By brushing the ball's upper
surface, players can make the ball dive
down faster, ideal for aggressive
shots.
•Backspin: Striking the ball's lower
surface, this spin makes the ball
bounce back towards the player after
landing, often used in defensive shots.
•Side Spin: As the name suggests,
brushing the ball on its sides will
make it curve to the left or right.
 5. Blocking and
Basic skills and techniques in table
tennis that focus on defense are just as
vital as offensive tactics. They allow a
Counter-Driving
player to not only return aggressive
shots but also transition seamlessly from
defense to offense.
•Blocking: This is the ability to absorb
the speed and spin from an opponent's
shot and return the ball with minimal
motion. It's most effective against top-
spin attacks. A well-executed block can
reduce the opponent's time to react,
putting them on the defensive.
•Counter-Driving: This involves
returning an aggressive top-spin shot
with another top-spin shot. The aim is to
use the speed and spin from the
opponent's shot against them, creating a
rapid counter-attack.
6. Footwork Last but certainly not least, proper
footwork ensures you're always in the
right position to make your next shot.
•Side-to-Side Movement: This helps
in reaching balls played wide to your
forehand or backhand.
•In-and-Out Movement: Crucial for
adjusting to short balls or those that
are deep on the table.
•Pivoting: Useful when you need to
use a powerful forehand shot from
the backhand side.