0. Blueprint
Consider the following building blocks, some subset of which will work most effectively for you against a given opponent:
- the grip
- the stance
- footwork
- forehand drive
- forehand push
- forehand loop
- forehand lob
- forehand block
- forehand chop
- forehand chop block
- backhand drive
- backhand push
- backhand loop
- backhand lob
- backhand block
- backhand chop
- forehand chop block
- serve
- return of serve
- match play
1. Featured
Stories that inspire (thought or emotion).
2. The Objective
Our goal is to emulate great players.
3. The Grip
We will focus on the shakehands grip, but the penhold grip certainly has some advantages worth considering. Ben Larcombe provides insight into grip nuance based upon several months of experimentation, especially how the label shakehands is intuitively potentially misleading because it diverts attention to the lower fingers when perhaps the focus should be on the pinching action between the thumb and forefinger, what he calls "the relaxed shakehands grip." The Shakehand Grip Technique
There are variations (e.g., traditional, deep, shallow) of the shakehand grip from which to choose as well as other viable penhold grip alternatives (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean). Less common options also exist (e.g., reverse backhand grip, Seemiller grip).
4. The Stance
“Pretend you’re a goalkeeper!”
5. Footwork
"Spectacular performances are preceded by spectacular preparation." (Frank Giampaolo)
6. The Forehand Drive
After you understand grip, stance, and footwork, learn this dominant-hand response to medium-height, not-too-much-spin shots.
7. The Forehand Push
This is one of the more difficult of the basic strokes to master.
8. The Forehand Loop
The most important advanced stroke you will ever learn, according to Expert Table Tennis.
9. The Forehand Lob
Keeping the point alive with defense.
10. The Forehand Block
A shortened stroke which uses the opponent's velocity.
11. The Forehand Chop
Keeping the point alive with defense at a distance.
12. The Forehand Chop Block
Defense.
13. The Backhand Drive
Practice it as much, or more, than your forehand drive.
14. The Backhand Push
The easiest stroke to learn and the foundation for several other shots.
15. The Backhand Loop
16. The Backhand Lob
17. The Backhand Block
A shortened stroke which uses the opponent's velocity.
18. The Backhand Chop
Keeping the point alive with defense at a distance.
19. The Backhand Chop Block
20. Serve
Use spin, speed, location, and deception to your advantage to either ace the opponent or set up your next shot.
21. Return of Serve
This is arguably the most difficult shot in table tennis.
22. Strategy
23. Injury
24. Academic Findings
Although table tennis has a tradition lasting more than 100 years, relatively little is known about players' physiological requirements - especially during competition. In this review we discuss research studies that have led to our current understanding of how the body functions during table tennis training and competition and how this is altered by training. Match and practice analysis of the table tennis game indicates that during intense practice and competition it is predominantly the anaerobic alactic system that is called into play, while the endurance system is relied on to recovery the anaerobic stores used during such effort. It is thus important for coaches to keep in mind that, while the anaerobic alactic system is the most energetic system used during periods of exertion in a table tennis game, a strong capacity for endurance is what helps a player recover quicker for the following match and the next day of competition.
25. References
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This website was last updated on 8 August 2024.