Contain & Defend
ROOKIE TT
As well as attack, there is contain and defend. Not as immediately glamorous as top-spin and such attacks but still really really important. Sometimes you will be forced to respond with defence and contain, other times you may prefer to do this. Indeed some players adopt this as their main approach either because they are just more effective and confident with these shots, or not confident attacking, as attacking can have a smaller margin for error. And also note defence can also be a form of attack! Whilst you are far less likely to hit the ball past an opponent here, good defence can force mistakes and win points outright. As well as contain an opponent attack and prevent the opponent winning with their attack.
Flight, angles, placement, spin and speed can all be varied to outfox an opponent! However do not miss the right opportunity to win the point with an attack - assuming you have a decent attack! A decent attack compliments a defensive approach as it makes the defence less predictable and dangerous.
The main shots here are push, chop, block and lob. All these shots can be done forehand or backhand. A lot of players do more of these on the backhand than forehand, with the forehand push often frowned upon in a rally. A lot of players look for every opportunity to attack on forehand. However some players prefer these on both wings.
Note an interesting, more advanced concept, is to 'twiddle'. This can be done when you have different rubbers on the bat and turn your bat during the rally to play with the other bat side when not expecting to. By doing this you can vary the spin and flight and potentially confuse the opponent into a mistake.
Backhand Push
The backhand push is a fundamental table tennis stroke that involves using the backhand side of your racket to return a low, spinning, or slow ball that's coming to your backhand side. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to perform a backhand push in table tennis:
1. **Stance and Footwork:**
- Stand in a ready position with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend your knees slightly, keeping your weight centered.
2. **Grip:**
- Hold the racket with a backhand grip. Your thumb and forefinger should create a V shape on the backhand side of the racket handle.
3. **Body Position:**
- Position your body so that your non-dominant side (left side for right-handed players, and vice versa for left-handed players) is facing the net.
- Your non-dominant foot should be slightly ahead of your dominant foot, with your knees slightly bent for better balance.
4. **Racket Position:**
- Keep the racket head slightly above the height of the table and close to your body.
- Tilt the racket slightly forward with the face perpendicular to the table.
5. **Contact Point:**
- For backhand pushes, you'll generally make contact with the ball near your hip or waist, slightly to the side of your body.
6. **Stroke Execution:**
- As the ball approaches, pivot your hips and shoulders to bring the racket back.
- Keep your eye on the ball and use your non-dominant hand (free hand) to help guide your aim.
- As the ball gets close, push the racket forward with a slightly open racket face. The motion should be compact, and the follow-through should be minimal.
7. **Timing and Control:**
- Time your shot carefully to make contact with the ball at the top of its bounce or slightly after.
- Use your wrist and forearm to control the amount of spin and speed you put on the ball. A more vertical racket angle will create more backspin, while a flatter angle will produce less spin and more speed.
8. **Follow-Through:**
- After contacting the ball, follow through with your racket to a comfortable finishing position. The follow-through should be directed forward, not across your body.
9. **Recovery:**
- Quickly return to your ready position to prepare for the next shot.
10. **Practice:**
- Like any table tennis stroke, practice is essential to improve your backhand push. Start with slow, controlled shots and gradually work on adding more spin and speed as you become more proficient.
Remember, mastering the backhand push in table tennis takes time and practice. Work on your timing, control, and consistency, and with time, you'll become more proficient at this important stroke in the game.
Forehand Push
The forehand push is another fundamental table tennis stroke that is used to return low, slow, or spinning balls coming to your forehand side. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to play a forehand push in table tennis:
1. **Stance and Footwork:**
- Stand in a ready position with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend your knees slightly and keep your weight centered.
2. **Grip:**
- Hold the racket with a comfortable forehand grip. Your thumb and forefinger should create a V shape on the forehand side of the racket handle.
3. **Body Position:**
- Position your body so that your dominant side (right side for right-handed players, left side for left-handed players) is facing the net.
- Your dominant foot should be slightly ahead of your non-dominant foot, with your knees slightly bent for better balance.
4. **Racket Position:**
- Keep the racket head slightly above the height of the table and close to your body.
- Tilt the racket slightly forward with the face perpendicular to the table.
5. **Contact Point:**
- For forehand pushes, you'll generally make contact with the ball near your hip or waist, slightly to the side of your body.
6. **Stroke Execution:**
- As the ball approaches, pivot your hips and shoulders to bring the racket back.
- Keep your eye on the ball and use your non-dominant hand (free hand) to help guide your aim.
- As the ball gets close, push the racket forward with a slightly open racket face. The motion should be compact, and the follow-through should be minimal.
7. **Timing and Control:**
- Time your shot carefully to make contact with the ball at the top of its bounce or slightly after.
- Use your wrist and forearm to control the amount of spin and speed you put on the ball. A more vertical racket angle will create more backspin, while a flatter angle will produce less spin and more speed.
8. **Follow-Through:**
- After contacting the ball, follow through with your racket to a comfortable finishing position. The follow-through should be directed forward, not across your body.
9. **Recovery:**
- Quickly return to your ready position to prepare for the next shot.
10. **Practice:**
- As with any table tennis stroke, practice is crucial. Start with slow, controlled shots and gradually work on adding more spin and speed as you become more proficient.
The forehand push is a valuable stroke in table tennis, particularly for handling serves with backspin or returning short balls. By practicing this stroke, you can improve your control and consistency in the game.
Backhand Chop
The backhand chop in table tennis is a defensive stroke used to counter aggressive topspin shots from your opponent. It involves imparting backspin on the ball to make it difficult for your opponent to attack. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to execute a backhand chop effectively:
1. **Stance and Grip:**
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Hold the racket with a backhand grip, which is often a slight modification of the shakehand grip.
2. **Ready Position:**
- Maintain a balanced and slightly crouched stance with your weight on the balls of your feet.
- Keep your racket in front of you at about chest height, ready to respond to your opponent's shot.
3. **Adjust the Angle of the Racket:**
- Tilt the racket backward (face it downward) to create an angle that will help you generate backspin.
- The angle of the racket depends on the incoming spin and speed of the ball.
4. **Backswing:**
- Keep the backswing relatively short and controlled.
- Raise the racket slightly, preparing it for the downward chopping motion.
5. **Contact Point:**
- Make contact with the ball below its center, slightly in front of your body.
- Use a brushing motion with an open racket face to generate backspin.
6. **Wrist Action:**
- Use a subtle downward and forward motion with your wrist to impart backspin on the ball.
- Avoid excessive wrist movement to maintain control over the shot.
7. **Weight Transfer:**
- Shift your weight forward by stepping into the shot.
- This helps in maintaining stability and control over the ball.
8. **Follow Through:**
- After making contact with the ball, let the racket follow through in a downward and forward direction.
- The follow-through should be a controlled motion, and the racket should finish lower than the contact point.
9. **Eye Focus:**
- Keep your eyes on the ball throughout the shot.
- Focus on the timing and trajectory of the incoming ball to execute a well-timed chop.
10. **Practice:**
- Practice backhand chopping with a partner or a table tennis robot.
- Work on chopping against different types of topspin shots, adjusting the angle of your racket accordingly.
11. **Footwork:**
- Be ready to move your feet quickly to adjust to the placement and spin of your opponent's shots.
- Stay light on your feet to maintain good balance.
12. **Variations:**
- Experiment with the amount of backspin and the angle of the racket to adapt to different situations.
Consistency is crucial when practicing the backhand chop. As you become more comfortable, you can gradually increase the intensity and variation in your shots. Pay attention to your opponent's shots and adjust your chopping technique accordingly to effectively counter their topspin attacks.
Forehand Chop
A forehand chop in table tennis is a defensive stroke used to counter topspin shots from your opponent. It involves imparting backspin on the ball to make it difficult for your opponent to attack. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to execute a forehand chop effectively:
1. **Stance and Grip:**
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Hold the racket with a forehand grip, which is the grip commonly used for attacking shots. However, for the forehand chop, you may modify the grip slightly by loosening your grip and holding the racket more towards the handle.
2. **Ready Position:**
- Maintain a balanced and slightly crouched stance with your weight on the balls of your feet.
- Keep your racket in front of you at about chest height, ready to respond to your opponent's shot.
3. **Adjust the Angle of the Racket:**
- Tilt the racket backward (face it downward) to create an angle that will help you generate backspin.
- The angle of the racket depends on the incoming spin and speed of the ball.
4. **Backswing:**
- Keep the backswing relatively short and controlled.
- Raise the racket slightly, preparing it for the downward chopping motion.
5. **Contact Point:**
- Make contact with the ball below its center, slightly in front of your body.
- Use a brushing motion with an open racket face to generate backspin.
6. **Wrist Action:**
- Use a subtle downward and forward motion with your wrist to impart backspin on the ball.
- Avoid excessive wrist movement to maintain control over the shot.
7. **Weight Transfer:**
- Shift your weight forward by stepping into the shot.
- This helps in maintaining stability and control over the ball.
8. **Follow Through:**
- After making contact with the ball, let the racket follow through in a downward and forward direction.
- The follow-through should be a controlled motion, and the racket should finish lower than the contact point.
9. **Eye Focus:**
- Keep your eyes on the ball throughout the shot.
- Focus on the timing and trajectory of the incoming ball to execute a well-timed chop.
10. **Practice:**
- Practice forehand chopping with a partner or a table tennis robot.
- Work on chopping against different types of topspin shots, adjusting the angle of your racket accordingly.
11. **Footwork:**
- Be ready to move your feet quickly to adjust to the placement and spin of your opponent's shots.
- Stay light on your feet to maintain good balance.
12. **Variations:**
- Experiment with the amount of backspin and the angle of the racket to adapt to different situations.
Consistency is crucial when practicing the forehand chop. As you become more comfortable, you can gradually increase the intensity and variation in your shots. Pay attention to your opponent's shots and adjust your chopping technique accordingly to effectively counter their topspin attacks.
Backhand Block
The backhand block in table tennis is a defensive stroke used to counter your opponent's attacks. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to execute a backhand block effectively:
1. **Stance and Grip:**
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Hold the racket with a backhand grip, which is often a slight modification of the shakehand grip.
2. **Ready Position:**
- Keep a relaxed and balanced stance with your weight on the balls of your feet.
- Hold the racket in front of you at about chest height, ready to react to your opponent's shot.
3. **Angle of the Racket:**
- Position the racket slightly open (facing upward) to create a block angle. The angle depends on the incoming spin and speed of the ball.
4. **Backswing:**
- Keep the backswing short and controlled.
- Raise your racket slightly, preparing it for the upcoming shot.
5. **Contact Point:**
- Make contact with the ball in front of your body.
- The ideal contact point is slightly below the center of the racket.
6. **Wrist Action:**
- Keep your wrist firm and avoid excessive movement.
- Use a slight forward and upward motion with your wrist to absorb the incoming spin and return the ball with control.
7. **Weight Transfer:**
- Transfer your weight forward by stepping into the shot.
- This helps in maintaining stability and control over the ball.
8. **Follow Through:**
- After making contact with the ball, allow the racket to follow through slightly.
- The follow-through should be a short and controlled motion.
9. **Eye Focus:**
- Keep your eyes on the ball throughout the shot.
- Focus on the timing and trajectory of the incoming ball to make a well-timed block.
10. **Practice:**
- Practice backhand blocking with a partner or a table tennis robot.
- Work on blocking against different types of shots, including topspin, backspin, and fast drives.
11. **Footwork:**
- Be ready to move your feet quickly to adjust to the placement and speed of your opponent's shots.
- Stay light on your feet to maintain good balance.
12. **Variations:**
- Experiment with the angle of the racket and the amount of wrist movement to adjust to different types of incoming shots.
Remember that consistency and control are key when practicing the backhand block. As you become more comfortable, you can gradually increase the speed and intensity of your blocks. Additionally, pay attention to your opponent's shots and adjust your block accordingly to effectively counter their attacks.
Forehand Block
The forehand block in table tennis is a fundamental defensive stroke used to return your opponent's shots with control and accuracy. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to execute a forehand block effectively:
1. **Stance and Grip:**
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Hold the racket with a forehand grip, which is the grip commonly used for attacking shots.
2. **Ready Position:**
- Keep a relaxed and balanced stance with your weight on the balls of your feet.
- Hold the racket in front of you at about chest height, ready to react to your opponent's shot.
3. **Angle of the Racket:**
- Adjust the angle of your racket based on the incoming spin and speed of the ball.
- For topspin shots, position the racket slightly closed (facing downward), and for backspin shots, position it slightly open (facing upward).
4. **Backswing:**
- Keep the backswing short and controlled.
- Raise the racket slightly, preparing it for the upcoming shot.
5. **Contact Point:**
- Make contact with the ball in front of your body.
- The contact point should be around the center of the racket for better control.
6. **Wrist Action:**
- Keep your wrist firm and avoid excessive movement.
- Use a minimal wrist action to control the direction and depth of the block.
7. **Weight Transfer:**
- Shift your weight forward by stepping into the shot.
- This helps maintain stability and control over the ball.
8. **Follow Through:**
- After making contact with the ball, let the racket follow through slightly.
- The follow-through should be a short and controlled motion.
9. **Eye Focus:**
- Keep your eyes on the ball throughout the shot.
- Focus on the timing and trajectory of the incoming ball to make a well-timed block.
10. **Practice:**
- Practice forehand blocking with a partner or a table tennis robot.
- Work on blocking against different types of shots, including topspin, backspin, and fast drives.
11. **Footwork:**
- Be ready to move your feet quickly to adjust to the placement and speed of your opponent's shots.
- Stay light on your feet to maintain good balance.
12. **Variations:**
- Experiment with the angle of the racket and the amount of wrist movement to adapt to different types of incoming shots.
Focus on developing consistency and control in your forehand block. As you become more proficient, you can gradually increase the speed and intensity of your blocks. Pay attention to your opponent's shots and adjust your blocking technique accordingly to effectively counter their attacks.
Backhand Lob
A backhand lob in table tennis is a defensive shot used to lift the ball high and create more time for yourself to recover. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to execute a backhand lob:
1. **Stance and Grip:**
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Hold the racket with a backhand grip, which is a grip commonly used for backhand shots.
2. **Ready Position:**
- Be in a ready stance with your knees slightly bent and your weight on the balls of your feet.
- Keep the racket in front of you at about chest height, ready to react to your opponent's shot.
3. **Recognize the Ball:**
- Identify the incoming shot early, especially if it's a fast or aggressive topspin shot.
4. **Backswing:**
- Take a short backswing, bringing the racket behind your body.
- Angle the racket slightly downward to generate the lift needed for the lob.
5. **Contact Point:**
- Make contact with the ball just below the center of the racket.
- The goal is to brush the bottom of the ball, creating backspin and lift.
6. **Wrist Action:**
- Use a combination of a downward and brushing motion with your wrist to impart backspin on the ball.
- The wrist action is crucial for creating the necessary lift.
7. **Weight Transfer:**
- Shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you make contact with the ball.
- This helps in controlling the trajectory and direction of the lob.
8. **Follow Through:**
- After making contact with the ball, continue the motion with a controlled follow-through.
- The racket should finish high and slightly in the direction of the lob.
9. **Eye Focus:**
- Keep your eyes on the ball and judge the height and distance to time your shot properly.
10. **Placement:**
- Aim to place the lob deep into your opponent's court, giving yourself more time to recover.
11. **Practice:**
- Practice backhand lobs with a partner or a table tennis robot.
- Work on adjusting the angle of your racket and the amount of spin to control the height and depth of the lob.
12. **Footwork:**
- Be ready to move quickly after playing the lob, as your opponent may counterattack.
13. **Variations:**
- Experiment with the angle of the racket and the amount of wrist movement to adapt to different types of incoming shots.
Remember that the backhand lob is a defensive shot, and using it judiciously is important. It can be particularly effective when your opponent is playing aggressively, and you need to create some distance to regain control of the point. As with any table tennis skill, practice and experimentation will help you become more proficient in executing a backhand lob.
Forehand Lob
Executing a forehand lob in table tennis is a defensive shot that involves lifting the ball high in the air to buy time and create a more advantageous position. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to perform a forehand lob:
1. **Stance and Grip:**
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Hold the racket with a forehand grip, which is the grip commonly used for attacking shots.
2. **Ready Position:**
- Adopt a ready stance with your knees slightly bent, and your weight on the balls of your feet.
- Keep the racket in front of you at about chest height, ready to react to your opponent's shot.
3. **Recognize the Ball:**
- Identify the incoming shot early, especially if it's a fast or aggressive topspin shot.
4. **Backswing:**
- Take a short backswing, bringing the racket behind your body.
- Angle the racket slightly downward to generate lift for the lob.
5. **Contact Point:**
- Make contact with the ball just below the center of the racket.
- The goal is to brush the bottom of the ball, creating backspin and lift.
6. **Wrist Action:**
- Use a combination of a downward and brushing motion with your wrist to impart backspin on the ball.
- The wrist action is crucial for creating the necessary lift.
7. **Weight Transfer:**
- Shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you make contact with the ball.
- This helps control the trajectory and direction of the lob.
8. **Follow Through:**
- After making contact with the ball, continue the motion with a controlled follow-through.
- The racket should finish high and slightly in the direction of the lob.
9. **Eye Focus:**
- Keep your eyes on the ball and judge the height and distance to time your shot properly.
10. **Placement:**
- Aim to place the lob deep into your opponent's court, giving yourself more time to recover.
11. **Practice:**
- Practice forehand lobs with a partner or a table tennis robot.
- Work on adjusting the angle of your racket and the amount of spin to control the height and depth of the lob.
12. **Footwork:**
- Be ready to move quickly after playing the lob, as your opponent may counterattack.
13. **Variations:**
- Experiment with the angle of the racket and the amount of wrist movement to adapt to different types of incoming shots.
Forehand lobs can be particularly effective when you are under pressure and need to reset the point. Practice and experimentation with the stroke will help you become more comfortable and accurate with forehand lobs in various game situations.