How to attack semi-long serve with Forehand

Today, we come back to the 10 basic table tennis skills for beginners. With the permission of Zhao Yiyi, I will translate and add some technical notes for the forehand topspin close to the table technique. This is lesson number 7 in the 10 basic lessons in table tennis.

The forehand loop close to the table is the common way to initiate the topspin attack in table tennis. In general, the ball is bounced close to the white line. So you don’t have much space to perform full forehand stroke.

3 Types of Forehand Topspin techniques

Due to the length of the ball, there are 3 types of forehand techniques:

1. If the serve is long, use the normal forehand topspin technique
2. If the serve is short, use the forehand flick technique
3. If the serve is semi-long, use this forehand close to the table technique

What is the semi-long ball?

Based on modern coaching, the semi-long ball, or the semi-long serve is when the ball is bounced at the end line. It is neither short, or neither long. That’s why this type of ball is called “semi-long” in table tennis.

It’s not easy to attack this ball.

How to do the attack the semi-long serve?

To perform the forehand topspin the semi-long ball, you need to stay close to the table, at your left-hand corner. This corner in table tennis is called the “pivot point”.

Here, coach EmRatThich explains to you how to perform this technique step by step.

1) Standing sideways to the table at the “pivot point”.

Stay close to the table.

2) Left foot forward, right foot after.

3) Slightly bend your knee, and lean your body forward.

4) “Yin pai” – prepare for the stroke.

The elbow is close to the body.

5) The waist is low.

And the waist will move the elbow and the forearm toward the ball.

6) The center of gravity is on the right foot.

Your eye looks at the ball. Your face toward the ball.

7) Do the weight transfer during the stroke.

The weight is transferred from the right foot to the left foot. In this shot, you don’t have much space, so most of the force is generated by the waist. (Search for the concept “Power From The Ground” on my channel).

8) For the bat angle.

Open more the bat angle when you hit the ball. This action will lift the ball more (for a secure shot). And then close the racket angle at the end of the shot.

9) Where to hit the ball?

Hit the ball at the middle position, around 3-4 o’clock on the ball (at the middle, or the low middle part).

3 Tips to perform this technique correctly

Tip 1) Reduce the amplitude of the gesture.

Shorten the gesture before hitting the ball. This action will add more spin (acceleration), and increase the consistency of the shot. Make your swing upward and forward, hit into the ball for a power stroke.

2) During the stroke, use the sudden acceleration of the wrist.

Hold your racket loosely. Using the wrist at the forehand side is an advanced technique and a difficult technique. Search “Using the wrist pingsunday” to study more.

Using the wrist for this forehand attack will give you an “explosive shot”, or “quality shot” in the Chinese philosophy.

3) Use more the waist to generate the force.

The force is transferred to the forearm, and then to the wrist, and the ball. In Chinese, they say that to have “ball stability”. Focus the feeling on your waist. Use the explosive force. This is called “micro-adjustment”. Search “micro-adjustment” if you don’t know what it is.

I hope you enjoy this free tutorial in table tennis. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

When I have time, I will definitely answer all of your questions.

Please comment and share the video with your table tennis friends.
Have a good day, EmRatThich.

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