Today, let’s learn how to have a powerful backhand attack like a pro. If you have chosen the right backhand rubber, then you should learn the best backhand technique to attack in table tennis. Backhand is very important nowadays. We focus on the powerful backhand topspin with Jon Persson.
Table of Contents
Backhand mechanism vs forehand mechanism
Many players don’t know how to attack strongly by using the backhand. The mechanism of the backhand stroke is different than the forehand technique.
I have explained the powerful forehand topspin with the Chinese technique. For the forehand, you can rotate your whole body, and then have a stronger force. While for the backhand, you hit the ball in front of your body. So it’s not easy to generate a lot of force with the backhand. Does the power come from the wrist? the elbow? or the shoulder? Let’s learn from Jon Persson (Swedish Pro players, actually play in Pro A in France).
The mechanism of the powerful backhand stroke
Let learn how to generate a powerful backhand attack. Here are 3 steps of the powerful backhand attack.
Step 1 – Drop the shoulder and racket down
The first step, you should “drop” your racket down. Drop your shoulder very low. Many players just stand high, and forget to do this important step. That’s why they can’t generate enough force. You should also close your racket, and fold your wrist.
Step 2 – Use the elbow to generate force
The main force comes from your shoulder and your elbow. After folding your elbow, dropping your shoulder and your racket, now you will generate a lot of force. Hit forward! Don’t hit upward! Release the elbow and hit forward. Many players just try to hit upward, this will reduce the power and the consistency of your shots.
Step 3 – Release the power by using the wrist
And finally, at the moment of contact, you should use your wrist. Release all of the power generated at this moment. Power is from the solid foundation from the ground, transferred to the whole body, to the shoulder, to the elbow, and then using the wrist to “accelerate” into the ball. Keep your wrist straight at the last moment.
Now let’s see the real speed of this backhand.
Remember to practice the correct technique every day, one day you will have the same powerful backhand.
You should read
Coach EmRatThich was born in Hanoi, Vietnam in 1983. He started playing table tennis at the age of 8. After finishing his Ph.D. in Paris, University Pierre Marie Curie (Sorbonne University) in 2011, he is now a table tennis coach in a small club in France (about 153 players). Interested in table tennis coaching for a global audience, he founded pingsunday.com, one of the best online coaching programs for table tennis players. Using the Chinese coaching philosophy, his table tennis lessons are free, which allows many table tennis players to improve fast. He can speak English, French, Vietnamese, and a little bit of Chinese.
Hello EmRatthich, I actually think that Persson also uses his left side hip to generate force from the ground here.
You are right. That’s what the amateur player don’t do a lot. Pro player use the left side hip to generate force.
Thank you now i understand.
Bot how to keep the thumb in the forehand stroke. I learn a lot from you
Calderanos backhand is more powerfull
yes, I will make a tutorial the BH of Hugo.
Hello coach emratthich. I like your videos really much. But i dont now what you mean about center of gravity Can you Please answerd my question
center of gravity is in general at your hip, where you rotate your whole body.