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Zhang Jike backhand tutorial

Table Tennis Basic Backhand Strokes

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Many players asked me “How to improve backhand in table tennis?”. The best way is to learn the backhand techniques from the best players, step by step and with the photo. Today we will learn the basic forehand topspin technique of Zhang Jike (one of the best Chinese table tennis player from 2010 – 2017).

The basics of the backhand loop

These are the best tips (explained by Zhang Jike with the clarification from coach EmRatThich) to do the backhand topspin correctly.

  • Lift up the elbow: You need to lift up your elbow. Some amateur players forget this step. They can’t generate so much force to the backhand attack.
  • Bend the body: Make a space to accelerate and hit through the ball.
  • Racket close to the body: Close the racket as much as possible. The stroke needs to be short and compacted.
  • Timing: Hit the upper side of the ball. Don’t smash. Hit the ball early on the bounce.
  • Fix elbow: Don’t move it! Beginner moves the elbow (which is very bad, inconsistent shots).
  • Follow-through: Don’t move the free arm upwards with the body (helps to keep the body balanced). Eyes and the free arm fixed. Free arm at the same level of the bounce.

You can also learn the backhand technique of Ma Long. Their techniques are a little bit different because of the micro-adjustment in table tennis.

Basic Backhand Strokes: Steps by Steps

Step 1: Lift your elbow

Step 1: Lift your elbow
Step 1: Lift your elbow

Step 2: Drop down the head of the racket

Step 2: Drop down the head of the racket
Step 2: Drop down the head of the racket

Step 3: Bend your hip, make a space to hit the ball

Step 3: Bend your hip, make a space to hit the ball
Step 3: Fold your hip, make a space to hit the ball

Step 4: Relax your wrist. Pull it back to accelerate into the ball in the next step.

Step 4: Relax your wrist. Pull it back to accelerate into the ball in the next step.
Step 4: Relax your wrist. Pull it back to accelerate into the ball in the next step.

Step 5: Now, accelerate by rotating the forearm. Fix your elbow.

Step 5: Now, accelerate by rotating the forearm. Fix your elbow.
Step 5: Now, accelerate by rotating the forearm. Fix your elbow.

Step 6: Follow through. Add the power at the last moment with your wrist.

Step 6: Follow through. Add the power at the last moment with your wrist.
Step 6: Follow through. Add the power at the last moment with your wrist.

Final step: Come back to the steady position. Prepare for the next shots. Relax now.

Final step: Come back to the steady position. Prepare for the next shots. Relax now.
Final step: Come back to the steady position. Prepare for the next shots. Relax now.

Some more tips from the Chinese coach: Bend the knee, Take the power from the ground, and Fix the elbow.

I’ve explained that there are 3 phases: Relax, Explode and Relax. You should generate the power (acceleration) at step 5 and 6. Be relax in the final step and prepare for the incoming ball. Special thanks to Manabu of Butterfly Magazine for the interview.

Please share and rate this tutorial.

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Table tennis coach in France since 2012, founder of pingsunday.com (the best online coaching program for table tennis players). Born in Vietnam in 1983, Ph.D. in Université Pierre Marie Curie. Read more about him.

4 thoughts on “Table Tennis Basic Backhand Strokes”

  3. Great job Coach Emratichh. The work all these years is bundled in sequence and in helping the players go step by step in a beautiful order. Great job Coach. I hope to impart these skills into my students. Thank you.

    Reply

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