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This time let's discuss now one of the most popular shots in table tennis - the
forehand topspin - with a slight twist. I presume you must already be knowing how to play the
forehand topspin. It's one of the basic shots you learn when you start out to
play table tennis. The purpose of this discussion is not so much to tell you
how to play the topspin properly. Instead, we examine how to LOAD your topspin
even more. Perfecting this shot can really boost your skill level and earn your
respect in the table tennis circuit.
The
ordinary forehand topspin is played by moving your arm DIAGONALLY and brushing
the ball in the region between the equator of the ball and its top edge.
Usually, players tend to brush the ball in the region between the equator and
the middle point of the arc stretching from the equator to the top edge or the
apex of the ball. The arm makes a nice diagonal movement while playing the
shot. You can play the topspin on top of the table or a little behind but the
movement of your arm and striking region of the ball is essentially the same.
The shot gives a nice forward spin to the ball and opens up an entertaining
round of rally - with both players usually playing topspin. The players
typically have their racket blades opened up at about 45° or less relative to the
plane of the table. The topspin shot causes the ball to bounce on the other
side and make a graceful arc.
However,
when you see top-level table tennis tournaments, you usually won't see the same
type of topspin that we discussed just now and that you might be used to.
Instead, the elite level players usually go for the LOADED topspin, which is
one of the most DEADLY shots in table tennis. Let us find out how to execute
this type of topspin so that you can have even greater EDGE in your game. But
remember that to properly execute this type of shot you should be sufficiently
advanced in your skill level as a table tennis player. The loaded topspin is
not only difficult to execute, but incorrect judgment during execution can lead
to mishits. With proper practice over a period of time, you should be able to
play the loaded topspin with sufficient finesse.
In order
to hit this VICIOUS kind of topspin that can easily win you the point, unless
your opponent is equally skilled, you need to do three things:
> When
you move your arm, do it even more HORIZONTALLY than VERTICALLY. This extra
horizontal component will give a higher corresponding horizontal impulse vector
to the ball.
> Whip
the region of the ball between the middle point of the arc, connecting the
equator of the ball to its top edge or apex, and the apex.
>
Close the angle of the blade to about 30° or even less - whatever you are
comfortable with.
This
EXTREMELY offensive shot hits the ball with a DULL 'thwack' and gives it a
TREMENDOUS amount of horizontal momentum as well as forward spin. The ball
flashes to the other side of the table and after bouncing does NOT bounce up so
much. Instead, it makes VICIOUS floater movement and stays flattish. Your
opponent will find it extremely difficult to properly return this kind of ball,
if at all.
In order
to properly execute the loaded forehand topspin, you need to use an OFFENSIVE
rubber, preferably of maximum thickness. Your racket should also be an
OFFENSIVE type. Try out this shot on a ball coming at you with LOW trajectory
and not much spin. You should see instant results in your favor.
