powerful forehand topspin and the “simple” forehand topspin against the block. It is different in three components:
– Legs position.
– Amplitude.
– The speed of racket passing through the ball.
Legs position at a powerful top-spin is much wider. This position provides great stability for the top-spin and provides the possibility to add a second component – amplitude.
The movement amplitude becomes greater. Moreover, the broader movement is performed by the arm, legs and pelvis. It all starts with a wider swing and ends with with a deeper finish. All this together, provides more kinetic energy and, consequently, more targeting for the ball flight.
The speed of racket passing through the ball is 1.5 – 2 times higher. Everything is clear here – the higher the speed of racket passing through the ball, the higher the speed of flight.
Once again we draw your attention to the simultaneous inclusion of the four parts of the body at the powerful forehand top-spin (right leg, pelvis, core, right hand), which is mentioned in the comments to the pictures, becomes the determining factor. At the slightest non-sync of these parts of the body a powerful forehand top-spin is impossible.
It should be noted that simultaneous inclusion of the four parts of the body is important in all variations of top-spin. Without exception. Well remember these parts:
– Right leg.
– Pelvis.
– Core.
– Right hand.
Variation #3. Chopped forehand top-spin
Chopped forehand top-spin is a variation that is learned after mastering the forehand topspin/loop against the block. It is learned as a second element because it is more difficult to perform.
Mastering of this variation is critical to the level of playing table tennis. Not owning this variation at all (or enough), it is impossible to achieve any result.
80% of attacks begins with this element in the table
tennis. Mastering (or not) this top-spin variation largely determines the ability of the athlete to play at some level.
Forehand chop is different from the forehand loop against the block by four main criteria:
– Swing.
– The movement width.
– Racket tilt.
– The direction of movement.
During the backswing, the racket is lowered much below to create a large amplitude of movement necessary to give the ball a good spin at the lower spin of the opponent.
And the hand with the racket not just falls below, this happens due to the right leg being more bent, a bigger turn of the pelvis and the greater extension of the arms at the elbow.
Together, all this provides a greater width of the movement, which is necessary to perform a complete chopped top-spin.
The movement is broader because at the top-spin from the block we are dealing with a ball that is spinning in a direction that is convenient for us. The speed of its flight contributes to our top-spin speed. Roughly speaking, the faster the ball flies off the block, the more speed our top-spin has. The whole block speed is converted during our top-spin.
With a chopped top-spin the ball spins in the other direction, and we need to cut off its rotation, and add its own rotation.
In other words, the chopped forehand top-spin requires significantly more effort than top-spin against the block. The wider movement is necessary to ensure this effort.
The tilt of the racket at the chopped top-spin is more open. Because if we play the ball with the same tilt of rackets, as in case of the top-spin against the block, the ball would get into a net with a great probability. It would lack enough trajectory to fly over the net. And trajectory reserve is attached to a ball due to a good rotation.
Movement direction at the chopped top-spin is different from top-spin against the block significantly due to the greater thrust up.
Here works the same principle as with the tilting of the racket. I.e. if you send motion too forward, the ball most likely would get into the net.
The end of the movement is also slightly higher. The higher the position of the racket is provided by the previous components: width and direction, more open racket tilt.
Variation #4. Counter-loop from the middle zone
Counter-loop from the middle zone is called “over-rotation” or “overspin” among the tennis players.
For example, if you hear an athlete says “won the point in overturn”, it means that there is a rally in a central zone when both opponents exchanged counter loops and he managed to win the point. In the future, we will designate this element as “overspin”.
So, the “overspin” occurs during matches not very often, because not all rallies end up with the setback to the middle zone of both athletes.
How does it happens that both athletes suddenly find themselves in the middle zone?
It all starts with the fact that one of the athletes begins to attacking, while the other seeks to not just play passively, but perform a counter-action. The most common counter-action in table tennis is counter-loop.
When one of the athletes starts to counterattack, he has to make a half step or a step back in order to have enough time for a counterattack. Counterattack – this element seizes ball’s speed and rotation and turns it back (making it a slightly powerful).
Therefore an athlete that has just performed a top-spin and received a counter-attack, has also to make a step back in order to have time to conduct his counterattack. And so with each following counter-loop athletes make a small step back as the ball is gaining a lot of airspeed and power. As a result, after one or two counter-loops athletes are already in the middle zone.
How the “overspin” differs from the top-spin against the block?
It differs with a slightly wider move,
because of the need to send the ball on a greater distance. The difference is in sending the ball to the opponent’s side from a distance of 1 meter or 2.5—4 meters, but the main difference is not the width of the movement, but also the time of handling the ball.
Ball handling should occur with a strong ball contact, meaning we should hold a ball on the racket for a longer time. As it’s expressed by the players – to sense it better. Longer contact with the ball is necessary to control the flight of the ball for a longer period of time and to be able to send the ball from a longer distance with the same accuracy as in the case of top-spin from the block.
“Overspins” in various zones are different by its performance. For example, there is a notable difference between “the overspin” from a distance of 2 meters from a table and the distance of 3.5 meters.
In the first case, the movement of a little shorter, ball handling occurs practically at the highest point of rebound and directed more forward. The power given to the ball by the opponent is clearly felt in the highest point. We fully return