How to Play the Basic Strokes of Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong

In order to play good ping-pong, you need to have mastered the basic strokes first. Without a solid foundation in the basics of table tennis, you will struggle to use the advanced techniques of elite players successfully.

Basic Strokes - Step by Step

• The Forehand Counterhit - Side View
• The Forehand Counterhit - Front View
• The Backhand Counterhit - Side View
• The Backhand Counterhit - Front View
• The Backhand Push - Side View
• The Backhand Push - Front View
• The Forehand Push - Side View
• The Forehand Push - Front View

Serve

• The Forehand Backspin Serve
• The Forehand No Spin Serve
• The Forehand Topspin Serve

• The Forehand Pendulum Backspin/Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Pendulum Backspin/Sidespin Serve - Side View
• The Forehand Pendulum Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Pendulum Sidespin Serve - Side View
• The Forehand Pendulum Topspin/Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Pendulum Topspin/Sidespin Serve - Side View

• The Forehand Reverse Pendulum Backspin/Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Reverse Pendulum Backspin/Sidespin Serve - Side View
• The Forehand Reverse Pendulum Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Reverse Pendulum Sidespin Serve - Side View
• The Forehand Reverse Pendulum Topspin/Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Reverse Pendulum Topspin/Sidespin Serve - Side View

• The Backhand Backspin Serve
• The Backhand No Spin Serve
• The Backhand Topspin Serve

• The Backhand Backspin/Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Backhand Backspin/Sidespin Serve - Side View
• The Backhand Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Backhand Sidespin Serve - Side View
• The Backhand Topspin/Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Backhand Topspin/Sidespin Serve - Side View

• The Forehand Tomahawk Topspin/Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Tomahawk Topspin/Sidespin Serve - Side View
• The Forehand Tomahawk Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Tomahawk Sidespin Serve - Side View
• The Forehand Tomahawk Backspin/Sidespin Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Tomahawk Backspin/Sidespin Serve - Side View

Return of Serve

• The Forehand Flick (Flip) Return of Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Flick (Flip) Return of Serve - Side View
• The Backhand Flick (Flip) Return of Serve - Front View
• The Backhand Flick (Flip) Return of Serve - Side View
• The Backhand Banana Flick (Flip) Return of Serve

• The Forehand Push Return of Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Push Return of Serve - Side View
• The Backhand Push Return of Serve - Front View
• The Backhand Push Return of Serve - Side View

• The Forehand Loop Return of Serve - Front View
• The Forehand Loop Return of Serve - Side View
• The Backhand Loop Return of Serve - Front View
• The Backhand Loop Return of Serve - Side View

Rally Strokes

• The Forehand Block Against a Loop or Drive - Side View
• The Forehand Block Against a Loop or Drive - Front View
• The Forehand Loop Against a Push
• The Forehand Loop Against a Block - Side View
• The Forehand Loop Against a Block - Front View
• The Forehand Loop Against a Loop - Side View
• The Forehand Loop Against a Loop - Front View

• The Backhand Block Against a Loop or Drive - Side View
• The Backhand Block Against a Loop or Drive - Front View
• The Backhand Loop Against a Push - Side View
• The Backhand Loop Against a Push - Front View
• The Backhand Loop Against a Block - Side View
• The Backhand Loop Against a Block - Front View
• The Backhand Loop Against a Loop - Front View

• The Forehand Chop Against a Loop or Drive
• The Forehand Chop Against a Loop or Drive - Front View
• The Backhand Chop Against a Loop or Drive
• The Backhand Chop Against a Loop or Drive - Front View

• The Forehand Smash Against a Lob
• The Forehand Drop Shot Against a Lob
• The Forehand Drop Shot Against a Chop

• The Forehand Lob Against a Smash - Front View
• The Forehand Lob Against a Smash - Side View
• The Backhand Lob Against a Smash - Front View
• The Backhand Lob Against a Smash - Side View

How to Serve

Learn why the serve is important, how to improve your service, and how to troubleshoot any problems you have while serving.

How to Return Serve

Learn why the return of serve is important too, and how to improve and troubleshoot your return of serve.

Put Your Strokes Together

Now that you have mastered the basic strokes, find out how to use them together to play your best table tennis.

Return to Table Tennis - Basic Concepts