Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong Basic Strokes - FH Smash Against a Lob - Front View

This tutorial is a companion to the forehand smash against a lob - side view tutorial, but showing a front view instead. Rather than repeat much of the side view version, I'll just be pointing out items that are relevant to the front view.

Points to look for:

• In this photo, the player has just played a smash from his backhand corner diagonally across the table, and is now watching the flight of the ball during his opponent's second lob, which is coming from well outside his right handed opponent's backhand corner. This is why the player appears very side on to the table - he is actually fairly square to the oncoming ball.
• Since the player prefers to smash the ball at around head height, there is no need for much crouching of the body. The knees are still a little bent, but the upper body is much straighter than for other strokes.
• The player is currently trying to judge how deep the ball is going to land on his side of the table, and how much topspin and sidespin is on the ball. This will help him position himself correctly to perform the smash - he does not want to end up too close to the ball, which will cramp his swing.