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Table Tennis Basic Strokes - The Backhand Counterhit

By Greg Letts, About.com

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Contact with the Ball

Photo of Backhand Counterhit - Contact with the Ball

Contact with the Ball

(c) 2006 Greg Letts, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Contact has been made with the ball.

Points to look for:

  • The player has watched the bat contact the ball.
  • The hips, waist and shoulders have not turned appreciably from their position at the end of the backswing. They would be turned if extra power was required.
  • The forearm and bat are moving faster than the shoulders, as shown by the slight blurring in the photograph.
  • If the ball was compared to a clockface, the bat has made contact at a point roughly around the number 2, while the bat was moving mainly forwards and slightly up. Note that the angle of the bat remains at around 45 degrees. This movement makes the ball go mainly forward and a little upwards, with a light amount of topspin generated by the small brush of the ball.
  • Contact has been made between the left hand side of the torso and the middle of the body.

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