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block

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Definition: A block is a shot used to take advantage of the speed and spin of an opponent's stroke. The bat will not move very much with this stroke, and the angle of the bat will be adjusted to cope with the amount of topspin on the ball. The ball is hit soon after it bounces, before it has a chance to move too far off the table in any direction.

Blocks are typically used against powerful attacks from an opponent, where the player does not have time to use a fuller swing, or against attacks that have such heavy spin they are difficult to control.

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