From Greg Letts,
Your Guide to Table Tennis / Ping-Pong.
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Definition: A third ball attack is the term used to describe the situation where the server hits a powerful attack on his first stroke after serving - the third stroke of the rally.

Different players will have different types of third ball attacks - some players will prefer to use a fast, flat attack with little spin. Others will use very spinny attacks (topspin) with only medium speed. The most common version of the third ball attack in modern table tennis is a fast attack with enough topspin to land the ball deep on the receiver's side of the table. The trajectory of the ball is flat and low, with a dip at the end towards the table. This type of stroke is often called a power loop, rip, or loop kill.

See also: fourth ball attack, fifth ball attack, sixth ball attack

Also Known As: third ball