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Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong Basic Strokes - Forehand Push Return of Serve

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Contact With the Ball

Photo of Forehand Push Return of Serve - Contact With the Ball

Contact With the Ball

© 2007 Greg Letts, licensed to About.com, Inc.
The player has begun his forward swing, and has made contact with the ball.

Points to look for:

  • Since this stroke is a touch stroke, not a power stroke, the amount of backswing required is limited.
  • This particular serve was a backspin serve, so the player will be using a slightly open bat face, and will move his bat a little forwards and downwards. This will help counter the existing backspin by putting backspin of his own on the ball. A push against a topspin ball would use a slightly more vertical bat face, to counter the topspin.
  • The player is attempting to contact the ball at the top of its bounce. Contacting the ball at this point reduces the amount of lift required to get the ball over the net, which allows the player to put more speed on the ball, and also increases the amount of angles that the player can achieve.

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  8. Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong Basic Strokes - Forehand Push Return of Serve - Step 5

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