Basic skills in table tennis
To become an excellent table tennis player, one needs to master and to get table tennis technical efficiently. These skills are the primary strokes that form the foundation of the table tennis. Without them, it will be tough to succeed in this game. Some people get to master them before they start playing the table tennis. However, this is not a prerequisite since one can develop the skill as he continues practicing the game. Mostly we start teaching the backhand drive because it helps the player to master good offensive skills which can be incorporated with others before one learn the complicated defensive push strokes.
One needs a bat that can be used to generate more spin if one needs to learn table tennis skills effectively. Most beginners bat are not active, and therefore they cannot create spin. You cannot learn table tennis skills with an ineffective bat as it will give you poor results before you must know how to use the unorthodox technique to compensate the low-quality results.
One can determine whether their bats are dead by rubbing the table tennis ball against the rubber surface they are using. Your bat is considered to be good if the ball will slide into the surface of rubber with minimal resistance. After determining that your bat is right then, you can now go on and learn how to hit the ball. We are going to study the primary table tennis strokes that help one master the table tennis skills to become a skillful player.
1). Backhand push
Most people say that backhand push is the most straightforward drive of the all table tennis drives. We are going to categorize position one should take to play the backhand push excellently
Take a good stance
Stance is the starting point that you have to understand well in order to make a good table tennis player. It explains your posture and the position you should be standing before you even start hitting the ball. In maintaining a proper stance, you should put your legs facing the direction of the play. Therefore your feet must face the feet of the opponent backhand Conner diagonally. Feet should also be wider than the width of the shoulder slightly. Make sure that the stance is square to the table. You should also put your left leg some distance behind. You should make sure that arms are in front of you and maintain an angle of 90 degree bend at your elbow. you should stay very near at the table. An arm distance is recommendable distribute your weight evenly at toes, on the balls, and on both feet. Do not make the mistake of distributing your weight to your heels as most beginners miss this point. You should have a bend at the elbow, and your body should even be crouched.
Take the backswing
This is the second position you should understand well in forehand push drive. It is the first movement you will take after you see the ball and therefore it is very vital. If you miss backswing, your shot will have little power, and it will make you struggle to control it. In this position, you are required to bring the bat backward and raise it slightly upward in the direction of your chest. The bat should be some distance away from the side of your body. You should create a small bat angle to hit the ball correctly. You should also make sure that your body is not bent and that your wrist is straight. However, you cannot master the backswing in the backhand push if you don’t leave a relatively small gap between your hip and your elbow. Your playing arm, whether right hand or left hand, should always be kept in front of your body slightly. Do not apply a lot of effort to push the balls because you only need a little effort to backswing in the push. The elbow should be bent, and bat angle should be maintained at 45 degrees.
Strike the bat
The strike can be explained as the movement one makes towards hitting the ball. You only need to do the opposite of backswing to strike the bat correctly. The forward pushing of the bats efficiently does the best strike. One is advised to make the strike between the bat and the ball. You should move your arms forward to meet the ball. You should remember that you cannot strike the balls in front of you, but at this level, you should play the balls on your side. You should get your elbow and your forearm to make the movements, and at the same time, you should make sure that there is a small gap between the elbow and your body. Play slightly down the back of the ball to get the less spin. If you want more spin, it is advisable to play underneath the ball. At this level, the bat angle should not be closed because one is supposed to contact with it at the peak of the strike. The ball should be scooped and not sliced
The finishing point
This is the point where one ends the shot. While finishing, you should hold the bat in front and facing the table. The arm should have a slight bend even though the angle should be opened. Do not over rotate to avoid finishing bat at your shoulders or behind your neck since this is a mistake You should always make sure that your bat finishes pointing the direction which you have hit the ball. You should prevent your arm from swinging to the left of your body. Bring the bat closer to the table while finishing by making sure that you play downwards slightly. Doing so will bring the bat closer to the table than when you were playing the backswing or the strike. The bat should follow the ball, but it should not move across the body. You should master the above steps since they make you finish smoothly, and therefore you become a great table tennis player. After ending get back to your position to stay prepared.
2). The forehand drive
The forehand drive is Brocken into four parts which you should master to have an excellent play
Take a good stance
This is the position that most beginners get wrong while playing forehand drive. Getting a good stance is vital as it determines how you will play the rest of game successfully. Your stance should be correct before you think of hitting the ball for positive results. You should place your feet in such a way that they are more extensive than your shoulder. Some professionals recommended that your feet should be at least two shoulders apart. Place your right foot further behind your left foot. Your knees should be bent, and your body should be leaning forward. You should maintain an angle of at least 90 degrees bend at your elbow. You are also advised to stay very close to the table to be ready to make the next move. An arm distance is recommendable between you and the table. Your hands should be put in a position that they are ahead of you. Distribute the weight of the body to your both feet and not to the heels as this is the mistake that beginners commonly make.
Take the backward swing
The backward swing should the first movement you should do after you see the ball. It is important as it will empower your shot and help you control the ball. The weight should be shifted on the back of your foot as you rotate your body from the side of your hips. Make sure that as you are rotating your body, your elbow and bat will rotate with you. This helps to meet the ball, and it also increases body stamina. The bat angle should be closed and do not leave any space no matter how small it is. If you are right-handed player make sure that you shift your body weight on the right foot. Make sure that it is the body that will move and rotate the arm because most beginners make the mistake of using the arm to move your body. This Denys you the speed that you need to respond to the ball with hence giving poor results other players should shift their body weight at the back foot. You should then maintain the good stance even at this time
You should strike
The can be defined as pushing the bats forward. This is done by keeping a forward movement in the direction of the ball. In simple terms, it involves doing the perfect opposite of the backward swing. You should make your shoulders and hips to move forward to hit the ball. Just as you do in a military salute, you should accelerate your forearm to make contact with the ball hence hitting it. The ball should be taken out in front of you, and you should make sure that you take them when they are at the peak. The elbow and your body should be separated by a slight gap. Your body should be rotated backward from hips as you transfer your weight from the back foot towards the front foot. Your bat angle should be closed together throughout the strike. Your elbow and your body should have a small gap left. While making contact, accelerate your arm slightly, and it will give you good pace and spin. You should return to the normal position to proceed.
The finishing point
Finishing is important as other moves because if you finish poorly you will have underperformed in the entire game. You are advised not to over rotate the bat as this will make it finish over the shoulder or at the neck which is not recommendable. The forehand drive should be completed at the point when the bat point where you hit the ball. Over rotating is only recommendable for other players such as tennis but it is wrong in table tennis. Don’t make this mistake as it makes you lose the ball and therefore you finish poorly. You should also ensure that you follow through forward and upward movement of the ball. After finishing shift back to your position to play the next move
3). Backhand drive
Some of the players say that playing backhand drive is hander. This can be because the backswing in it is different from the others. We are also going to divide it into four categories and discuss what it entails.
Take a good stance
Stance is the first thing you should master while playing on the backhand drive. You should place your legs facing the side of the play. Your legs will, therefore, be required to point opposite side the opponent, Conner and the direction of the play. The elbow will be necessary to bend a little, and the feet should be apart such that they are more extensive than shoulders width. You should make sure that your body is leaning forward slightly. You should close your bat angle slightly and your arms should remain in front of you. Distribute your weight evenly on your legs and toes. Do not distribute your feet on your heels as this makes you unstable and therefore you won’t be able to perform well. You should also make sure that you are standing an arm away distance from the table. It makes you ready to see the incoming ball hence hitting it rightly.
Take the backward swing.
Do not rotate your body and also do not transfer the weight on your feet. The bat is only required to be brought back towards your body such that it is below your belly. Bring it back until it is slightly above the left hit only if you are right-handed. You should make sure that you create a closed angle without any space. Make sure that your body is not leaned or bending and also make your wrist to be straight. Stand facing the direction that you wish to play and also make sure that your backhand rubber is facing the same direction. This is a drive, and therefore you must get it collect to be able to make the next move.
Striking
This is the simplest move in backhand drive. You should move your bat away from the elbow and move it up and in the forward direction. Move your hands up to meet and hit the coming ball. If you are a beginner, you should only concentrate on the elbow for any movement. Some beginners make the mistake of playing using the wrist. If you play using the wrist, the shot will not have enough power, and therefore you won’t be able to control it, and it might get lost. You should make sure that the gap between your elbow and your body is minimal. The angle tempts to open every time you are striking and following but do not make this mistake. Do not play the shot using your shoulder as this will make it tend to open more. If the angle opens, you are going to hit the ball in the wrong direction, and you will not control it. Do not make the mistake of playing the shot using your shoulders. The angle of the bat should be closed throughout the play.
Finishing point
The backhand drive should be finished as the point when the bat point where you hit the ball. You should do a forward and backward follow up of the ball. Your arms should be prevented from swinging too much across your body. If you over rotate your body, you are going to miss the ball, or you will fail to control it properly. Finishing well is vital as it makes the play to flow smoothly. Some of the beginners play other moves properly, but they only mess while finishing. It is good to take care because if you mess at this point, you will still be deemed to have failed. You must also maintain a slight bend on your arms and then you should adjust to the original point to play the next drive
4). Forehand push
Most of the beginners find this drive to be the hardest one to play in table tennis drives. Most beginners struggle to master its move ad it can be more discouraging if two first time players are playing together. It is also analyzed into four categories.
Take a good stance.
You take a good stance by using the same position that you used while you were playing the forehand drive. Your feet must be some distance wider than the width of your shoulders. Make the stance to square to the playing table. Bend your knees slightly as you crouch the body. You should remember that this shot is played against the lower backspin balls. You should maintain an angle of 90 degrees at your elbow. The elbow should be slightly bent. You are advised to stay very close to the table to prepare to hit the ball. The distance between you and the table should not be more than one arm. Make sure that your body weight is distributed even in your both feet and at the toes. Do not distribute it at heels as it makes you unstable. Your arms should be in front of you, and you must also bend your knees. You must see to it that your body is crouched and your right foot should be some distance back.
Take the backward swing
While hitting the ball, you should not use excess weight as it only requires little pressure. You should make sure that you bring your bat away from the side of your body. Do not bend and make sure that you straighten your wrist throughout. Your elbow and your hips should be separated by a small gap. Make sure that the arm you will play with is slightly in front of your body. Do not incorporate a big backswing push as it is not necessary. You should be ready to naturally rotate your body your body as it is important while playing. Make sure that elbow angle is pointing towards the arm To prepare, do some backward twisting. The bat should be opened at 45 degrees. When you master these steps, you are good for a stance.
Striking
You should shift your weight slightly at the front leg and strike. Do not play the short directly in front of you but play it on the side of your body. Move your playing hand forward in order to meet and hit the ball. Make sure that only elbow and your forearm is making the movement and hence rotates the body slightly. You should take the ball in front of you only when it is at the peak of the bounce or at an earlier stage. You should have a small gap separating your elbow and your body. Play more down the back of ball if you want less spins and if you want to increase the spins you should play more at the top of the balls. For the short balls, one need to use the front feet to step in. Do not swipe your body but you must follow the ball. Open the elbow slightly to strike and turn your body slightly. Keep the bat angle opened.
Finishing point
You should follow the line of the ball and leave the bat ahead of the body. Follow the ball forward toward the net. You should make sure that your bat finishes pointing the direction of the ball. Your arm should be steady and should not swing to the left across your body as this will make you lose the ball. Play downwards Slightly to enable you to finish with the balls near the table that You should put the bat down the table and then put backspin on the balls. You are required to follow the ball while finishing but you should not swipe your body. By following those steps, you will finish this drive swiftly. Move back to your original posture and position so that you start playing again.
Final verdict
The above are the most important skills and drives that the beginner needs to master to become the best table tennis player. It is, therefore, recommendable that one registers the table tennis skills course to learn this and many more. You should register with the best coaches as there are many more skills you must know to excel in table tennis.
Beginners should not feel discouraged just because some drives are difficult to master while one is starting to play. Even the best world players say that they faced some difficulty while starting but they learned as they continued to practice. Everything needs dedication and practice, and table tennis is no exemption. You will benefit after you master as playing table tennis is suitable for leisure, and also it can be used to earn money by playing it for money. Table tennis is, therefore, a good course to invest in.