Forehand Stroke - Any help?

I would recommend leaving the arm loose and initiate the swing using legs and body rotation. When using this method swing has to start early, but I find it easier to maintain control and rhythm.

NextLevel wrote: As much as people like to focus on body usage (which is very important), I have seen people with good body rotation but bad forehands because they don't know how to use the arm. So the idea that body rotation is more important by itself is another falsehood.

Hey guys,

Thanks for the comments!

I have seen a lot of videos on youtube, but i haven't tried the online coaches and ping pong skills /ttedge (at least not the subscribed content). I will look for it.

Currently i feel like my arm movement is too short. I practice on the mirror a few strokes, but when i go to play, i just make it short. And also the problem with the "line" of my stroke, which ends up being a curve :(

I try to rotate and transfer the weight in the stroke, i even managed to separate a little my elbow from my body. It used to be almost glued together :P

I just feel confuse. I think i know what i should do, but i havent managed to do it right until now!

I believe you don't trust what your stroke and bat will do...

Your short stroke is causing you to accelerate at the last minute and you are trying to steer the ball to the table with your stroke (the curve you talk about)...

Rotate your body backwards with your arm. You don't have to rotate too much for this shot, just enough so you generate enough strike on the ball as you pass the contact point to finish with your wrist roughly head high...

Don't steer the ball. Think! The angle that you strike the ball will put topspin on the ball and bring it down to the table...

Splitting your legs and getting down a bit may help...

Don't be afraid to power some balls off the table, as you find your angle and contact...

Enjoy!

Edited by CraneStyle - 05/11/2015 at 3:10pm

Diedona,

So here is the thread on rebuilding my forehand:

Edited by NextLevel - 05/11/2015 at 4:25pm

I see 2 major areas for improvement

1. Usage of legs and waist. I feel for small strokes (your stroke), you need to turn your hip with your stroke to generate power and maintain stability. For larger strokes (Xuxin and most Chinese pro strokes), you also need to add your legs and make each stroke a transfer of weight

2. Stroke too small resulting from not using upper arms. Imagine your arms is a trebuchet, you want the beam (upper arm) to swing while the sling (small arm) whip with the beam. Your stroke is like the sling whipping by itself. I'm gussing it's super hard to generate power and overcome back spin with that small stroke.

man, the poster is just grooving his stroke in and some of you guys want him ripping the ball like a pro.  Do you guys really rotate the torso and whip the ball when you're hitting with your friend in the basement?

PS Props to your mom for her blocking.  That is freaking awesome.

BRS wrote: PS Props to your mom for her blocking.  That is freaking awesome.

+1000. That's a TT super Mom right there.

@NextLevel
Thanks for the video!! I've seen the thread and the exact picture you pointed out... I think it's my major mistake, i will have some time tonight and i will try to slow down and tape myself to see what i am doing.

@DistantStart
You are right, generally i have many problems with backspin. I need to make it larger, i know i have to make it larger...  But when i go to the table, i really mess things up. But it used to be worse, maybe if i can practice the tips you guys are telling me i will be able to extend it!

@tom
I think my stroke, as others pointed out, is being too short... I will try to make it larger and finish above eye level (maybe i will hit my head a couple of times in the proccess).

@cole_ely
thanks for the encouragement! i really dont wanna go pro, but i feel depressed by my current level of table tennis. My first coach was amazing, i really grew my game with him, playing in the local league. However, he was dismissed from the club (never said why) and the current coach of the club... "Sorry, Can't help you."

@BRS
I will try to step back and make it slower, but there's little space there... I am starting to think that my short movements sometimes are due to a constant fear of hitting the blade on the wall, lol

@yogi_bear
Like, looking at the ball, by side, and then following it straight? I will try!

Thanks everyone for the tips. And yes, my mom is the real star there. She had never played table tennis seriously, but she  tries to help me. She's a great blocker <3

he needs to turn his neck because it's a synergistic action with the shoulders and torso after contacting the ball and make him on his original or neutral position again.

The neck rotation is simultaneous with the body and shoulder rotation not before. Sometimes moving the neck is the main culprit on 2hy people cannot return to their neutral position when doing forehand drives or loops. Even the free arm should also go with the body rotation.

yogi_bear wrote: The neck rotation is simultaneous with the body and shoulder rotation not before. Sometimes moving the neck is the main culprit on 2hy people cannot return to their neutral position when doing forehand drives or loops. Even the free arm should also go with the body rotation.

@boaspirit
i try to stick my eyes to the ball after a coach from another city (i was warming up with my mom and he came up with some tips) told me to do so hehe

my arm is close to the body.. i think that, unconsciously, i let it there to use more power and less margin of error. But when i am here, sitting and exploring videos, i know it should be different. i think this is bad habit at its prime :(

@blahness
oh lord, i really went to youtube and searched for some timo's strokes after that! haha
I couldnt tape, but i did what you told tuesday. I felt topspin vs backspin was a little easier with the tips of everyone, and the movement felt larger. But i have to tape it to be sure.

@V-Griper
I will have another mom-son table tennis session today and will try to apply yours tips too. Thanks for the link!

Once again, thanks everyone for the help. I couldn't tape tuesday trainning, but i will do whatever is possible to record it today and post the results.