is there a "Guide to Flat Hitting/Smash" available

For me it is much easier since I am a penholder with short pips.

Shakehand 

pgpg wrote: amekun wrote: Shakehand  Wood Blade Yinhe Big Dipper FH BTF T80Fx BH Should probably update your signature then

I might be able to help...set the robot for "backspin" at or slightly above net level and start hitting THROUGH the ball using your lower body (core) and legs...hitting the ball at the peak. this timing and quick stroke will allow you to flat hit any type of balls with a blade angle adjustment. if you start practicing a hitting style I would stop looping top spins and just spin backspin balls. the leg position is different for looping/hitting and a body adjustment is needed, to much thinking! If, you have been looping for a period of time, changing to a hitting style will not be easy, it will take a few years to become "automatic".. flat hits also come back quickly when blocked, the polyball is slower so, they will get blocked!...in the 80's I very seldom had any flat hits returned, 38mm ball is way faster. If i was starting from scratch..5-6 years old with a future in table tennis, I would still be a hitter, get good at it and you can beat anybody, you cant be stopped, unless you start to miss..the hitting style is hard to keep the ball on the table especially when you start to get tired, your timing gets a tad off and your done...time for your "B" game.

First, I would echo what others have said that loop-driving the ball is the safer thing to do, especially given your spin-sensitive setup.  If you hone your technique to get better power out of that loop-drive, then that is going to be a better risk/reward solution.

Edited by geardaddy - 07/01/2015 at 2:33pm

It is hard to just "flathit" every ball that comes in your direction, I still have to develop and practice my looping as much or more than my hitting, the big difference is that when im hitting it feels natural, not a lot of thought process going on, when i have to loop everything changes, body position, blade angle and THE BRAIN!..to much thinking. It is very hard to combine being a looper/hitter. you cant hit everything, the better players wont let you and the "beach balls" we are using dont drop as fast as the 38mm. balls. I tried to become a looper after a 21 year break, you cant change what you allready are, if your stroke is looping, I would not try to change your style, you will spend years and never get it right. to much thinking!
 also..I have no problem using soft rubbers, it helps to block, so you can get in your hit..If you really want to learn to hit through the ball...start flat hitting backspins, you will develop the arm "snap", thats the stroke that will scare any player you face....hope this helps a little..
 p.s....larry hodges?...danny seemiller?...these guys can help the most at this board for "flathitting"

I think Tahl Leibovitz describes it very succinctly in this vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPpq8m93LSI