Table Tennis Strokes

03 September 2010- The game of table tennis is basically played by two techniques namely, defensive strokes and offensive table tennis strokes. One needs to master both these strokes to be an ace at this game. Discussed below are a couple of strokes which can help a great deal in turning a turning a game of table tennis. Have a look:

The Drive � The drive refers to the way the ball is returned to the opponent. Drive can be of three types i.e speed drive, loop drive an counter drive. Speed drive as the name suggests is a high speed shot which is fast enough to make it difficult for the opponent to return. Loop drive is a relatively slow shot, where the ball makes a curve while reaching the opponent while counter drive refers to any of the formerly mentioned drives used for counter attacking the opponent's drive.

The Flip- Flip is a quick wrist movement job wherein the ball is shot with a quick reflex movement. It can be any of the drives compressed or shortened in execution.

The Smash- The smash shot is used when the opponent's returned shot bounces too high or too close to the net. This is quite similar to the smash shot made in tennis wherein the player puts in a lot of force and speed into the shot, making sure that it cannot be returned by the opponent. This defensive table tennis stroke is important for every player as it helps in keeping the opponent's attacks in check.

The Push- This particular shot is used especially after an opponent's attack to create offensive opportunities. It is generally done by giving a little backspin to the ball to create an impression as if the ball is floating back to the opponent.

The Chop- Chop is actually the defensive counterpart of the loop drive. It is a backspin done to complement the topspin made by the opponent. Though it is a difficult stroke yet if mastered once, it can work wonders for a table tennis player.

The Block- This is considered to be a very simple shot in which the opponent's shot is returned with the same energy and speed as it was thrown. The method of throwing is very simple in the sense that the racket is placed in front of the ball and letting it go to the opponent's back .

These basic table tennis techniques when mastered can make any table tennis player expert in the game. This is also an effective way to learn the advanced moves which are related to the the basic ones.