Counter top spin
Sweetiele asked 6 years ago
Hi,
I have always wondered why top ranked table tennis players get so low to spin and counter top spin. Recently, while watching a round of 16 match between Fan Zhendong and Liang Jingkun, I observed that Fan Zhendong got so low specially at 8:30 here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_S0SxG2mgY
Can you tell me why he had to get so low to counter top spin this backhand top spin ball from Liang Jingkun?
Thanks
Tom Academy Coach answered 6 years ago
Hi Sweetiele,
Yes you can quite often see top players getting their body very low and forward as they counter topspin, Fan Zhendong is probably the best example of this. The reason they do this is to allow them to control the spin more easily and get their bat on top of the ball to stop the high amount of topspin taking the ball off the end of the table.
Body position is very important in the counter topspin when there is a lot of spin on the ball like the best players can produce, however at any level it’s important to stay low and keep your weight forward so you can stay balanced and control the ball easier. So that’s the reason they do this, it can also help with timing the shot and makes sure that they don’t rush and take the ball too soon.
Hope that makes it clear for you 🙂
SweetieleThanks for your reply Tom!
I understand that they need to get their bat on top of the ball to stop the high amount of topspin taking the ball off the end of the table but can’t they also do this without having to get so low, Is it also because they want to take the ball a bit late when the revolutions on the ball decrease and strike it on top of the bounce. What would happen if they take the ball earlier. Also, can you tell me why they are able to control the spin more easily by getting their body very low and forwards? I have been thinking about this for a long time now.
Thanks 🙂
No problem, Its much more difficult to brush over the ball and put pressure on top of it if you aren’t low enough. These shot’s that you can see Fan Zhendong and other top players do is the absolute top level extreme and most other players won’t need to get this low but still need have the body weight forward of course.
Yes exactly being low and waiting means the spin is slightly decreasing. If you take the ball too early against this type of heavy spin the ball will simply fly off the end of the table, also by waiting and taking the ball closer to the body it’s much easier to stay controlled and balanced, if you take the ball too early and far away from the body it is easy to over hit and struggle to get a good contact.
The reason being low and forwards helps control spin more easily is because the body is actually a very important part of the counter topspin shots, if you simply try to counter topspin with the arm it’s difficult to time the ball and the body being forward allows you to lean into the shot and press down more over the ball keeping it down 🙂
Thanks for the reply!
