Hey Yeemanl,welcome to table tennis and welcome to the Academy ?
Yes that’s right the drive a is a more simple and basic version of the topspin. It has a short movement with a thicker and flatter contact and is good ti master vefore moving onto the forehand tospin.
The bat angle is more open with the drive as well, for a topspin you close the bat angle,take more backswing and you are looking to brush the ball but a drive you are hitting more through the back of the ball. Hope that makes sense for you.
