Punch/push-block and 'minimum effort, maximum efficiency'
but I've always thought of the punch as a "backhand stroke".
Agreed that the punch is a BH "stroke", perhaps "technique" is a better substitute for 'stroke'.
I may be misunderstanding both your and Carl's definition of "TPB". I'm thinking it means traditional penhold backhand (BH)... BH for me means 2 types - a regular speed BH stroke and a faster speed smash stroke.
Although 'punch' is a BH stroke/technique, in my mind it's not a BH ... from Chinese, that stroke/technique is literally translated as 'push block' ... with push meaning the physical motion of pushing and not the TT definition of pushing which is to add downspin or float the ball back. It really is just an aggressive block.
Carl has it right from my understanding when he wrote (although the part of '
TPB is punch' i may have a slightly different definition/understandiing):
"...
an RPB takes a stroke. Where as the TPB is punch.
This distinction is similar to what I showed in that shadow video of pushing forward vs stroke."
It's a block that just goes straight out. The way I was taught to do it, there is a nuance of adding a thumb action which angles the racket to close it a bit... but mostly it's a pushing away from the body motion ... an 'aggressive block' vs a 'passive block' - where racket is stationary.
In this video that Carl posted sometime ago, you see me "blocking" Carl's loops. If you look carefully, you may see my thumb action on my "punches" and I blocked some, and some blocks i added a little forward motion, so it's like a half punch
OSPH, I know that you're technically playing forehand all table as a traditional penholder,
PSSSST... Archo, can you keep a secret? I don't want any others to know...
I don't play exactly like a traditional penholder, even when I was younger. My TT game is partly '
minimum effort, maximum efficiency' - known as a Judo maxim, other martial arts use it too. He Zhi Men is a great example of this maxim.
I will not run around all the time to use my FH as a reply to my partner's shots. If i think i can block or punch if the ball comes to my BH side, i will. I believe the body is like a car... a car has a gas tank that has a certain amount it can hold ... i don't want to use up needlessly my gas when i can with minimal effort produce a decent return when i block/punch.
Please keep my secret between you and me