Form is simply a means of consistency (a physics based approach)

[songdavid98]

Back to the model, so with these 4 variables, in theory you're able to craft any shot you want.

I also approach table tennis with a physics based approach to craft whatever shot I want.
I started off just 3 variables:

• racket speed
• swing angle
• racket angle

Then I added

• Racket starting height

Then I started adding a few variables that are somewhat physics based, but not really, but still actually very important

• Fade or hook (affects where rackets starting point and swing angle)
• Upper body leaning angle (affects all angles)
• Wrist up or down
• Sponge activated or not (helps when being attacked)

 

[songdavid98]

yeah i've reasoned that something about the ball falling after the peak (downward trajectory) will increase the delta between your upward brushing motion (tangential impulse on the ball) so you're able to pull the ball up easier? idk i haven't fully figured it out. i've heard the term "borrowing the balls falling motion" lol but that doesn't make sense to me

I'm very very very sure that it is simply because the longer you wait, the more vertical your swing angle can be.

Your racket begins at a certain point in space. The ball is also traveling in space towards you.
If you don't wait, you have to swing forward to meet it.
If you do wait, you have to swing upwards to meet it.

That's it really.

You can totally hit it earlier AND swing upwards. Just move closer to it. Easy.

Or you can commit heresy and blasphemy by removing your arm from the side of your body, really reach, and do an uppercut at it (assuming forehand). It works (I've tried it for fun)

 

[pongguy69]

I'm very very very sure that it is simply because the longer you wait, the more vertical your swing angle can be.

Your racket begins at a certain point in space. The ball is also traveling in space towards you.
If you don't wait, you have to swing forward to meet it.
If you do wait, you have to swing upwards to meet it.

That's it really.

You can totally hit it earlier AND swing upwards. Just move closer to it. Easy.

Or you can commit heresy and blasphemy by removing your arm from the side of your body, really reach, and do an uppercut at it (assuming forehand). It works (I've tried it for fun)

Biomechanics is much more useful to understand how to do a stroke, it also explains why certain forms work well

Because strokes are not a mechanics issue but a biomechanics issue. when standing correctly the optimal strike zone for countering backspin is usually where the vertical racquet speed is highest which will be around waist height as acceleration is best in the middle of the stroke. If the ball is too high you cannot maintain the highest bat face speed during contact as you would run out of movement in the stroke.

Its about how the muscles can work together to create the enviroment to make the stroke to get the RPM not so much about calculating the exact RPM that dictates form

yeah these makes way more sense than my thinking. i guess this is why people do super spinny loops from ~table height, it's where the fastest point of the racket upwards is with respect to their body

 

[jonol]

I'm very very very sure that it is simply because the longer you wait, the more vertical your swing angle can be.

Your racket begins at a certain point in space. The ball is also traveling in space towards you.
If you don't wait, you have to swing forward to meet it.
If you do wait, you have to swing upwards to meet it.

That's it really.

You can totally hit it earlier AND swing upwards. Just move closer to it. Easy.

Or you can commit heresy and blasphemy by removing your arm from the side of your body, really reach, and do an uppercut at it (assuming forehand). It works (I've tried it for fun)

Yeah this is pretty much it. The lower the ball drops, the more you can swing with an upward trajectory and have it still land on the table. Nothing to do with any meaningful difference in backspin.

I still do it when forced out of position, but if the shot is there to take earlier I'll always loop it above the table because it allows for a much higher quality shot.

 

[Dr Evil]

Spin increases?!? I get it, forward momentum decreases more than spin, but that advice is nonsense, none of the benefits of early contact has anything to do with 'less spin'. If someone has trouble returning backspin they should be patient and learn the feeling instead of just mindlessly pushing early...
But I've heard the 'let the ball roll on the racket' multiple times, I've always interpreted it as a mental image and I think it works pretty well for beginners on how to get a good contact.

Yes, right advice, wrong reason. If you want to short push an underspin serve, off the bounce is the way to do it for a few reasons. One is that it's easier to lift because it has maximum upward momentum. The spin won't decrease much by waiting, but the upward momentum will rapidly decrease to zero and then reverse.

 

[blahness]

One thing that i never really learnt up till many years into the sport is that to loop truly heavy backspin (the ones that almost stop mid air and start rolling back once they hit the floor), you cannot brute force thin brush the ball - it will never work and most likely you will miss the ball (missing the ball is very easy with overly tangential contact). Rather you need a thick contact (still brushing) but hit the ball at its back and approach the ball from below it with the stroke finishing high. The cue is that, the ball literally cannot go to the net if you aim your shot to the ceiling (extreme, but kinda an effective mental picture).

It also doesnt matter how ugly your stroke looks like if you give the ball the correct contact, it will land. Obviously the more optimal strokes powered by lower body properly and in position will feel easier but really the ball doesnt care. I've seen all sorts of insane looking topspin strokes which still work lol.

 

[Kopp]

IMO, form simply means performing at your expectations within your style of play. Consistency on the other hand is the ability to maintain that form.