I am looking for that 'effortless forehand topspin mechanics' tip

[AutomaticBackhand]

Sounds and looks good!

For standing lower, simply putting your feed wider apart can make a huge difference.

There are some pictures and links to videos in this post:

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/footwork-and-stance-how-i-got-it-right.35586/

 

[ricsco]

All the above suggestions, including video tutorial are useful. I add another one from Tom Lodziak youtube channel.

Elbow snap to increase forehand topspin

This tip for me is quite useful, Amayzde. I had a look to your video samples and your self analysis is correct. You don't need to do many variation to your stroke.
I got your point you need a sort of mental visualisation of the tip, similar to "Throw the fresbee"
In italian is called "gesto dell'ombrello", an ugly and provocative gesture that conveys the idea well.
You can find some examples in other sports made by athletes from around the world at the link below:
gesto dell'ombrello

And yes you are right, the tip to attack the first time using as much spin as possible instead of full power is a good suggestions. The problem is that when you climb the rankings, the good blockers attack your first high loops very easily.
So your next step is to loop keeping the ball lower on the net.
Good luck!
Riccardo, Italy

 

[KM1976]

Quick Question for OP - Why don't you focus on -

• Arm relaxation - in two context - while being stationary and while doing footwork drills
• Quick recovery - Ties into first point. Until you are relaxed, recovery is slow
• Optimal timing - Try to contact the ball every time at the same point with reference to your body.

Power is a by-product of all the 3 above at least in my opinion. Which means, you cannot approach power directly but through these points. Now, you might wonder, dude where is the body rotation in all this? Well, if you really relax your arm and only whip it then the natural movement is from down to up. If you try to reach out forward too much, then you are engaging your upper arm and shoulder. Therefore, arm relaxation is negated. Arm relaxation also cannot be achieved if you keep your elbow too much away from your body as if the elbow is away from the body your upper arm gets tensed. You need to understand from your own physiology that how you can impart the use of your abs and legs in your topspin. Check Timo Boll webcoach english videos on youtube. He talks about keep the abs tight. This is very simple but not easy. You might have to do abs exercises like planks to develop ab strength before attempting it for a longer duration.
Also, think of it as learning to drive, you need to start at such a pace that everything happens within your control. You cannot afford a breakneck speed right at the start. It is the same with topspin.
I already talked about - Speed, Spin and Placement in one of my earlier posts. This is how good coaches and pro players talk about shot quality. In these three buckets - speed, spin and placement. Do you see power anywhere? I do not. So think in these terms as well.

 

[doppelmoral]

The tip from this video has solved a big issue I didn't know I had with balance and weight transfer during the FH. I just found it a couple of weeks ago so I'm still in the process of fixing the issue, but I already feel a lot more powerful and balanced.

This thing is 30 mins long when it should be 5 mins. But speed through it and get the major points.

Basically, I used to have all my weight on my toes of the racket leg and was rotating around it. That shortens the lever arm of rotation to almost zero. A very short whip is not an effective whip.

I should have had my weight center of hips and then rotate around that center of gravity, using my racket leg to push off and begin the rotation.

Another Fang Bo video helped my foot pressure by suggesting to start off with pressure on the outside foot.

After rotating the weight transfers to the opposite leg and you can get more on to the toes of the racket leg. But I was doing it all wrong by starting with weight on my toes. I've heard from a lot of people and even coaches saying to play more on your toes and this wound up being a terrible cue.

I just found the video you posted after looking for tips to get a more effortless Forehand.

Does the coach basically say that instead of leaning your upper body forward (dragging you down), you should bend your knees while maintaining an upright/straight upper body? I just tried it that way in doing some shadowpractise and it feels way better to swing, while my legs / and core and back have more natural tension.

Since you recommended the video, what were your takeaways?

 

[pingpongpaddy]

Hi there,

I am looking for that one special tip that will make my forehand topspin easier. And with easier I mean: more power with less effort.

I once got a great tip like this for my backhand topspin: "You should do the backhand topspin like you are throwing a frisbee". My backhand has really taken off since then. Before this tip I wasn't able to backhand loop underspin to save my life, and now it probably wins me the most points. My backhand has become so spinny and fast while simontaniously it feels effortless to put on the table.

I feel like I know the all the details about the forehand topspin quite well;
-Transfer your weight,
-rotate your hips,
-retract your free hand,
-have a relaxed swing,
-accelerate explosively and squeeze the racket right before contact,
-stop your shoulder,
-relax again and retract for the next ball,

I really try to apply these when playing, but for some reason whenever that ball comes thowards my forehand side, I only swing my arm at the ball without rotating my body... Its hard for me to have alot of dedicated forehand practice. We dont have any coaches for senior players and all my training is basicly practice matches. So the warmup before the first match is the only time I can dedicate thowards improving my forehand topspin against block.

So any tips to help me make the forehand feel less complicated and more powerful with less effort are welcome!

hi amayzde
I have given the 'Frisbee" advice from time to time, as I found it very useful I don't claim to be the originator.
However Fh is much more complex because there are more separate elements in operation for a good fh than for a bh.
In addition the technique from the fh corner is more restricted than from bh corner after you step around - that is the place from max weight transfer is most natural.
I found your vid not so useful until I focused on the 5:50 rally. Then it was easier to to get a feel for what your idea of a 'good fh' might be.

I think you should film yourself doing Falkenberg at steady pace - multi ball, or with a practice partner. It doesn't need to be long.
That way, you give an example to yourself or any potential coach of what you are trying to do when you are in balance. Sorry to say, because you have not been practising your current vid is mostly a catalogue of not being in position to make any good shot bh or fh.
If you can manage that, it would be interesting to see it, and you would have something to work with.

 

[FH_Project]

As a person that always have inconsistent FH(Even 50 kg kids could always generate more power than me on continuous shots), I realised yesterday after easter break, having relaxed body solved my all problem. I still need slight body tension for tight shots, but maan playing with relaxed state is much more enjoying. I was much quicker than before eventhough it was a first training session after 3 weeks break.

Prerequisities:
1 - Basic forehand drive technique
2 - Avoid changing equipment

Key things:
1 - Open bat angle
2 - Loose grip (avoids tensing complete arm, allows loose arm)
3 - Less downward more backward(arm & torso) swing on pre phase. Spinning more with flatter contact.
4 - Reduce using leg power (I always had tried to use more leg power than actually I am capable of, caused me too much ground contact, so I couldn't move quick after playing the shot). Plus, be light on feet by hopping after every shot ever so slightly.
5 - Don't try to exert force by contract muscle hard(rather contract/release quick). Arm stroke or even body motion while playing shot must always be like whipping. This allows better rallying. Because it is easier to recover.
6 - Pay attention the timing. If it is late or early, shot is going to be slow
7 - Invest some time, accept loosing matches for a while. Once you comfortable with flat hitting you can drop racket(or contract underarm more) a bit for more spin.

This can be trained off the table like below without worrying if the ball hit the table or not. (Especially technique, feeling and timing)

PS: This post is also note to myself for the future. Damn! Yesterday's training was too euphoric! 🤤