Is this explanation about looping against different types of spins correct?

[DaN3]

There are lots of people who teach that a forehand loop against a non-backspin ball finishes at eye or head level, and they say that in the case of a forehand loop against backspin, it finishes above the head level. When the player wants to do a backhand loop against backspin but the ball goes to the net, they say that it happened because you hit forward but you should have hit more upwards. So it gets confusing that all the time a player should worry about how much to hit forward or upward.

Let's say all of those are correct. In advance level playing table tennis, is this that I'm going to explain correct?


There is no difference in hand (arm) movement for looping any type of spinning ball in table tennis as far as a person manages their center of gravity according to the spin of the ball.

Let's say a person learned how to backhand and forehand loop; if a backspun ball came to them, they would just lower the center of gravity more than before while doing the looping technique they've learned, so they don't need to change their arm movement because it should be the same all the time against all types of spins.
If we see a player ending his forehand loop behind his head around his neck, maybe he couldn't manage his center of gravity (get lower) or position, and so he had to do that.

 

[blahness]

Imo there is not that much difference except that against backspin there needs to be a lifting force powered by the quads and glutes, and you have to approach the ball from below it. Finishing position helps but is not the be all end all.

 

[Lazer]

There are lots of people who teach that a forehand loop against a non-backspin ball finishes at eye or head level, and they say that in the case of a forehand loop against backspin, it finishes above the head level. When the player wants to do a backhand loop against backspin but the ball goes to the net, they say that it happened because you hit forward but you should have hit more upwards. So it gets confusing that all the time a player should worry about how much to hit forward or upward.

Let's say all of those are correct. In advance level playing table tennis, is this that I'm going to explain correct?


There is no difference in hand (arm) movement for looping any type of spinning ball in table tennis as far as a person manages their center of gravity according to the spin of the ball.

Let's say a person learned how to backhand and forehand loop; if a backspun ball came to them, they would just lower the center of gravity more than before while doing the looping technique they've learned, so they don't need to change their arm movement because it should be the same all the time against all types of spins.
If we see a player ending his forehand loop behind his head around his neck, maybe he couldn't manage his center of gravity (get lower) or position, and so he had to do that.

When lifting backspin your motion starts lower and goes upwards. For a ball with topspin your motion goes more forward so yes there is a difference. Also remember that when lifting a backspin ball the speed of the racket must be at lest the same speed as the ball rotates. If it’s lower your stroke is going to the net…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[latej]

From my POV what is important is not the distinction between more upward vs more forward (which is there, but it is a detail which sorts itself out almost automatically), but instead what is called the kinetic chain. Now this sounds kind of scientific, but what is meant is simply the whole movement, how it is initiated (from the push to the ground), and how it unfolds - how the body parts move and with what delay relative to each other. Now this sounds even more complicated, but let me explain - the reason why players tend to have the same or very similar kinetic chain for different balls is that it is super natural. You just do it in the most natural and relaxed way you can imagine. For example, you can stand straight up, now rotate body a bit to the left while still standing straight, and you see how your right hand moves from itself, without muscles. You can in fact derive the whole form from it... So the reason is - naturalness. The point is to focus on that rather than the details on top of it... Again, you can really feel it, you simply feel this is right... Or sometimes, when you don't stand right, you manage to make some corrections to the stroke and you get the ball to the other side, but you still feel the stroke was not the right stroke - it felt slightly different, e.g. you had to go more around the ball or something. That is actually the reason why footwork is the most important thing... Essentially I'm writing all this to encourage you to not worry and trust your body, use it as a guiding principle...

 

[Sims]

There are lots of people who teach that a forehand loop against a non-backspin ball finishes at eye or head level, and they say that in the case of a forehand loop against backspin, it finishes above the head level. When the player wants to do a backhand loop against backspin but the ball goes to the net, they say that it happened because you hit forward but you should have hit more upwards. So it gets confusing that all the time a player should worry about how much to hit forward or upward.

Let's say all of those are correct. In advance level playing table tennis, is this that I'm going to explain correct?


There is no difference in hand (arm) movement for looping any type of spinning ball in table tennis as far as a person manages their center of gravity according to the spin of the ball.

Let's say a person learned how to backhand and forehand loop; if a backspun ball came to them, they would just lower the center of gravity more than before while doing the looping technique they've learned, so they don't need to change their arm movement because it should be the same all the time against all types of spins.
If we see a player ending his forehand loop behind his head around his neck, maybe he couldn't manage his center of gravity (get lower) or position, and so he had to do that.

Roughly speaking you are correct, there is a greater margin for error when hitting more fwd V topspin, and a greater mfe when stroking upwards V backspin. As in, there is an inbuilt safety av the spin you are countering.
But so many other things need to be right to maximise the quality you will generate with either shot that the entire concept cannot be thoroughly explained in as few words as you've written 😂
Honestly, it's so individual and often unique in some cases given that almost everyone has a different form, strength, coordination, control, athleticism, speed, etc that the best way to have this answered for YOU is to find a coach, a GOOD coach who can examine YOUR form etc and then tell you (based on your current strokes) what you need to do with each and then you'll know your practicing the correct things and you will save yourself possibly years in your development.

Failing that I would focus on what Latej and Blahness have said, starting with the legs and using hips to initiate the arm movement and this will ensure the racket speed to overcome heavy backspin for your loop. This is more important than the racket finishing position. You have to get to that finishing position the correct way to really improve at it.