Your backhand sucks? It's ok brother, don't cry! We're in this together for the long run....

I believe my main backhand issues is having initiative to attack, backhand drive, to step over to let the forehand finish the rest. I'm usually too scared with the risks of backhand drive, with the absurdly large follow through which I cant really help, even after following Ryu's tutorials. It's a bit unreliable too, may not even pass the net.
 
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I believe my main backhand issues is having initiative to attack, backhand drive, to step over to let the forehand finish the rest. I'm usually too scared with the risks of backhand drive, with the absurdly large follow through which I cant really help, even after following Ryu's tutorials. It's a bit unreliable too, may not even pass the net.
You are a JPen-ist. Your BH will forever be a LOL!
IMG_9727.gif
 
You are a JPen-ist. Your BH will forever be a LOL!
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I have a backhand! My rpb isn’t the best but I’m gonna improve it. I will never have a better backhand than my forehand, even equal to, but gonna figure it out.
 
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Never seen your BH before, but since you are CPen'ist, you have the benefit of doubt.
no ways, how come you not seen my BH?
we not friends any more....


here is me testing the Rxton 3 Pink rubber, so mostly did BH that day.

 
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no ways, how come you not seen my BH?
we not friends any more....


here is me testing the Rxton 3 Pink rubber, so mostly did BH that day.

when did you take this video? looking like a straight up beast! i know you're mainly a coach but obviously you played at a pretty high level before? plz share your table tennis testimony or link to where you have already done so?
 
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when did you take this video? looking like a straight up beast! i know you're mainly a coach but obviously you played at a pretty high level before? plz share your table tennis testimony or link to where you have already done so?
Thank you, but I am far from a beast. In professional's term - I am a OB player too.

I took this video just before making/posting the video (i recorded it to make the video), I can't remember the date, but it was last year some time. Rxton 3 Pink is pretty new too. I was testing the rubber out during that period, and also decided to introduce some places to play in Taiwan - but video editing took way too much time, so I didn't make too many more videos regarding venues.

I will pm you the rest.
 
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Going to pat myself a little bit here but I noticed for the first time recently that my wrist was much more flexible than my TT buddy E who may be a better player but i got definitely the better BH. I was surprised how stiff his wrist was and how restricted his movements were compared to mine.

Probably got to do with the fact I have also piano as a hobby.

Technique of course is important but being able to be relaxed and have high swing and wrist speed and freedom is important too
 
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Going to pat myself a little bit here but I noticed for the first time recently that my wrist was much more flexible than my TT buddy E who may be a better player but i got definitely the better BH. I was surprised how stiff his wrist was and how restricted his movements were compared to mine.

Probably got to do with the fact I have also piano as a hobby.

Technique of course is important but being able to be relaxed and have high swing and wrist speed and freedom is important too
There was a youtuber with me from USA last week (or two weeks), his wrist was too tight too.
I just fixed that on the forehand and his balls kicked off the bounce. Even he was surprised.
I told him to hit softer, to grip the ball more (hidden secret) and the softer shot came through more powerful.

you are right, stiff wrist is not good. you wasting too much power holding the power in that wrist.
 
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I dont understand why people needs use the backhand....its like 0 IQ knowledge. I spend 10 years just to have a funny gimmick backhand. My body didnt accept the fast table tennis, the better forehand and backhand the faster you need to be that's why if you young its good to develop every skill but if you oversize successful super hot body positive player , you didnt need everything... My backhand is fluid, my backhand is spinny and and really dangerous but pips like warrior can really outplay really good backhand like mine.
And the pips like this is cheat code like tsp pips on hidden service 38 balls era
 
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Backhand with rubber: My tips are:

  1. Keep your elbow high, around mid-height, so you won’t waste time positioning yourself.
  2. Initially, use only your elbow joint and a little wrist movement. (Then, later on, you can use your hips, much later).
  3. Position the racket at the height of your solar plexus.
  4. Push your backside back, lean your body slightly forward, with your legs apart and knees slightly bent.
  5. Hit the ball within the first ¼ of your reach, preferably with the tip of the racket.
Tips: Hit the ball as hard and compact as you can, straight forward—not upwards, sideways, or by lifting it from below.

And the last and most important thing: the first thing is the feeling (hit hard and explosively; your mission is to get the ball onto the table as many times as possible. You’ll have time later to fine-tune the direction, hip adjustments, and other details. "Focus on the feeling").

Experience: At first, when they told me this, I was confused because I always wanted to choose where to direct the ball. My coach told me: "It doesn't matter. At the beginning, if you manage to land a powerful backhand on your opponent’s table, it’s a point or you'll be ready for the next shot." Over time, you'll master the distance, location, and speed, but first, just focus on getting it on the table—and make sure it’s a strong shot.
 
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Caveat long post:
1. Let's rewind to about a year ago.
2. I had a ok ok backhand but suckish FH.
3. My mind was always in an in-between the two during game play and I suffered from indecisiveness btw FH & BH. My brain gets confused.
4. That was when I decided to forgo my BH and decided to go all out to focus on FH, being a FH dominant in game-play and in training.
5. It pays off somewhat and I had the time to bring my FH to a minimally functional level in gameplay.
6. My BH was neglected and I mainly use it as support / passive play ( pushes & blocking ), that is, no drive, no loops. Basically no offensive stroke.
7. Then a senior veteran player told me, this will not do, you are missing a huge part of the game if you don't have a decent offensive BH.
8. He has a decent offensive BH, and he was kind enough to work with me to get my BH up to some decency.
9. So, over the pass two months, we both worked a lot on our BH in drills. Cross-court drives, parallel drives, two sides, open-ups, you know, the usual stuff.
10. Now, my BH has come up to speed and has some offensive capabilities, that is, drive and loops.
11. So, what has happened?
12. I can say now, with functional offensive BH, I can attack angles that previously were out of reach for me, if I remain a FH dominant player.
13. My parting phrase as follows: If you are a shakehand grip user, it is too disadvantageous to not have an offensive BH. If you do not have a decent BH, then better use penhold grip instead.

p/s: The silly me now know that, say, to attack the sharp BH corner using FH, one must really move and I mean move a lot and pivot. However, if one has a decent offensive BH, one saves a lot of time and energy as the BH can do that with relatively ease. And if the ball comes back, you are in such comfortable position to follow-up with a FH drive to anywhere on the table.
 
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on BH to BH exchanges my rating is easily 250+ higher than my real rating. i can deal with speed and spin from much higher ranked players.

can play Banana flick / strawberry. Short or long push. BH drive or loop against any ball. block or counter. i can even play as an (attacking) chopper with my setup id lose only 100 in rating.
Chop block is very difficult with my fast racket so i don't use it in match and even seldom in training - but trying it again as receive against long topspin serves when i play chopping style.

the shot that i really don't know how to do is proper lobbing. both on BH and FH side. I never really practiced it so I'm not good at it although i can retrieve balls by fishing clumsily

however as soon as i step back from the table, my BH is much weaker. i still can topspin it on the table but quality drops: less spin / less control (ball bounces on the middle of the table for example...). Its because the timing is different and i'm not able to move, adjust to each ball so im not often in the ideal position to play it.

fortunately in match, i dont go back from the table often and if i do, if im stuck doing BH I'll just try to resist until i have the opportunity to play a better shot from BH or FH.

--
i think BH is much easier for veterans than FH because there is less need to move than with FH to make a good shot.
 
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I do find a harder more linear lower throw ( more gear ) rubber gives a very low trajectory and that dips down immediately after landing on the table, almost skidding off the table.

Q1. Does a hard hybrid rubber make it easy to deliver such stroke?
Q2. Does a traditional chinese tacky rubber make it easy to deliver such stroke?
Q3. Does a softer semi hybrid / tacky rubber make it easier to deliver such a stroke?

p/s I am used to using high throw loopy rubber for my BH all these while ( e.g. Tenergy 05 type ). So I am exploring some alternative to enhance my game.
 
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