| Table Tennis or Ping Pong is a lot like tennis, but played | | | | ·Make sure your paddle is turned slightly |
| indoors and with smaller more specialized rackets | | | | downwards before contact with the ball, and that the |
| (called paddles in table tennis). Most of us have played | | | | ball is slightly to the side of your body. |
| it at rec halls or in the basements of our family's | | | | ·Follow through, with your paddle's position |
| homes...but few of us actually know the sport's | | | | ending parallel to your left shoulder. |
| techniques and basic strokes applied to make it a | | | | The Backhand Drive |
| game. Whether you seeking to get into table tennis | | | | ·From starting position, move waist to the left. |
| more professionally, or just want to improve your | | | | ·At the same time, draw your right arm across |
| advantage casually; we've listed the most popular | | | | your body to the left until it is in a 9 o'clock position. |
| strokes in table tennis below, how to apply them, and | | | | ·Weight should have been transferred to the |
| general tips for your game. | | | | back or left foot for balance. |
| In any of the strokes below, it is necessary to | | | | ·Make contact with the ball in front of your |
| remember to keep a loose but controlled grip. Your | | | | body, while shifting weight back to the front or right |
| arm should be relaxed, and your hitting powering should | | | | foot. |
| come from your forearm, wrist, and waist in one fluid | | | | ·Using your elbow as a pivot, snap your |
| motion. Table Tennis actually requires more exercise | | | | forearm forward and slightly upwards. |
| and movement than most think, but not only do you | | | | ·Follow through, with your paddle's position |
| call upon your torso, forearm, and wrist; but proper | | | | ending at 1 o'clock. |
| form includes quick and agile movements from side to | | | | The Forehand Push |
| side, as your feet will be moving around a lot. Also, | | | | ·From starting position, swing waist to right. |
| drives and pushes will function differently, in that it is | | | | ·At the same time, raise your right arm up and |
| best to employ a drive at the top of the ball's bounce, | | | | back to about 11 o'clock, with elbow close to waist. |
| whereas a push should be directed right after the | | | | ·Weight should be on the back or right foot. |
| bounce. | | | | ·Bend your wrist slightly back. |
| The Forehand Drive | | | | ·Swing paddle forward and down, while at the |
| ·Draw your right upper arm in close to the side | | | | same time switching weight to forward or left foot. |
| of your upper body, but loosely. | | | | ·Make contact with the ball in front and to the |
| ·Bend arm so that your forearm forms a 90 | | | | right of your body, and snap wrist forward. |
| degree angle with your upper arm. | | | | ·Follow through forward and down. |
| ·Move your elbow back slightly, so that your | | | | The Backhand Push |
| forearm is at 3 o'clock position with the side of your | | | | ·From starting position, move waist to the left. |
| body. | | | | ·At the same time, draw your right arm across |
| ·Make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart, | | | | to the left side of your body, with elbow close to your |
| and that your left foot is a bit in front of your right for | | | | waist. |
| balance. | | | | ·Weight should be on the back or left foot. |
| ·Let waist move with this movement, while at | | | | ·Draw your racket slightly up and back, with |
| the same time shifting your weight to the right foot. | | | | wrist bent back a bit. |
| ·While shifting to your left foot, swing forward | | | | ·Make contact with the ball directly in front of |
| with right arm using your waist as a driving force. | | | | you, and follow through with the same snapping motion. |