Table tennis is a sport that requires a great deal of skill and technique. One of the most important aspects of the game is the ability to spin the ball. There are three main types of spins in table tennis: backspin, topspin, and sidespin. Backspin is the most commonly used spin by amateur players.
It is achieved by using a push stroke, which causes the ball to travel slowly and bounce when it hits the table. This type of spin is easy to attack with a topspin attack. Topspin is a favorite among table tennis players due to the Magnus effect, which causes the ball to fall more on the table. This spin is used for attacking and requires an extra touch when serving.
Sidespin is used away from the table and is sometimes referred to as “hook shooting”. It does not change the rebound much, but it can cause the ball to curve significantly. It is often combined with other types of spins such as topspin or backspin. Mixed spin is a combination of several types of spins and can be used to create a superior lateral spin or a spinning ball on top.
It requires players to adapt and change the angle of their racket in order to deal with these spins. In the early days of table tennis, players used hard bats without sponge, which made it difficult to put spin on the ball. However, with the introduction of sponge in the 1950s, it became possible to put more spin on the ball, which changed the way table tennis is played today. When hitting a topspin shot, you should start your stroke below the ball and brush your racket tangentially against it above its equator with an upward and forward movement.
When hitting a backspin shot, you should start your stroke above the ball and brush your racket tangentially against it below its equator with a downward and forward movement. When hitting a sidespin shot, you should brush your racket tangentially against it with a lateral movement. When playing with a side turn, brushing the left side of the ball will cause it to go to the right, while brushing the right side will cause it to go left. When playing with topspin or backspin, hitting with an upward or backward turn will cause it to stay low or rise higher respectively when it bounces off the table.
Spinning in table tennis is very complicated and requires players to have good technique and timing in order to be successful. With practice and dedication, anyone can master these spins and become an expert at table tennis.
