Excerpt from New "Table Tennis: STEPS TO SUCCESS" Book
June 30, 2009

Table Tennis: STEPS TO SUCCESS by Richard McAfee

This Counterspin Stroke article is an excerpt from the new Table Tennis: STEPS TO SUCCESS Book by Richard McAfee. The Counterspin Stroke is located within “Step 4 Executing Spin Strokes” of the book. The table of contents are available at the end of this article.

COUNTERSPIN STROKE

Executing a topspin stroke against your opponent’s topspin return is referred to as counterspinning. As you develop as a player, this stroke will take on more importance.  At the professional level, this is the dominant stroke of the game.

The counterspin is a unique stroke in that it can be played both close to the table and away from the table to produce a wide range of returns with varying amounts of topspin and various speeds. If played away from the table as the ball is descending, heavy topspin can be produced. If played closer to the table, the ball can be played at the top of the bounce to produce very fast topspin returns. This stroke can even be executed off the bounce to place your opponent under great time pressure.

Three Basic Elements for the Counterspin Stroke

How to touch the ball = if the ball is descending, use more friction and less force contact; if the ball is at the top of the bounce, use equal force and friction contact; if the ball is rising, use mostly friction contact as you redirect the speed of the ball back to opponent

When to touch the ball = if the ball is away from the table, hit it either at the top of the bounce or as it descends; if the ball is close to the table, hit it at the top of the bounce to create maximum speed or on the rise to redirect the speed of the ball back to your opponent

Where to touch the ball = if the ball is descending, contact it at the center of its face; if the ball is at the top of the bounce, contact it above the center of its face; if the ball is rising, contact it toward the top of its face

Figure 4.12 Forehand Counterspin Stroke

BACKSWING Foot on nonracket side forward Upper body rotated to racket side Weight on back foot Forearm extended Wrist laid back Racket a little lower than oncoming ball

CONTACT Transfer weight from racket-side leg to other leg Rotate upper body to bring racket to ball Contact ball at top of bounce (for maximum speed) with closed racket Forearm and wrist snap at contact to increase racket acceleration

FOLLOW-THROUGH Weight fully transferred to nonracket side leg Upper body rotated to nonracket side Forearm finishes at 90-degree position, indicating it snapped to add maximum acceleration Racket finishes head high After stroke, relax racket arm and recover to ready position

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Table Tennis: STEPS TO SUCCESS
by Richard McAfee

CONTENTS
			Climbing the Steps to Table Tennis Success	vii
			The Sport of Table Tennis	ix
			Key to Diagrams	xx
Step 1	Preparing to Play			1
Step 2	Hitting Drive Strokes			13
Step 3	Understanding Spin and Footwork			25
Step 4	Executing Spin Strokes			45
Step 5	Serving			71
Step 6	Returning Serve			97
Step 7	Using the Five-Ball Training System			115
Step 8	Understanding Styles of Play and Tactics			139
Step 9	Playing Intermediate Strokes			149
Step 10	Performing Intermediate Serves			179
Step 11	Competing Successfully in Tournaments			191
			Glossary	201
			About the Author	203