Should I close the racket angle after doing the forehand topspin shot. Is it different after a shot above and close to the table and under the table(close or far from it). My couch tells me to do it but I’m not sure I see it in the professional level. Another question: when you are close to the table should your legs be spread widely or be spread but not a lot? Again, my couch tells me my legs shouldn’t be spread a lot because I lose balance. But I see player like Ma Long whose legs are very spread. What is right and what is wrong? Thank you!
Answer:
This Ask the Experts question was answered by Junya Chen. Coach Chen is the head coach at the Canadian Elite Table Tennis Training Centre in Mississauga. Coach Chen’s response is as follows:
Hi Alexander,
Thank you for choosing Butterfly Experts to answer your question.
If you are prepared to continue attacking/topspin, or if you know the ball is coming back with spin, then yes you should close the angle of your racket. Technically speaking, you should close the angle more when you are performing a shot above the table compared to below the table since it follows the direction where the ball should be aiming (if you are under the table – you want the ball to go up more compared to when you are above the table, hence the angle should open more).
The distance of the spread of your legs should be in a position that maximizes your footwork reaction time, and you may see a difference in the distance of spread across professional players. Generally speaking, it should be at least as wide as your shoulders, but don’t go too wide that you cannot easily get back to a ready position. Also keep in mind it is also positively correlated to your height.
Good luck and have fun,
Junya Chen
Canadian Elite Table Tennis Training Centre head coach
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