Site Products
Larry Hodges

Backhand Receive Against a Short Serve to the Forehand

(By Larry Hodges)

In my day, there were players who received short serves much better with their backhand than with their forehands. Every coach in the world would tell them to work on their forehand receive against short serves, especially flipping. But a few players would still stubbornly receive with their backhand, even against short serves to the forehand – and they did so effectively. The response from most coaches? Instead of learning from this, there was an overwhelming, “Work on your forehand receive!”
There was a rationale for this. If you receive with your backhand against a short serve to the forehand, it can leave you out of position for the next shot. However, while you might not be able to cover as much of the table with your forehand on the next shot, players have shown that they have no trouble getting back to cover the next shot. There’s also the problem that if you favor the backhand flip too much, you may face a player who can serve both short to your forehand and long to your backhand with the same motion, and it might be impossible to cover both your backhand. So, yeah, develop the forehand flip.
However, much of the thinking on this has changed, because of the rise of the backhand flip, in particular the banana backhand flip, which is essentially a mini-loop over the table. (Google it on Youtube.) But even without the extra topspin from a banana flip, for many players, backhand flipping is just easier than on the forehand – and so such players shouldn’t hesitate to sometimes receive backhand against short serves to the forehand. (Many or most of the best players in the world do this, including Ma Long.) It’s very important to have a good forehand flip as well, but if you are better with the backhand against short serves to the forehand, then go ahead and use it when you can. It may look funny but it can be effective!!!

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.

Latest News

Be Part of the MLTT Rally Crew

August 29, 2025
(by: Major League Table Tennis) Bring your energy and love for the game Major League Table Tennis kicks… Read More

When Do Most Errors Happen?

August 29, 2025
Robot plays short backspin to Backhand, Jhon Backhand push to long Backhand, robot plays very spinny topspin to… Read More

Back Up a Little Bit More

August 27, 2025
Robot plays short backspin ball to Forehand, Jhon Forehand push to long Forehand, robot plays very spinny topspin… Read More

My Road To The 2025 US National Champion by Sally Moyland

August 26, 2025
(by Sally Moyland) I was leading 3:1 in sets in the women’s single final at the US National… Read More

Take the Ball Off the Bounce

August 25, 2025
Robot plays short backspin to Forehand, Jhon Forehand push to long Forehand, robot plays very spinny topspin to… Read More

Eleven Tips For Playing Against a Quicker Opponent

August 25, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) We’ve all had those matches where the opponent was just quicker, and we felt rushed… Read More

Jessie Xu – Valuable Learning Experience at Junior Pan Am Games

August 25, 2025
(by Bowmar Sports) Jessie Xu recently returned from representing Canada at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in… Read More

Americans Shine at Junior Pan Am Games

August 25, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) The 2025 Junior Pan American Games wrapped up last week in Asunción, Paraguay, with solid… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.