Site Products
Coaching Tip of the Week - Forehand Position for Backhands

Coaching Tip of the Week: Don’t Telegraph the Direction of Your Attack

(By Larry Hodges)

Many players telegraph the direction of their attacking shot. Often, the opponent isn’t sure how he knows where you are going, he just senses it. That’s because when he sees the same stroke pattern resulting in the ball going one way, and another stroke pattern going the other way, it becomes habit to react to it – even if he isn’t sure specifically what in your stroke is different. (When you recognize a person’s face, do you consciously see the distinct features that make this person’s face unique?) So try to keep your shots identical as long as possible before committing to a direction, and even use misdirection.

For example, if you set up for a forehand shot as if you were going to the right (for a right-hander), your body might face to the right. At the last second, whip the shoulders around, and go to the left. Or set up like you are hitting to the left, but at the last second, rotate the shoulders back and go to the right. Or try hitting the ball “inside-out,” where you set up as if you were hitting a forehand to the left, and at last minute hit the inside of the ball (relative to you) and go to the right. Do the same type of thing on the backhand, where you might set up to go one way, and then, at the last second, rotate your shoulders so you can go the other way. If blocking, you can make these last-second changes by just rotating the racket left or right.

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

Chopping and Playing Choppers – It’s All About the Mindset

September 15, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame I’ve coached many choppers during a match,… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Folsom Table Tennis Club

September 14, 2025
(By Steve Hopkins) The Folsom Table Tennis Club has two locations nestled in the greater Sacramento region of… Read More

WTT Champions Macao: A New Number One ?

September 14, 2025
(By Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) The surprises ended on the final day, as the higher seed won each of… Read More

ITTF Pan American U11 & U13 Championships: Recap

September 14, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) The ITTF Pan American U11 & U13 Championships concluded last week in Antigua… Read More

WTT Champions Macao: Anders Lind Makes Semis

September 13, 2025
(By Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Anders Lind headlined the penultimate day with a 4-3 upset win over World No.… Read More

Sally Moyland – WTT Spokane Singles & Doubles Highlights

September 13, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Bowmar Sports Highlights, Sally Moyland is in action in Singles & Doubles play at… Read More

WTT Champions Macao: Final Eight

September 12, 2025
(By Steve Hopkins) World No. 1 Lin Shidong won both of his matches 3-0 as he easily moved to… Read More

Increase the Frequency During the Drill!?

September 12, 2025
3 points Forehand topspin – robot plays one topspin to Forehand, middle, Backhand, middle, Forehand, middle, Backhand and… 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.