Site Products
Larry Hodges

Coaching Tips of the Week: Rushed Backhand Loop

(By Larry Hodges)

One of the biggest differences between forehand and backhand looping is that, for the forehand, the body isn’t in the way. This means it’s relatively easy to take the ball early, middle, or late in your hitting zone. This makes timing a lot easier.

On the backhand, the body is more in the way, and so you can’t adjust the contact point as easily. This means that if you are rushed, you can’t that easily just take the ball late. Result? Many players get jammed on the backhand, perhaps by a quick, deep push, and so rush their backswings. Result? Lots of erratic misses.

Early racket preparation is key to the backhand loop. If you hold your racket too high, you won’t have time to bring it down into position. If you stand too jammed to the table you also won’t have time. Instead, find the perfect ready position for yourself, where you hold the racket low enough so you don’t have to rush, and not so close to the table that you get jammed. (Arm’s length is usually about right.) You should be able to bring the racket down and back in a smooth motion, and then whip it through the ball, giving the ball an arcing topspin – just like the pros. At the back of the backswing, the racket should actually come to a brief stop as the rest of the arm begins its forward motion (with the arm and elbow pulling), leading to that whiplike motion as you put the racket through the ball, almost like throwing a frisbee in a slightly upward direction. If you don’t feel that slight hesitation as your racket reaches the back of its swing, then you are rushing your backswing.

Some of you don’t have a backhand loop. Then, may I suggest developing one?

Note that everything here should also be hints on the reverse – how to play a player with a good backhand loop. In particular, this means rushing him with quick, deep pushes, and bringing him in with short serves and pushes and then jamming him with deep pushes.

 

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

Playing Kids

July 8, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Let’s face it; they’re probably faster than you. They might have a coach working with… Read More

#2 A Skill That Is Likely To Score – Backhand Down The Line

July 7, 2025
[[Feature] [Special Feature] American Stars! Jha’s Strengths #2 A Skill That Is Likely To Score – Backhand Down… Read More

United States Smash: Tight Scores and a Big Upset in Early Action

July 7, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Action is underway in the main round of the United States Smash, the… Read More

MLTT Featured Team: Bay Area Blasters

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) The Bay Area Blasters plan to blast through the upcoming Major League Table… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Calgary United Sports Table Tennis Association

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Established in 2002, Calgary United Sports Table Tennis Association (CUSTTA) is Alberta’s largest Table Tennis… Read More

Butterfly Players Shine at the 2025 US National Table Tennis Championships

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) The 2025 U.S. National Table Tennis Championships is one of the premiere annual… Read More

US Nationals Recap

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) The US National Table Tennis Championships is in the books.  One of America’s premiere events… Read More

United States Smash: Qualifiers are Finished and the Main Draw Begins Today

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) Americans made waves in the qualifying rounds of the United States Smash, the… 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.