Site Products
Most players go through the following sequence during each shot of a rally:

Tip of the week: Proper Forehand Technique – Circling and From Side

Tip of the week: Proper Forehand Technique – Circling and From Side

By (Larry Hodges)

Here’s a video (3:56) of all-time great Ma Long looping forehand, including slow motion. (It starts with one backhand loop – which you should also study! – and then goes to forehands.)

Note in the video how he basically rotates his body around an imaginary vertical rod going through the top of his head, with his head only moving slightly forward, and how he contacts the ball almost directly to the side of his body? Many players violate one of these principles, either moving the body forward too much as they do the shot, or (even more common) contacting the ball too far in front.

There are times when you should move the body more forward on a shot, such as against an easy high ball or when you are rushed in stepping around the backhand corner, but normally you should go more in a circle. This both gives you great centripetal force as you rotate around, but also leaves you in position for the next shot, balanced and ready, which is how top players can play power shots over and over in quick succession.

But as noted above, the more common problem is that players tend to contact the ball too far in front. This either keeps them from rotating backwards fully (and so losing power), or forces them to reach for the ball (thereby dissipating power and putting you off balance).

Also note how the legs (and especially the knees) are used to rotate into the shot. The legs aren’t just for standing; they are the primary start to every shot, and give you the pivot into your shots.

Here’s a 13-second video of Japanese sensation Tomokazu Harimoto as a kid, knocking balls off a table. (He’s now world #5, and the best in the world outside China, circa March 2020.) Note the same principle – he rotates in a circle and contacts the ball directly to the side of that imaginary rod going through his head. You can see the same principles in this 46-second video of 3-time World Men’s Singles Champion Wang Liqin (2001, 2005, 2007), demonstrating “The shot that owned a decade.”

Latest News

France takes Gold in Euro Team Championships

October 26, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo ETTU) The French team with the Lebrun brothers, Simon Gauzy, Thibault Poret, and Flavien… Read More

Jha to Face Calderano as Draws for Montpellier are Posted

October 26, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) USA’s Kanak Jha will see action on Wednesday, on the second day of the WTT… Read More

Dang Qiu Wins WTT London

October 26, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Dang Qiu benefitted from some upsets in his half of the draw at this week’s… Read More

Sanuka Herath – 2025 Canadian Senior Table Tennis Championships

October 26, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Bowmar Sports Tournament Highlights, Sanuka Herath is in action at the 2025 Canadian… Read More

Taiwo Adeyinka – Backhand Loop from underspin

October 25, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips,  Taiwo Adeyinka is in action at the Atlanta Open https://youtu.be/TQQMo7vKMqU… Read More

Put Your Whole Bodyweight Into The Table

October 24, 2025
Serve, short game, flip with defense to offense (wait function) Jhon serves short backspin, robot plays short backspin… Read More

Jonathan Pino – Reaction Random

October 24, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Jonathan Pino is focusing on a Reaction Random drill to… Read More

Adriana Díaz: Six-Time Pan American Champion And Pride Of Butterfly

October 23, 2025
(By Edgardo Vazquez – Puerto Rico National Coach / Butterfly America Sponsored Coach) Table tennis in the Americas… 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.