When I was learning table tennis in Germany 28 years ago, there was much emphasis on giving more practice to make a good forehand loop.
The backhand was more of a ‘sure stroke.’ It is used to block the opponent’s loop and sometimes hit the ball, including flat hitting. If we stand far from the table, we can try to counter-loop with our backhand.
However, for me, I disagreed with such practice as I was a rebel. LOL. I wanted to play every ball with my backhand, and I was always looking to generate more spin on every hit.
By that time, many players disagreed with me, and they were trying to rectify and teach me the skill that they think was the right practice to follow. They said it is too risky to follow my playing style.
That didn’t change when I came to Greece in 1997. I started earning money and even making a living by playing table tennis. I still hold on faithfully to my playing style.
Nonetheless, the word ‘too risky’ is what entered my ears all the time. Especially when I was having a discussion on the topic with a national coach in there, for my stubbornness, I would always reply to them that I don’t give a shit on what you all think is risky. I like to play like this, I love it, and so I am doing it!
Then came the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sidney when the China top player at that time, KONG LING HUI, came to show the skill that I preach about. What a relief for me.
He won the gold medal, and he was the first top player who played all balls from both sides with spin. It opened many people’s eyes, and I thank God for the existent player who supports my playing style.
It marks the beginning of a new era in the current top-level of table tennis. 12 years later, every top player plays his backhand with spin, and no one is playing with just fat block/hit the ball anymore.
Here is a video of that ‘historical’ moment:
The other significant change was and is the backhand flick. At that time, only PETR KORBEL did it, and many of us just smiled.
After 12 years, no one is smiling anymore as everyone is keen to imitate the ‘King of backhand flick’ ZHANG JIKE. Even if they serve is short to the forehand, which was ‘UNTHINKABLE’ back then. But, times have changed.
Watch the Backhand Flip VIDEO
What’s Next?
In my opinion, the next skill that is going to develop will be the forehand counter-loop down the line.
We see all the time with FH/FH counter-loops, which is playing again and again to the opponent’s forehand. And I always think: “Common man! What are you waiting for? It’s time to change to the backhand!”
Usually, when/if that happens, either the point is immediately over, or the player who changed the placement has a huge tactical advantage. Since the other player has to play the ball back with his backhand, which is usually far away from the table. It allows player one to turn around and hits the ball with his forehand to the backhand of the opponent.
A friend of mine who has played for the last 2 years in the French 1st division once told me: “You know, FH/FH counter-loop is over. Most of them change very quickly to the backhand now!”
However, I guess the significant change will come when the top Chinese player do it regularly.
What we need to keep in mind is that changes are always dancing around us. The question is, are we aware and well prepared to adapt to the changes? For most people, changes are difficult to adapt to due to our die-hard habits.
But what is more important is the actual idea of who has the ‘enlightenment.’ If it’s a ‘nobody,’ then the rest smiles at this guy’s/girl’s ‘crazy’ ideas. If we have those ideas, we can at least use them ourselves as players or teach them to the kids as coaches.
If top-level coaches or players have those ideas, then the rest of the world follows. Petr Korbel was and still is a top-level player. But although he did the backhand flick for many years, he was the only one who does so where nobody is keen to follow his playing style. Only after Chinese player Zhang Jike did it, now even total amateur players also want to play like this.
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Warren Davies
