OOAK Table Tennis Forum

One coach told me to keep my racket more vertical when hitting a forehand, and another one said to keep it more horizontal. To me, horizontal seems more logical, since the ball contact is farther from the elbow, which should give the blade more angular velocity and hence give more spin. I have tried to keep the blade more horizontal, but the vertical blade proponent coach said I was all wrong. Need some advice!

I have noticed (and there are always exceptions), CPens are more vertical and JPens/KPens are more horizontal. It may be that the fingers at the back of CPen bat are more curled and fingers at the back of J or KPen are more straight and extended.

Two players with a more horizontally orientated FH are Tin-Tin Ho and Hyun Jung-Hwa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KglZu0QuICo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HoQhan0s2g

Both are short pips, close to the table, hitters/attackers.
So, horizontal vs (more) vertical FH position, depends on the style of play and grip, etc, I guess. Ultimately, you choose what works for you. : )

Are we talking about blade angle or the trajectory of the hit? Hit/drive or loop?

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Chasse Patate

I am also taking lessons and a penhold player. Is it possible that two different coaches are telling you to hold the racket at a different angle because of the spin on the incoming ball? I have only one coach and depending on the drill I hold the racket at a slightly different angle when contacting the ball.

Joseph

Pen or shake, those who hold the the racket horizontally can generate more spin on the ball though a flick of the wrist as you are about to make contact of the ball. You can't do that if you make contact with the ball vertically.

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Older players used that down position and an rpb will still use it returning serve over the table. I felt the down forehand position facilitated the transition from forehand to the one sided backhand.

https://youtu.be/wTIlLj5C2eA

But even when lui guoliang (present chinese national coach former Olympic gold and father of the modern day rpb) his his forehand it starts vertical and swings up to horizontal.